As the world grapples with the environmental impact of plastic waste, plant-based packaging has emerged as a promising alternative. With increasing concerns over pollution, carbon emissions, and landfill overflow, businesses and consumers alike are seeking more sustainable options. Plant-based packaging, derived from renewable sources such as cornstarch, sugarcane, seaweed, and bamboo, is gaining traction as a viable solution to reduce dependence on traditional plastics.
One of the key benefits of plant-based packaging is its reduced carbon footprint. Unlike conventional plastic, which is derived from fossil fuels, plant-based materials are made from renewable resources that absorb carbon dioxide during their growth. This helps offset emissions and makes the production process significantly more environmentally friendly. Additionally, many plant-based alternatives are biodegradable or compostable, breaking down more quickly in natural environments compared to conventional plastics that can persist for centuries.
Businesses across various industries are adopting plant-based packaging as part of their sustainability commitments. The food and beverage sector has been at the forefront, with companies using biodegradable cups, compostable takeaway containers, and edible wrappers to reduce waste. In the cosmetics industry, brands are replacing plastic tubes and bottles with plant-based bioplastics or moulded fibre alternatives. Even the fashion industry is exploring innovative packaging solutions, such as mycelium-based materials grown from fungi, which offer both durability and sustainability.
Despite its benefits, plant-based packaging still faces challenges. Biodegradability depends on specific conditions, meaning some materials require industrial composting facilities to break down effectively. If improperly disposed of, they can still contribute to waste problems. The cost of production is another hurdle, as plant-based materials can be more expensive than traditional plastic, making widespread adoption difficult for smaller businesses. Additionally, there is a risk of greenwashing, where companies claim sustainability without providing transparency on the true environmental impact of their packaging.
Consumers play a crucial role in driving the demand for plant-based packaging. By supporting brands that prioritise sustainable packaging and properly disposing of biodegradable materials, individuals can help reduce waste and encourage further innovation in the industry. Governments and regulatory bodies are also stepping in, implementing policies and incentives to promote eco-friendly alternatives and hold businesses accountable for their packaging choices.
The shift toward plant-based packaging represents a necessary evolution in the way products are packaged and consumed. While there are still challenges to overcome, continued advancements in material science and increased consumer awareness are paving the way for a future with less plastic waste. As more businesses invest in sustainable packaging solutions, the widespread adoption of plant-based materials has the potential to make a lasting impact on the environment.
Starbucks
Starbucks has introduced new biodegradable, plant-based straws to stores in Japan today, another important action in support of the company’s environmental promise to be resource-positive and commitment to reduce waste by half by 2030.
The new straw is made from Green Planet™, a plant-based biodegradable biopolymer. Utilising plant oils as its main component instead of oil derivatives, the new straw degrades naturally into CO2 and water by microorganisms living in sea water and soil, mitigating issues of ocean pollution with waste plastics including microplastics. Through its lifecycle, the Green Planet straws emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) than the FSC® certified paper straw that Starbucks serves today, resulting in half the weight of discarded straws from Starbucks stores.
Royal Vezet
Dutch company Royal Vezet, a major supplier of fresh convenience vegetables, fruits and salads, has partnered with packaging specialist Avantium to develop new produce packaging for the Netherlands’ largest retailer Albert Heijn. Starting with salad bowls, the packs will be made from a 100 per cent plant-based, fully recyclable polymer called polyethylene furanoate (PEF), which apparently offers a “renewable and circular” system.
As part of the project, Avantium also said it planned to open the world’s first commercial production centre for PEF’s main ingredient, furandicarboxylic acid, in the north-east of the country in 2025. This will be used to help Royal Vezet switch to a greener solution for the estimated 6mn packs it produces each week.
CEO Marit van Egmond commented: “We are proud to introduce PEF-based salad bowl trays, furthering our commitment to sustainability. This initiative follows our successful collaboration with Refresco and Avantium on PEF-based bottles for fruit juices. By expanding our use of PEF, we continue to lead the way in offering eco-friendly packaging solutions to our customers.”
Hellmann’s
Now, Hellmann’s fans can enjoy every last possible drop of the brand’s plant-based mayo, thanks to new squeeze bottle technology developed by our R&D team, led by Krassimir Velikov, Senior Science & Program Leader, Science & Technology, and Vasudevan Lakshminarayanan, R&D Manager, Dressings.
We know consumers want to be able to squeeze out as much product as possible – it’s an important cost and value benefit. And with both the plant-based market and our squeeze bottle formats set to continue growing, improving consumer experience and satisfaction is vital.
This technology ensures that significantly less mayo remains in the bottle – it’s a substantial step forward in reducing food and packaging waste. About 60% of global food waste in 2022 happened in our kitchens,[b] which is why Hellmann’s has been working to help consumers reduce food waste at home through its ‘Make Taste, Not Waste’ campaign since 2021. And that applies as much to the mayonnaise left behind in bottles as it does to leftovers in the fridge. Being able to demonstrate this low-waste feature on the back of packs is a great way to highlight the superiority of our product too.
MARIGOLD Health Foods and Sonoco
MARIGOLD Health Foods, in collaboration with Sonoco, has launched new, fully recyclable packaging for a variety of plant-based food products. Marigold’s range includes nutritional yeast known as Engevita, bouillon, gravy, stock cubes, sauces, and plant-based meat and fish alternatives.
The recyclable packaging solution has been created by Sonoco. Sonoco’s EnviroCan, designed with a paper bottom, is said to ensure that after consumption, consumers can ‘easily and fully’ recycle the packaging at kerbsides.
The new packaging development involved a process spanning two years. The previous packaging featured a cardboard body with a metal base. By investing in new machinery, Marigold has replaced the metal end with a paper-based alternative developed by Sonoco, resulting in an all-paper body and base.
The new packaging is made primarily from paperboard with secondary materials such as an aluminium seal and a plastic LDPE lid. The EnviroCan Paper Bottom, part of the new design, provides an oxygen and moisture barrier. With more than a 20% reduction in packaging weight, Marigold has been able to decrease its transport fuel consumption.
Peter Langsam, MD at Marigold, said, “We are thrilled to introduce this innovative, fully recyclable packaging solution in partnership with Sonoco. This development underscores our unwavering commitment to sustainability and our dedication to providing our customers with environmentally responsible labelling & packaging. By transitioning to this new packaging, we are taking a significant step towards reducing packaging material and lowering our carbon footprint, while continuing to deliver the high-quality products our customers expect.”
Nestlé
In its quest to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers, Nestlé recently unveiled a novel plant-based product – a plant-based fork. Nestlé created the limited-edition, plant-based fork intended for Maggi cups of noodles in India. Nestlé’s food science and packaging employees at the company’s facility in India partnered with a local startup to develop the fork – a two-piece, edible utensil made from wheat flour and salt.
Nestlé said the innovation is a key part of its commitment to eliminate or reduce the use of plastics in packaging, as well as simplifying packaging materials, while scaling reusable and refillable systems when possible.
“We continuously explore different types of alternative, sustainable packaging solutions that ensure food safety, consumer experience, and product taste and quality,” said Gerhard Niederreiter, head of Nestlé’s Institute of Packaging Sciences, in a press release. “In this case, our packaging experts developed a unique alternative fork built on our scientific expertise.”
Additionally, Nestlé’s R&D department is piloting a patented paper scoop for adult milk powders in China. That innovation features a flat, foldable scoop and metal cap which combine to ensure that no plastic is required in the packaging design.
As of 2021, Nestlé claimed to have replaced 4.5 billion plastic straws globally with paper versions. And, the Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences has also focused significant efforts in developing new paper cups, which include researching non-plastic coatings for paper cups that can protect consumers from scalding hot beverages.
“Reducing packaging and designing packaging for recycling are both key pillars to Nestlé’s sustainability commitments,” said Antonia Wanner, the company’s head of ESG strategy and deployment. “Our teams are constantly exploring novel materials and cutting-edge technologies for packaging solutions that are convenient, protect food, and are good for the planet.”
Savor
The development of COMPOST+ focused on using renewable resources to create a film with the best barrier possible, consistent with our approach of protecting the roasted coffee bean and the carbon footprint generated by the farm to cup journey. We are ecstatic to deliver a light, moisture, and oxygen barrier product to market and provide a bona fide certified solution.
COMPOST+ has achieved certification with the US-based Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and Europe-based DIN CERTCO, fingerprinting its recipe of success. Customers using COMPOST+ to package coffee and food products know they can count on the consistency and quality of this material.
“For Savor Brands, it was imperative for us to achieve proper certification prior to promoting an environmentally friendly solution in the marketplace. Working pono (to do what is right in Hawaiian) is at the core of everything we do, and our partners using COMPOST+ materials for the packaging we manufacture can do so with confidence.”, says Mio Lau, President of Savor Brands.
COMPOST+ is the bedrock of the industrial compostable packaging program at Savor Brands. All inks and accessories used in manufacturing our industrial compostable products are made of materials that are certified. All products can go straight into a commercial compostable facility without the need to remove any part of the package. To learn more, please email hello@savorbrands.com.
The transition to plant-based packaging marks a crucial step in redefining how products are packaged and consumed. Although challenges remain, ongoing innovations in material science and growing consumer consciousness are driving progress toward a future with reduced plastic waste. As more companies embrace sustainable packaging alternatives, the widespread use of plant-based materials has the potential to create a significant and lasting positive impact on the environment.
