One third of companies say sustainability is driving all R&D and new product development, according to research conducted by Smurfit Kappa. Its survey amongst 200 senior business executives in the UK has revealed that sustainability is transforming the innovation agenda as businesses rethink their products and packaging solutions in an effort to tackle environmental waste.
The research also showed how businesses are focusing on packaging specifically as a key innovation opportunity with seven in 10 businesses citing materials in packaging as their biggest sustainability challenge, followed by collection and recycling at 59 per cent, and the materials used to manufacture products at 56 per cent. Furthermore, almost nine in 10 businesses have included used or recycled material in products/packaging as part of their sustainability strategies.
Smurfit Kappa says 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 eCommerce channel and the use of plastic when transporting goods in the supply chain.
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