SUSTAINABLE COCOA SOURCING


The confectionery industry also has to tackle the rising tide of regulations which are gradually moving brands towards more recyclable solutions, with measures like the plastic packaging tax, extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR), and the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) placing a host of new obligations on the sector.


The dilemma facing confectionery brands is that over the years plastic has became such a ubiquitous packaging material, and for a good reason. It is incredibly durable, versatile, and low cost, while offering protection against moisture, oxygen, and aroma. So, when looking at alternatives, it is important to remember that the primary purpose of any packaging must be to prevent waste by protecting and preserving the contents as a product moves through the supply chain. Plastic is well-suited to this job, particularly in temperature-sensitive applications like chocolate. However, it is undeniable that the very same properties that make plastic so effective as a packaging material mean it often ends up as waste itself.


While not all plastics are equally damaging to the environment, it is clear that the  for the planet. While soft plastic recycling infrastructure is improving, it still has a long way to go before it reaches the levels of paper recycling. For this reason, switching to paper- based solutions, where possible, can offer a more sustainable packaging solution in many confectionery applications.


While paper is not a natural replacement for plastic, it can be made into one using innovative technology. Parkside, has, for example, been involved in developing innovations that can augment and enhance paper packaging, to make it a viable sustainable alternative with performance comparable to plastic in many applications. Advances in laminate and coating technologies mean that oxygen and moisture barriers can be made using water- based materials, which improve a pack’s functional qualities without affecting its journey through the paper recycling stream. Today, paper can even be metallised without compromising its recyclability,


using


techniques like vapour deposition to add a high-barrier metallised layer that uses so little material it can still be safely recycled. These are ideal for keeping confectionery products dry and cool,


maintaining freshness, and ensuring consumers get the 22 Kennedy’s Confection April 2025 Loacker has been using a sustainable paper packaging solution for around two years.


The confectionery industry also has to tackle the rising tide of regulations which are gradually moving brands


towards more recyclable solutions” indulgent, high-quality experience they


expect when purchasing a sweet treat. Ultimately,


though, Parkside argued


that the overall goal should be to reduce the resources consumed in absolute terms by each pack, even if those materials are recyclable or renewable. This lowers costs both during manufacture and transit and, by minimising the materials used and physical footprint of a pack, businesses can minimise        away from a linear take-make-waste system requires ‘taking’ fewer raw materials in the  an impact this year, taking that step sooner rather than later makes good sense.


A circular solution in action


Italian confectionery manufacturer, Loacker has been using a sustainable paper


packaging solution for its Best of Moments wafer variety pack for around two years. The       by Koehler Paper in a format that sees the material processed into a stand-up pouch. The paper packaging can be disposed of as wastepaper so that it can be recycled. In this case, the corresponding automated paper  packaging paper makes it to places such as the Koehler Paper site in Germany where it can be turned into premium recycled paper that can then be reused to create other packaging solutions.


Commenting on the solution, Gaia


Ferrandi, Product Manager at Loacker says: “It really is a paper product with extraordinary properties. Not only is it  


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