Sustainable Packaging Struggles? You’re not alone!

This product safety and reputation-linked trepidation was raised by over half of the people we spoke to. Many were concerned about how the new options will adhere to health and safety standards - or how the increased material costs could be passed onto the consumer.

So, what are the most common types of tests carried out on sustainable packaging materials? The importance of leak testing, crush and compression testing and burst, puncture and tear testing were highlighted by at least half of our respondents.

Many packaging professionals told us that they are finding it difficult to effectively test and work with new sustainable materials. Some 71% of manufacturers, production lines and laboratories said that their quality control processes were “somewhat to significantly” more difficult with environmentally friendly options. Often it doesn’t seem possible to get the results they need using the existing test techniques and standards.

Quizzed on the reasons for this, our recipients gave mixed responses. Almost half told us that the development of sustainable packaging is hampered by access to new technology and machinery. While others suggested that the problem factored around outdated testing standards, with new processes needed urgently.

Some of the new materials are so new and different that organizations are struggling to define the best approach to testing. We heard that the results returned from testing labs are often of little use, or that there doesn’t seem to be appropriate standards in place to compare the results to. This is unfortunate as, more often than not, a different tool - or methodology - can lead to a breakthrough.