INDUSTRY News
The challenges to widespread adoption of sustainable packaging
International research into sustainable packaging carried out by Industrial Physics, a packaging, product and material test and inspection company, has found that almost half of the 255 global packaging professionals (49%) it surveyed said meeting testing standards was one of the biggest challenges they faced in the wider adoption of sustainable packaging materials.
Almost three quarters of those surveyed (71%) found quality control processes ‘significantly’ or ‘somewhat more difficult’ with sustainable packaging materials. Some 69% cited cost as the main challenge to transition to sustainable packaging. And where more suppliers are needed rather than one trusted provider, this is a further problem, because quality control processes need to remain consistent, supported with packaging integrity testing. “Processes are constantly evolving and sustainable packaging involves using completely new materials where there may not be test methods already established,” said Greg Wright, Global Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Industrial Physics.
The Sustainable Packaging Research Survey also revealed that respondents think that new standards (52.5%) and new legislation/regulatory requirements (41.6%) will have the most impact on sustainable packaging innovation over the next five years.
The survey found that most companies are actively seeking sustainable packaging solutions but in doing so they experience a range of additional challenges, including optimising material performance to protect goods (53%), passing increased material costs onto the consumer (50%), and the ability to meet safety and testing standards (49%). The research offers an insight into the future of sustainable packaging and explores adaptations that manufacturers and the industry as a whole will need to make in order to deliver innovation and implementation around sustainable packaging materials.
ABB COLUMN
SEVEN WAYS THAT ROBOTS COULD PAY FOR THEMSELVES
Uncertainty about return on investment is one of the main hurdles holding many UK manufacturers back from investing in robots. While a growing number of companies are interested in the possibilities that robotic automation can bring, many remain unsure of how to go about justifying the case for an investment in robots. A good starting point is to consider the areas
where robots can help optimise production and boost profitability by assisting workers and helping to transform productivity, flexibility and competitiveness: Improved product quality and consistency – Capable of performing the same task time and again to the highest levels of accuracy and repeatability, robots enable consistently high-quality finishing of materials, helping to substantially reduce breakages and wastage and maximising yields. Increased production output – Robots can be left running overnight and during weekends with little supervision, so you can increase your output levels and meet your client’s order deadlines. Increased product manufacturing flexibility – Able to be easily switched between different production programs, robots enable you to get the most from your investment by providing the flexibility to handle a wide range of different products. Improved utilisation of production space – Available in
a growing range of compact designs and with floor, ceiling and wall- mounted options available, robots can help you to make the most of your available production space. Improved quality of work for employees – By taking over tedious, repetitive or dirty tasks, robots can improve both job satisfaction and employee retention by enabling workers to perform higher value tasks, including programming and operating the robots. Improved health and safety – Robotic automation significantly reduces the likelihood of accidents caused by contact with machine tools or potentially hazardous production machinery or processes. They can also eliminate injuries associated with repetitive or intensive processes, such as heavy lifting or repetitive tasks. Improved predictability – By reducing wastage and speeding up cycle times, robots provide better predictability, allowing you to optimise production and efficiency and reduce capital costs through improved inventory control. Nigel Platt LBL Manager, UK and Ireland, ABB Robotics
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | April 2022
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