Packaging Innovations 2023: Are plastics struggling to sell in a “post-LCA world”?

 this could be a sign of tightening legislation against greenwashing, a continued move toward fiber-based solutions and an answer to consumer demand for non-fossil fuel-based solutions. 

PackagingInsights speaks with Paul Foulkes-Arellano, circularity educator at Circuthon consulting, who says the strong smell of plastics throughout the tradeshow hall reflects how the packaging industry is changing.  

“Now we’re back, a lot of the big packaging companies are probably so busy they aren’t exhibiting and I would say that is more on the paper and pulp side – probably because they are in huge demand,” he remarks. “If you look at the guest list from three years ago, a lot of them aren’t here anymore.” 

“What is interesting is if you look around the predominance of plastics companies. Why do you come to a show unless you want to sell and that suggests that they are struggling to sell.” 

Foulkes-Arellano says this is largely due to regulatory changes against greenwashing and the build-up of anti-plastics sentiment among consumers globally. 

“The plastics industry is having to come out and be on the front foot about what they’re doing. If you look at the stands, almost everyone has words like ‘recyclable’ or ‘sustainable,’” he continues.  

This trend has come in response to the UK Plastics Pact, he claims. Every brand that has signed up to the pact, which has over 100 members from various areas of industry, including major F&B producers like Coca-Cola, supermarket chains like Lidl and FMCGs like Unilever, must be compliant by 2025. The pact requires them to achieve 100% plastics recyclability and a 70% recycling rate.