NEWS | Industry Updates
Health should be #1 driver in food and beverage development
Despite the current global atmosphere of financial uncertainty, consumers surveyed recently by Innova Market Insights say that health should be the key driver of future food and beverage product development. Additionally, consumers prioritise health over affordability. “Health benefits remain at the top of the list for consumers,
even in financially challenging times,” says Lu Ann Williams, global insights director at Innova Market Insights. “Consumers we surveyed around the world are sending a
clear message that health is the number one driver of food and beverage purchases, ahead of factors such as affordability, flavour, and naturalness.” Williams points out that nutrition rises to the top in a number
of measures of consumer sentiment around health and wellbeing, with three in five consumers surveyed globally saying that healthier living also means following a healthy and nutritious diet. Interest in functional nutrition is on the increase in many countries, with growing numbers of consumers globally saying they choose products that positively boost nutrition, immunity and (gut) health. In addition, nearly 25% of consumers agree that functional ingredients that boost physical or mental health are worth paying more for. However, Williams stresses the importance of innovative nutritious options that also are affordable. “Three in five North American consumers surveyed by Innova in
2023 report that they are looking for simple and more affordable nutritional solutions to meet their needs, and nearly half agree that it is difficult to eat healthily because nutritious foods are less affordable.” Innova takes an Insights 360° holistic approach that combines consumer data with intelligence on category, product, ingredient, flavour and packaging innovation. “We are actively watching the marketplace for the next generation of functional foods, beverages, supplements, and ingredients that offer to help consumers cope with the challenges of the future,” says Williams.
Packaging producers embrace the circular economy but few act ahead of legislation
New research commissioned by material technologies business, Aquapak, with sustainable packaging producers and users in the UK, Italy and Germany, shows that European packaging businesses are committed to the circular economy, but few are acting ahead of legislation. The study shows that the majority of businesses (85%) have a
circular economy strategy which involves reusing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible, with 21% saying they will be fully circular within three years. Almost a quarter (24%) have a three to four-year time frame for achieving circularity and a further 23% expect to meet this objective within four to five years. However, 11% said that they did not have such a strategy in place and a further 5% didn’t know. With forthcoming legislation such as the revised European Commission’s Packaging and Packaging and Packaging Regulation
(PPWR) as part of the Circular Economy package set to have a major impact on packaging and packaging design, the study also explored how this was affecting the rate of change in businesses as they seek to improve sustainability and circularity. Just 20% of businesses said they are acting ahead of legislation and 45% said they respond quickly to new rules when they are announced. However, 24% described their rate of change as ‘medium’ and 10% as ‘very slow’. Commenting on the findings, Mark Lapping, chief executive
officer, at Aquapak, said: “Our study shows the European packaging producers embracing the circular economy, with a focus on achieving full circularity. At Aquapak, we are supporting this goal by helping our customers use the world’s resources more effectively by reducing waste and increasing the reuse of valuable materials as part of the circular economy through new technologies which provide the functionality needed to protect products, whilst reducing the impact on the environment.” Aquapak has developed Hydropol which can be successfully
coated on to both paper and board and if littered is biodegradable, compostable, as well as being non-toxic and marine-safe.
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