Inside Innovation: My week in packaging 42/2024

Welcome to my latest LinkedIn newsletter where I take a look at my week in packaging. ??

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It’s been another busy week of packaging innovations, and we continue to track some exciting examples in ThePackHub 's Innovation Zone platform. The following are five that caught my eye this week.

新加坡南洋理工大学 has developed an impressive biodegradable food wrap made from upcycled avocado pits, designed to change colour when food is spoiling. This smart packaging helps consumers identify food freshness, reducing waste and potentially preventing illness.

Unilever's Knorr has also made strides in sustainability by transitioning its stock cube wrappers from aluminium to recyclable paper, making their entire packaging fully recyclable and consumer-friendly.

In Australia, a trial to improve the Return and Earn scheme is streamlining container recycling with a digital system that aims to increase participation rates and make recycling more convenient for households.

On the global front, Smart Packaging Industries AS and the Royal NNZ Group bv are rolling out innovative pyramid-shaped packaging for produce, which optimises logistics, reduces emissions, and extends product shelf life, contributing to lower food waste and improved sustainability. Great structural engineering and lateral thinking!

Lastly, Diageo has launched an exciting circular dispense system for Smirnoff Vodka, using refillable stainless-steel kegs in the UK’s on-trade sector. This system reduces the need for single-use glass bottles, aligning with Diageo’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

These innovations highlight the continuous drive for packaging solutions that not only enhance functionality but also significantly contribute to sustainability. ThePackHub uploads 30 new innovations every week in our Innovation Zone platform.

Tuesday: Exploring Innovation at Parkside Flexibles

I had a great time at Parkside Flexibles Ltd 's Open House earlier this week.

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet their customer and supplier network and tour their impressive printing facilities. I also had the opportunity to present the latest flexible packaging innovations. Parkside continues to innovate and has evolved considerably since I first visited them as a brand client in 1997!

It’s exciting to see their continued drive for sustainability and meeting the needs of their customers through change. In fact, ThePackHub has just posted their 50th initiative to our Innovation Zone platform, showcasing their consistent contribution to the industry.

Thursday: Magic and Packaging Trends: My Experience at Obalko 2024

I had a fantastic time at Obalko's 12th annual conference in Prague, where I had the opportunity to present the latest packaging trends to 400 delegates. Following a performance by a brilliant Czech magician, I had the challenge of keeping the audience entertained, and I was able to share some of the magical packaging innovations from around the world!

It was great to experience the strong sense of community within the Czech packaging industry. A big thank you to Jeffrey Osterroth and his team for their warm hospitality.

It was fantastic to meet Martin Jan?a face-to-face for the first time at the Obalko conference. Martin and his team have developed Myco - a functional material from fungal mycelium and waste from the agricultural and woodworking industries. We exhibited some samples at London Packaging Week recently and received great feedback. They are also an excellent candidate for ThePackHub's Packaging Startup Awards 2025.

Thursday: Packaging Insights from My Kaufland Supermarket Visit

Whenever I travel, if I can, I make it a point to visit local supermarkets to spot packaging trends. This time, I took the opportunity to explore a large Kaufland outlet in ?estlice, Czechia. It’s clear that we live in a global marketplace and many of the packaging formats are familiar around the world. I did notice, however, a lot less packaging for fruit and vegetables compared to many other markets. There were also plenty of refill pouches for products like liquid soup, mayonnaise, and coffee, as well as an interesting paper-based tube for Schar potato chips. One area where change hasn’t yet taken hold is beverage multipacks, where plastic shrink collations are still dominant over paper-based alternatives.

Friday: From Plastic to Paper: Lego’s Packaging Shift at Kladno

I had the privilege of visiting the enormous Lego factory in Kladno, which was built in 2000 and now employs 3,300 people, with much automation in place. While I wasn’t allowed to take any pictures, the experience was fascinating. Lego is in the process of transitioning from PP plastic to paper bags, which comes with its challenges—such as requiring extra factory space for storage. The new bags are functional, with a reclosure feature and a stand-up pouch design that makes it easy for Lego fans to grab the pieces they need. However, since the bags aren’t transparent, you can't see what's inside. Overall, it was a brilliant tour.

That's it for this week. I hope you found it interesting.