Numerous companies use water-saving methods when producing their packaging. One such firm is the food group Nestlé that has established its own ‘Water-Saving Initiative’. Photo: pixabay.com/pexel.com

Saving Water with Packaging

An average of 17% of daily water consumption is accounted for by showering, say statistics. Those spending up to ten minutes under the hot water stream and not using a water-saving shower head will see a total of some 250 litres running through their taps– more than for a full bath. In contrast to this such countries as South Africa or Saudi Arabia are struggling with scarce water supplies. The producers of packaging and body-care products are now addressing this issue with innovative ideas.

P&G: saving water with limited-edition shampoo

A packaging solution care of Procter&Gamble addresses consumers’ environmental conscience. US company FMCG had already promoted sustainability with bottles made of plastics washed ashore as early as late 2016. Then the group initiated a pilot project in South California with special packaging for the Pantene Pro V hair-shampoo line, which comes equipped with a timer.

Turn the bottle upside down and off you go! This Pantene Pro V shampoo bottle sets a time limit for you while washing your hair to reduce wasted water. After five minutes the hourglass is empty. Photo: Procter & Gamble

Five minutes for washing your hair – reads the message. The timer is attached to the bottle with silicon tape and reacts as soon as the bottle is placed on its flattened lid. Furthermore, the shampoo can be washed out faster than before thanks to a new formulation. In Los Angeles the online campaign was celebrated as a big success: just under 212 million consumers were reached via social media channels and nearly 2.2 million consumers provided positive feedback with “likes” and comments.

Packaging as an ambassador

Plastic water bottles account for a major share of all food packaging worldwide: in the USA alone some 50 billion plastic bottles are consumed annually. Only 25 percent worldwide are reused – too little in the eyes of a British start-up that has developed edible packaging for water bottles. Based on bio-degradable seaweed the algae envelopes the liquid as a water-tight skin thanks to a chemical reaction during production.

ackaging as the perfect ambassador for increased environmental awareness. Photo: T.D.G. Vertriebs GmbH & Co. KG

However, this type of packaging is not dimensionally stable. Similar to the P&G timer, the body-care bottles from a Hamburg-based natural cosmetics brand also promote reflection under the shower. The imprint “Turn off the tap while using me!” is meant to encourage consumers to turn off the water altogether when soaping.

The future of water

Like with the global SAVE FOOD Initiative to fight food waste and losses, there are more and more campaigns to save water and for its fair distribution worldwide. The industry, in turn, is trying to save water in production. Nestlé – to name but one manufacturer – has reduced the water consumption for packaging production.
Furthermore, the group has initiated campaigns such as the one in Vietnam where farmers can measure the moisture content of their fields with empty plastic bottles and only resort to watering if needed. Another project is underway in Mexico: at the co-called Zero Water Factory the water extracted during milk powder production is collected and used for other purposes.