Anatalis Packaging


Antalis Packaging looks forward to 2021 and what it might mean for the packaging industry


As 2020, the year that nobody predicted, finally draws to a close, Antalis’ head of business development for packaging, John Garner, offers a mix of realism and optimism as he looks ahead to 2021.


T


he year, 2020 is a year that very few will look upon fondly, but one thing it has shown, according to John Garner,


is the extraordinary capabilities within the UK’s packaging industry. “In the face of the most challenging period in living memory, it has shown a resilience, adaptability and depth of expertise that makes me feel very optimistic for the future. The work rate and innovation from our team here at Antalis over the last few months, as they have supported our customers to adapt and cope with different ways of doing business, has been incredible to witness.” Now the freneticism of the past few months has started to settle, John believes 2021 is about getting back on track with some key issues.


Refocusing on sustainability Prior to COVID-19, the ‘Blue Planet effect’ had brought about a revolution in the way people think about and use plastics, particularly plastic packaging and single-use plastics. However, concerns around virus transmission, coupled with the immediate need for businesses to simply get orders out of the door quickly, has seen issues around sustainability and use of plastics take a back seat. “It’s been a case of act now, worry about the fallout later”, says John. He believes that 2021 is the time


for businesses, and the public, to refocus on this very important issue. While a lot of businesses, have shifted from plastic to paper


20 Green Packaging International ● Winter 2020


Dealing with peak demand.


packaging, other non-wood fibre sources need to be found to support the transition away from plastics. “At Antalis, we’re working on a number of projects to see how we can develop packaging products made from sustainable sources,” explains John, “It’s something that will need to be accelerated over the next 12 months with the new Plastic Packaging Tax scheduled to be implemented in April, 2022.”


Preparing for the Plastic Packaging Tax The Plastic Packaging Tax will see manufacturers and importers paying £200 per tonne on packaging materials made from less than 30% recycled plastic. For many Antalis


customers, packaging film is one of the biggest contributors to their plastic waste and so the company is looking at ways to help them reduce this through achieving better yields, plus Antalis will be continuing its research into other options: “We’re currently looking at a solution using recycled film. First indications are very promising, so we shall be looking to progress this in 2021 along with our investigations into nano films.”


Post-Brexit reality Noise around Brexit has been drowned out over the last few months, but from the 1st of January it will be very much reality. “There is still a degree of uncertainty about how new rules and regulations will affect businesses, but


John Garner.


what is certain is that Brexit will be top of the agenda for anyone involved in exporting to countries in the EU and further afield”, comments John.


Heat treated pallet alternatives The big issue facing many companies is the regulations around heat- treating pallets, which, as part of


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