Dive Brief:
- Corrugated packaging will likely demonstrate a better performance for food and beverage applications than other paper-based materials, according to Commodity Inside.
- Online grocery shopping and delivery will likely play a major role in corrugated packaging's growth. Amazon already sells thousands of chilled, frozen and perishable products from local shops using this packaging.
- Manufacturers may prefer corrugated boxes for fresh products because they help maintain them for longer and reduce risk of shipping damage.
Dive Insight:
Using corrugated packaging offers food and beverage manufacturers another way to boost their sustainability efforts, according to the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO). Because of its organic content, paper and starch glue, corrugated packaging is natural and 100% recyclable, which may also appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
Corrugated packaging could potentially save manufacturers on shipping costs by weight of the packaging itself. Previously, manufacturers often used wooden or plastic crates and jute bags to transport fresh products, but corrugated packaging is lighter and can reduce shipping weight on each order.
This type of packaging could also potentially cut down on waste because it is easily disposable, according to FEFCO. Manufacturers need only press the box into an old-paper bale at the point of sale or fold it up for space-saving storage until the company is ready to have it taken away or recycled.