Smurfit Kappa study shows more UK businesses apply sustainable packaging

Smurfit Kappa study shows more UK businesses apply sustainable packaging
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Smurfit Kappa, a paper-based packaging company based in Dublin, has released a new survey that has revealed that more businesses are rethinking how to sustainably package their products. 

The company’s Sustainability and Profitability Survey was conducted among 200 senior business executives in the U.K. According to a news release from Smurfit Kappa, the survey results indicate that sustainability is driving research and development and new product development in more than one-third of companies involved in the survey.

The research also shows how businesses are focusing on packaging specifically as a key innovation opportunity with 70 percent of businesses citing materials in packaging as their biggest sustainability challenge, followed by collection and recycling at 59 percent and the materials used to manufacture products at 56 percent. About 90 percent of the businesses have included used or recycled material in products or packaging as part of their sustainability strategies. 

“This research highlights that businesses are now having to address sustainability in a challenging economic environment, and consumers will continue to drive the sustainability agenda,” says Arco Berkenbosch, vice president of innovation and development at Smurfit Kappa. “There are plenty of easy wins for suppliers to tackle in the global packaging industry without driving up significant costs, starting with reducing the amount of empty packaging in the e-commerce channel and the use of plastic when transporting goods in the supply chain. We have found that there is growing demand for products in our Better Planet Packaging portfolio, which are sustainable alternatives for single-use plastic.” 

As more companies shift to using sustainable packaging, Berkenbosch says it will be critical for businesses to invest in innovative solutions to deliver successful sustainability strategies. 

The survey also examined consumers’ views on sustainability and how they are adapting to create a more sustainable future. Based on those respondents’ inputs, about 37 percent rate packaging design as important when making a purchasing decision. More than half of consumers have purchased a product specifically because it had reusable or biodegradable packaging in the past six months. 

According to Smurfit Kappa, about 80 percent of businesses surveyed view sustainability as a long-term investment rather than a cost, especially as consumers’ attitudes toward sustainable practices are changing. 

The survey results can be viewed in Smurfit Kappa’s Sustainability Reshapes the Business Landscape for Good report, which is available to download here. 

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Source: Recycling Today
Smurfit Kappa study shows more UK businesses apply sustainable packaging
<![CDATA[Smurfit Kappa, a paper-based packaging company based in Dublin, has released a new survey that has revealed that more businesses are rethinking how to sustainably package their products. The company’s Sustainability and Profitability Survey was conducted among 200 senior business executives in the U.K. According to a news release from Smurfit Kappa, the survey results indicate that sustainability is driving research and development and new product development in more than one-third of companies involved in the survey.The research also shows how businesses are focusing on packaging specifically as a key innovation opportunity with 70 percent of businesses citing materials in packaging as their biggest sustainability challenge, followed by collection and recycling at 59 percent and the materials used to manufacture products at 56 percent. About 90 percent of the businesses have included used or recycled material in products or packaging as part of their sustainability strategies. “This research highlights that businesses are now having to address sustainability in a challenging economic environment, and consumers will continue to drive the sustainability agenda,” says Arco Berkenbosch, vice president of innovation and development at Smurfit Kappa. “There are plenty of easy wins for suppliers to tackle in the global packaging industry without driving up significant…