Sustainable Packaging and Innovation: Understanding the Holistic Environmental Impacts of Packaging

Plastic used for minutes often ends up in the oceans, contributing to landfills. Scientists and startups are searching for viable replacements. So-called bioplastics — made from mushrooms, cereals, tomato skins, seaweed milk protein or other organic materials — have emerged as potentially winning alternatives, though they currently make up less than 1% of the global plastics market. Why have bioplastics made so little ground? How are bio-based plastics and compostable solutions for flexible packaging progressing? How could full circularity for flexible packaging be achieved? What successful and innovative projects are the result of collaboration throughout the supply chain? To what level is cost impacting the rate of adoption of new materials or solutions for flexible packaging, and how could this barrier be overcome? How can economies of scale be achieved and are consumers willing to pay more for sustainable packaging?