Leading Trends, Challenges & Opportunities for Establishing a Circular Economy for Plastics Packaging

PACKAGING
TECHNOLOGY &
RESEARCH
LEADING TRENDS
CHALLENGES &
OPPORTUNITIES
THAT RELATE TO
ESTABLISHING A CIRCULAR
ECONOMY FOR PLASTICS
PACKAGING
PackagingTechnologyAndResearch.com
claire@packagingtechnologyandresearch.com
CPMA Plastics Packaging
Working Group meeting
November 2021

612.807.5341 / claire@packagingtechnologyandresearch.com / PackagingTechnologyAndResearch.com
TODAY’S TOPIC:
Key Takeaways
2
Trends Challenges Opportunities
+ Focus on the End Game
+ Packaging has power
+ Material science delivers
- Packaging industry not
leading in concerted manner
- Social pressure not Science
dominate discussion
- Lack of Responsibility
• Clean
Packaging
• Economics of
Collection and
Sorting
• Refocus governments and
consumers on the actual
objective
• Add meaningful value with
Packaging Science
• Shift to Value Chain
Innovation
• Make rationale, defensible,
achievable and linked
decisions

TODAY’S TOPIC:
1 2 3 4 5
Introduction Trends Challenges Opportunities Key
Takeaways
and more
questions

ABOUT PTR
Dr. Claire Sand
4
EditorialBoard
Associate Editor
CoChair
Consortium on
FoodWaste
Owner
Reviewer
National Science Foundation
• Claire Sand is a Global Packaging Leader with 35+ years of broad experience in the food and
packaging science spectrum in industry - from basic research to marketing - and in
academia - tenured professor and director.
• Sand's mission is to enable a more sustainable food system with science and value chain
innovations that more sustainably increases food shelf life and prevents food waste.
• She solves packaging and food industry challenges using a blend of packaging and food
science and value-chain expertise.
• Dr. Sand holds a PhD in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota and
MS and BS in Packaging from Michigan State University.
Riester-Davis-Brody
Food Packaging
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recent Awards
Adjunct Professor
Current Leadership
Current Editorial Boards
Monthly Columnist
Advisor
Food Waste
Repackaged
Executive
Board
IFT Fellow
EditorialBoard

PTR CAPABILITIES
Our services – 4 areas
• Value Chain
& Technology Roadmaps
• Directed Market
& Science Alignment
• Increase Packaging
Platform Sustainability
• Reduced Food Waste
CLIENTS: PACKAGING
AND FOOD COMPANIES AND
ASSOCIATIONS
Technical
Consulting
Technology
Evaluations
Expert Witness
• Technology
Development
• Cost Reductions
• More Sustainable
Packaging solutions
• Food Waste reduction
CLIENTS: PACKAGING AND
FOOD COMPANIES
• Ecommerce
• Migration
• Consumer Research on
Sustainability
• Intelligent Packaging
• More Sustainable
Packaging
• Global Research
Institutes
CLIENTS: PACKAGING AND
FOOD COMPANIES
• Food packaging
expert report,
deposition, and trial
support
CLIENTS: LEGAL FIRMS
Strategy
Consulting

Food Industry Packaging Industry Associations
PTR CLIENT BASE
Selected clients

PTR’S EDGE
What we do
Provide tailored packaging
science & value chain
solutions to the
food & packaging industry
Build Innovation
RoadMaps
Technology
Business Case
Building
Tactical
Implementation
Support
Science-based
Infusion
Align Value
Chain
Science-based
Coaching
Prevent Food
Waste
Build Internal
Knowledge
Provide
Science-based
Direction
Solve Package
Sustainability
Puzzle
Screen
Technologies

PTR’S EDGE
Blending packaging and food science with value chain
.. and are tailored to client needs
Our solutions align with your future…

SPRING’S EDGE
Science-based advice from cross functional experts
springpack.net

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Trends – Overview of Tailwinds
Focus on the End Game
+ More sustainable food system is advancing
+ UNSDGs link food waste and packaging
+ Business case can align
Packaging has power
+ 5th Industrial Revolution linking information with emotions
+ Unique position/power of Retailers
+ Shared Value
Material science delivers
+ 100% Bioderived PET advance
+ Compostable un-reality is eminent
+ Chemical and mechanical recycling finesse

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Trends – Overview of Headwinds
Packaging Industry not leading in
concerted manner
- Reactionary Industry Leadership remains
after trust has eroded
- “we have been here before” feeling from
established leaders
Social pressure not Science dominate discussion
- Consumer opinions are
- Legislation lack scientific understanding
- Brands are being bullied into bad decisions
Lack of Responsibility
- Lack of focus on common need for collection and sorting
- Brands and packaging industry continue to erode trust
- Investment disconnected to End Game

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Challenges - Overview
Challenges to establishing a circular economy for plastics packaging:
1. Clean Packaging
2. Economics of Collection and Sorting

1. What are the key barriers to establishing a plastics packaging circular economy
2. Given the transit of produce and food across borders, what are the key considerations the produce industry should
consider when seeking to promote the adoption of a plastics packaging circular economy?
3. Given not all resins are readily suitable for enabling a circular economy, how should the produce and food industry
respond – migrate to a subset of more suitable resins (PET, PP), promote circular on more challenged resins (PVC,
PS), or some combination?
4. Mixed material packaging (e.g., laminates, others) are increasingly recognized as problematic for recycling and
enabling a circular economy. What are the emerging solutions or options to deal with these mixed material
applications?
5. Although 100% PCR content is promoted by some as the desired end state for recycled plastics, is it achievable or
pragmatic for all forms of packaging? Are there levels of PCR (as a function of resin?) which are emerging as practical
and pragmatic targets?
6. The Canada Plastics Pact just issued its packaging roadmap – and like other countries, there is an increasing drive to
promote the adoption of a circular economy. Where does this leave alternative packaging options such as reusables,
compostables or biodegradables?
TODAY’S TOPIC:
Challenges -

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Challenges - Clean Packaging
• Packaging is approved based on its defined use
• Uses change with reuse, recycling and in biodegradation
• Reuse of packaging may release additives
• Recycled processes can screen out additives
• Composting releases chemicals and GHG as
degradation happens
• Clean packaging allows for a safe circular economy

TODAY’S TOPIC:
• Chemicals convert raw materials (bauxite, iron, fossil-fuels, bio-mass, trees, sand) into packaging
• Over 10,000 chemicals are approved for direct food contact worldwide
• Linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and health and environmental issues
• Alternatives to Tier 1, 2 and 3 chemicals are being developed and implemented

TODAY’S TOPIC:
• 608 chemicals assessed
for current use in USA
• Information directed to
UP Scorecard
CLIENT PROFILE- Major Environmental Associations PTR CLIENT WORK SAMPLE

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Prevalence of fluorinated chemicals in food is confirmed
• Regulations enforced
• Composability standards revised
• Alternatives tested to ensure
eliminate hazards

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Challenges – Economics of Collection and Sorting
SYSTEMS TO SORT AND
RECYCLE, & REUSE
EMBEDDED SORTATION TECHNOLOGY
CONSUMER SEPARABLE - DESIGN - FEATURES
REVERSIBLE ADHESIVE FOR INDUSTRIAL SEPARATION
CHEMICALLY RECYCLABLE POLYMERS
MECHANICALLY RECYCLABLE POLYMERS
MORE POLYMER COMPATABILIZERS
H2O2 COLD PLASMA STERILIZATION
SYSTEMS TO COLLECT
CURBSIDE
B2B, BOH
RURAL
URBAN
FINANCIAL INCENTIVE
SOCIAL INCENTIVE
FINES

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Challenges - Economics of Material Science
INCORPORATION OF NANO PARTICLES
SINGLE POLYMER COMPOSITE STRUCTURE WITH NANOFIBERS
SINGLE POLYMER COMPOSITE STRUCTURE SELF-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES
BI-MODAL HDPE
ORIENTED PE WITH HIGHER HEAT RESISTANCE
ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION (ALD)
SIOX COATING
PLASMA COATING
UNI-LAYER MATERIAL THIN RECYCLE-COMPATIBLE COATED
MATERIAL

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Opportunities - Overview
Opportunities in the process of establishing a circular economy for plastics packaging
1. Refocus governments & consumers on the actual objective
2. Add meaningful value with Packaging Science
3. Shift to Value Chain Innovation
4. Make rationale, defensible, achievable and linked decisions

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Opportunities – 1. Refocus on the Actual Objective

NET ASSESSMENT:
Packaging Solutions across the Value Chain

Select Product for Focus Identify Packaging Solutions
Define Communication and
Value for Consumer
Pinpoint products that both offer viable packaging
alternatives and where
meaningful consumer food waste
reduction is possible
Select and refine packaging solutions to
prevent food waste
Determine consumer communication for
packaging solutions
Implement Packaging that
Saves Food
Implement the solutions that gain
consumers, meet brand operational needs and reinforce
the value chain
TODAY’S TOPIC:
Opportunities – 1. Refocus on the Actual Objective

CONSUME
WITHIN
FRESHNESS
INTEGRATOR
CWI APPLIED AT FACTORY
CWI AT RETAIL
CWI IN HOMES
EVIGENCE
VISTAB
TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR
TTI ON PRIMARY
PACKAGING
MICROBIAL
SENSOR
OXIDATION
SENSOR
TOXINS & VEGETATIVE
CELLS SENSOR
VOC & TVB-N SENSOR
MICROBE SENSOR
PH FLUORESCENT DYE
SENSOR
H2S SENSOR
O2 SENSOR
TTI IN TRANSIT
TODAY’S TOPIC:
Opportunities – 2. Add value with Intelligent Packaging

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Opportunities – 2. Add value with Intelligent Packaging Science
PTR CLIENT WORK SAMPLE
CLIENT PROFILE- Major Food Company
RTE brand at QSRs faced major food safety concerns
SOLUTION
• Identified optimal solution to address a food safety
concern & restore brand confidence
• Ranked specific intelligent packaging - to be calibrated
to accurately match listeria growth kinetics - solutions
for a specific product
• Prototyped 3-5 best viable options to meet defined
success factors
• Built business case to garner higher price for
intelligent packaging
▪ Competitive advantage with intelligent packaging
to lower labor costs
▪ Eliminated food safety as a concern unlike
competitors
▪ Connected with reduced food waste platforms on
UNSDGs
▪ Expanded sales 15% due to less waste

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Opportunities – 2. Add value with Antimicrobial Packaging Science

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Opportunities – 2. Add value with Antimicrobial Packaging Science
CLIENT PROFILE- European Chemical Company
Needed to commercialize existing antimicrobials into food packaging
SOLUTION
• Determined science-based value proposition in
markets of interest
• Applied rubric to assess competitors, pricing, and
capital, brand and packaging company propensity for
innovation
• Market sizing at the brand and packaging film level
• 3 target brands
• 2 target packaging partners
• Implementation Value Chain drivers

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Opportunities – 3. Shift to Packaging Value Chain Innovation
Consumer view:
• Consumers in charge of formulations
• Packaging when consumers need it
• Less packaging for to dispose of and MSWs to handle
Business Case:
• Personalization always hits the mark
• Logistics stress transferred to retail and consumers
• Alter Primary packaging
• <$$$
• < barrier requirement
• > recyclability
• >Agility
• Returnable tertiary packaging cost savings
“Pick” and pack produce in store

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Challenges
• Space external to retail
• Planogram issues
• Restocking innovation needed
• Shifted focus to bulk shipments
“Factory” in the Store
“Mobile” factory

TODAY’S TOPIC:
$796,708
$2,154 $23,510
$294,043
$112,972
$81,406
$72,986
$366,369
$1,217
Inner low barrier packages for immediate consumer use
Consumer view:
• Only packaging consumers need
• Less packaging for to dispose of and MSWs to handle
Business case:
• Alter Primary packaging
• <$$$
• < barrier requirement
• > recyclability
• Longer shelf life
• Returnable tertiary packaging cost savings

612.807.5341 / claire@packagingtechnologyandresearch.com /
TODAY’S TOPIC:
Opportunities – 4. Make rationale, defensible, achievable & linked decisions
RATIONALE
Actually be more
sustainable and not
reduce product shelf life
LINKED
Aligns with retailer,
consumers, and post-
consumer handler needs
and targets
DEFENSIBLE
Be communicated to
retailer, consumers, and
post-consumer handlers
in a meaningful manner
ACHIEVABLE
Uses what is viable in
1,3,5 years within
defined constraints
612.807.5341 / claire@packagingtechnologyandresearch.com /

TODAY’S TOPIC:
Key Takeaways
39
Trends Challenges Opportunities
+ Focus on the End Game
+ Packaging has power
+ Material science delivers
- Packaging industry not
leading in concerted manner
- Social pressure not Science
dominate discussion
- Lack of Responsibility
• Clean
Packaging
• Economics of
Collection and
Sorting
• Refocus governments and
consumers on the actual
objective
• Add meaningful value with
Packaging Science
• Shift to Value Chain
Innovation
• Make rationale, defensible,
achievable and linked
decisions

Next Steps
Set up a virtual coffee
with Claire

Leading Trends, Challenges & Opportunities for Establishing a Circular Economy for Plastics Packaging

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