Packaging development as an opportunity to gain ground with sustainable materials

“Does this package come without plastic?” In addition to the challenges of producing even more efficiently, more flexibly and faster within the budgetary framework, this question highlights another essential requirement for manufacturers. The market and end consumers have noticeably increased pressure when it comes to sustainable packaging materials. For a long time, the popular plastics appeared to be the ideal material for packaging development: They are inexpensive to produce, can be shaped precisely, are versatile, very lightweight and, above all, impermeable. For many products that must be protected from external influences in order to maintain their quality, impermeability is one of the most important criteria for good packaging. But the adverse effects of plastics production can no longer be denied – and environmental protection has become paramount. Valentin Köhler, responsible for packaging development at Schubert, confirms this: “Plastic as a packaging material has been under critical scrutiny for a good ten years now.”

In Europe, the trend towards cardboard has already become very significant due to rigorous legal requirements. Packaging machine manufacturer Schubert is also experiencing this. “Cardboard is now in even greater demand by manufacturers,” confirms Valentin Köhler. With this in mind, it is a good time to rethink your packaging – and all the more if you’re planning automation. Especially in the concept development phase of a new packaging machine, there is a great deal of scope for assessing your product packaging – also regarding sustainability – and to use more cardboard in packaging development. As a packaging machine manufacturer who worked mainly with cardboard as early as 50 years ago, Schubert can draw on a wealth of experience and expertise with the material. This is clearly reflected in its highly flexible packaging machines: Many Schubert lines can process both plastic and cardboard packaging. A prerequisite here is packaging that is developed to be machine compatible. At Schubert, Valentin Köhler has taken on this function in the area of carton packaging development. It doesn’t matter whether the customer comes to Schubert with final product packaging, a specific development order or a certain openness to modifications to existing packaging. Only the packaging for very delicate and fragile products is sometimes difficult to implement with cardboard and may require a compromise between the parties involved. But Valentin Köhler is convinced: “It is practically always possible to develop a machine-compatible functional alternative made from cardboard”.

For Valentin Köhler, the topic of future sustainability in packaging development has long since reached the machine manufacturers. “The turnaround towards sustainable packaging solutions is not only in sight, but in full swing,” says the packaging expert. Machine builders who want to take advantage of this trend should plan and design new systems now with a view to later upgrades. We can all still speculate about where the journey with sustainable materials will lead. As practical as cardboard may seem now, there are other options that are being researched. For example, in the area of upcycling: What inexpensive, simple waste product could provide the basis for an entirely new packaging material? A little insider tip is grass paper. The proportion of green waste in such papers is already up to 30 per cent. This is an approach with which the packaging industry may take the next step towards sustainability in the future.