SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
smooth machinability without significant infrastructure changes, so transition does not have to mean disruption.”
In praise of plastic The instinctive response for many bakeries to the growing legislative pressure has been to ‘remove plastic’ as quickly as possible. But it is important to understand that not all plastic alternatives are created equal and without careful material selection, there is a risk of creating new problems if replacement materials are not compatible with existing recycling infrastructure or fail to meet the functional demands of bakery products. One myth that Peter Dobosz, Global
Expert PR & Content Marketing at Greiner Packaging, wanted to bust is that modern packaging doesn’t need plastic. “Plastic is often seen as unnecessary, but its value is clear – it can keep bread, rolls, pastries, and cakes fresh for several days by protecting them from drying out and spoilage. “By extending freshness, plastic
packaging can reduce the quantity of baked goods that are wasted, thus lowering the environmental impact of food production. In this context, plastic is far from pointless – it remains a practical tool that helps us enjoy fresh, convenient food at home while also preventing unnecessary waste.” continues Peter.
He went on to highlight that modern plastics can actually have a lower environmental footprint than alternatives such as paper or cardboard, because they are lightweight and can be produced with optimised material use which reduces the energy and emissions associated with manufacturing and transport. “When well designed, plastic packaging can be highly effective for recycling and for incorporating recycled content, helping to close the loop in a circular system, continued Peter. He
argued that true sustainability should depend less on the material itself and more on how the packaging is designed, produced, recycled, and integrated into systems that protect resources and reduce overall CO emissions. Peter also touched on the
misconception that sustainable packaging comes at a greater cost. “While material price alone is often used as a comparison, overall cost is determined by design efficiency, material reduction, processing requirements, and end-of-life performance. Many modern eco-friendly solutions – such as recyclable mono- material structure – use less material, simplify production, and can even replace more complex conventional formats that are costlier to manufacture,” he says. “With requirements for recyclability,
reduced single-use materials, and minimum recycled content becoming standard across markets, companies that adopt compliant, eco-friendly packaging early can avoid future penalties, redesign expenses, and rising costs associated with non-recyclable formats. Over the full lifecycle, sustainable packaging can therefore be cost-neutral or more economical, especially when considering transport efficiency, material savings, and long-term regulatory alignment.” In short, Peter argued that sustainable
bakery packaging is not inherently inferior in performance, quality, or cost. Misconceptions arise from focusing on the material rather than the overall design, circularity, and functionality. Modern eco-friendly solutions demonstrate that
36 • KENNEDY’S BAKERY PRODUCTION • FEBRUARY/MARCH 2026
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