Sustainability in to-go packaging

During the corona crisis, many households once again saw a rise in out-of-home consumption, as restaurants and pubs in many places were forced to sell food outside their premises exclusively. This, of course, went hand in hand with a rise in the consumption of to-go packaging, which consumers expect to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Suppliers of baked goods packaging aim to meet this increased demand for sustainable to-go packaging and offer their customers a huge portfolio of different packaging innovations.

The target group of sustainable to-go packaging has changed; instead of explicitly addressing LOHAS – in other words, people who maintain a lifestyle of health and sustainability – it is now increasingly directed at average consumers.

Especially since the United Nations (UN) passed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 and implemented the 2030 Agenda to achieve the desired transformation of our world, more and more consumers are on the lookout for sustainable solutions – and this includes packaging.

The baked goods sector is predestined for out-of-home consumption and thus greatly values appropriate packaging. Here, hygiene and product protection, convenience for consumers and sustainability play key roles.

To ensure the packaging of baked goods is as sustainable as possible, it first of all needs to be recyclable and must be reused in closed circuits as often as possible. The use of sustainable resources and biodegradable and/or compostable materials can achieve an additional positive effect in sustainable to-go packaging – provided they are used sensibly and do not create competition for foods. The weight of the packaging and the materials used to make the packaging also impact the ecological balance of to-go packaging, as production and transport require less energy and accordingly result in lower carbon emissions.

In 2019, European fresh fibre paperboard manufacturer Metsä Board presented its Prime FBB EB fresh fibre paperboard packaging. It's medium barrier against moisture and grease makes it especially suitable for food and food service packaging as well as to-go packaging. MetsäBoard Prime FBB EB is made of pure fresh fibres. Since the eco-barrier board is plastic-free, it does not require a plastic separation process making it easy and cost-efficient to recycle.