INSIGHT: PACKAGING
Developments in the packaging sector
Alain Sirejacob, Product Manager Steel and Reconditioning at Greif EMEA
Continued demand for lubricants in the automotive industry, growth in the manufacturing sector in Asia-Pacific and Europe, and new legislation leading to higher standards of food safety in the food and drinks industry are just some of the key drivers shaping the growth of the packaging sector. These drivers bring their own challenges but the leading global players in the packaging industry are embracing these new opportunities with investment in innovative, sustainable products and processes. This continued investment ensures close alignment with the needs of customers, across the many global industry verticals.
Demand for packaging is growing, particularly within newly emerging territories but also within discreet industrial sectors in more mature markets. Not surprisingly, each packaging end market has its own requirements and specific needs. However, the pace of change and spectrum of customer requirements is widening, which necessitates packaging companies to be increasingly flexible, well-resourced and responsive to changes across the industry.
For example, within the high end lubricants sector, where brand image is extremely important to customers, there needs to be a strong emphasis on generating an impactful packaging design to support the price point of such products. Leading packaging companies need to link their strong creative input to create high quality design, with leading print technology, to help play their part in the growth of the premium lubricants market.
The food processing industry and focus on food safety continues to drive development in food-grade lubricant packaging. At Greif we have developed specific services and packaging for special lube applications for example “clean” drums, food safe lacquers and BPA free linings. Safety and product integrity are also essential in this marketplace. Examples of developments around this include special
30 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.154 DECEMBER 2019
caps which are difficult to copy as well as track and trace capabilities on the packaging.
There is also a push towards greater use of sustainable products and practices in the industry. Increased awareness about the hazardous impact of industrial wastes on the environment, in the industry and within the general public, has led to more eco-friendly packaging and sustainable practices within the lubricant packaging industry. For example, customer demand for container collection continues to grow and here at Greif we have responded quickly to this trend by establishing an industrial container collecting and reconditioning network, EarthMinded Life Cycle Services, across EMEA and North America.
Companies are also looking at suppliers’ processes, which include their in-house waste programs and systems. Waste programs in Europe are typically backed by the strong regulatory frameworks there. For example at Greif, our EMEA region is very advanced with 31 facilities having achieved a ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ status. Meanwhile other regions, such as North America, pose more of a challenge for packaging companies. Firstly, it can be difficult to identify companies that can recycle or reuse different waste streams. Secondly, the cost of sending waste to landfill remains economic, resulting in a more limited business case to help advocate for alternative uses of waste.
Minimising the environmental impact of packaging is a priority, but when implementing sustainable practices, we must ensure we are not compromising safety. The challenge for the lubricant industry and packaging suppliers is to always find the right balance and there is no doubt that we all need to continue to work smarter to help develop innovative, customer- centric packaging solutions.
LINK
www.greif.com
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