Ice cream trends 2019: Innovative and sustainable ice cream packaging

Who knows if there is a connection between global warming and the increasing demand for ice cream? In any case, the numbers make it clear: The global ice cream market will continue to develop positively until 2023. This was shown by the market research company Allied Market Research. Accordingly, the annual growth is expected to increase by an average of 5.4 percent. Revenues are expected to increase from USD 70.8 billion to USD 97.3 billion in the forecast period 2017 to 2023. Premium ice cream made from high-quality ingredients is particularly popular, with CAGR expected to increase by 5.7 percent.

As a result, ice cream packaging is becoming more unusual and varied on the market. The main focus is on sustainability and convenience.

Unilever saves on packaging. The new ice cream packaging for the peach ice cream "Solero Peach" is said to contain 35 percent less plastics. Thanks to five integrated compartments in the multipack box and a thin layer of polyethylene (PE) on the inside, the ice lolly products do not require additional plastic sleeves, unlike conventional packaging. Even at high temperatures, the ice cream lollies should not melt faster than in traditional cartons.

The recyclable ‘Solero Organic Peach Pack’ consists of 95 percent pure cardboard; the coating makes up five percent of the packaging. Since June 2019, the innovative ‘Solero Organic Peach Pack’ packaging has been available as a limited test product and exclusively online at the online food retailer Ocado in Great Britain. If customers respond positively, the packaging will be retained.  

Unilever launched the #GetPlasticWise campaign in the UK in early 2019. The company's goal is to make its plastic packaging fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

The food company Nestlé also focuses on sustainability in ice cream packaging. In mid-2019, a pilot project is scheduled to start in New York, where Häagen Dazs ice cream packaging will be delivered in special ice cream containers and collected again.  In partnership with the global recycling organisation TerraCycle, subscribers can receive their food in tailor-made, durable reusable packaging at the front door and return it emptied. The new double-walled steel ice cream containers are cleaned after collection, refilled and reused. The robust material does not affect the consistency of the ice cream during transport. In addition, Nestlé California's innovative container design ensures that the ice cream melts faster at the top than at the bottom when opened. 

Another test project with Häagen-Dazs ice cream was launched in September 2018 in London's Russell Square district. U.S. food company General Mills Inc. wants to use a combination of Facebook Messenger chatbots and geotagging technology to track customers in real time and deliver ice cream to anyone at any time. The ice cream is to be transported directly to the customers in freezer bags from a temperature-controlled delivery van. Results have not yet been published.

Germans also love ice cream. Recent surveys by the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) have confirmed this once again. Overall, ice cream consumption in Germany rose by almost one litre per capita between 2017 and 2018 to almost nine litres.

According to the association, Germans are particularly interested in lactose-free and sugar-free products and vegan ingredients.

Instead of the classic one-litre ice cream container, the current trend is also towards smaller packaging with a volume of up to 500 millilitres. Partnerships such as the one between Unilever and Ferrero also provide the market with new ice cream creations from popular brands such as KINDER, Mars, Bounty and Snickers.

The higher the temperatures, the more likely Germans are to indulge in fruity sorbet ice cream varieties. This was determined by ice cream manufacturer Langnese in 2018, who found out that the choice also depends on the location. Other types of ice cream are popular at the swimming pool than at the petrol station or kiosk.

Caption: The three most popular Langnese ice cream varieties in the ranking. Source: https://www.unilever.de/presseservice/news-and-features/2018/hitzewelle-sorgt-fuer-rekordverdaechtigen-eiskrem-sommer.html

After a Europe-wide test phase, the Finnish packaging company Stora Enso launched its new development "Cupforma Natura Solo™" in May 2019, which is an innovative packaging material for hot and cold beverage cups and ice cream packaging. The cardboard for the packaging is produced without conventional plastic coating. Instead, sustainable alternatives such as 100% renewable Natura PE Green, a material that makes it easy to switch from fossil polyethylene, and industrially compostable Cupforma Natura Bio are used in the ice cream cups.

Due to the strong similarity to conventional polyethylene-lined cups, no new processing technology is required. The wood fibres used come from sustainably managed forests and the packaging is certified.