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If we look at all food, 2/3 of food and drink production in Hungary today is filled in some kind of plastic packaging, with the use of glass bottles leading only in the remaining 1/3 (1).
Of course, it is understandable that manufacturers, who generally support environmental sustainability as well as organic values, would opt for glass as one of the most recyclable raw materials.
But what about the other packaging materials, plastic and paper? We often get requests asking us if we can pack spices in paper because consumers don't want plastic.
So let's take a look around and see what the trend is in packaging.
1. Starting from the stove: what is good packaging today?
-based on the fact that it provides mechanical protection for food throughout the supply chain: it protects its quantity and quality (in fact, good packaging prolongs the preservation of product quality and, from a food safety point of view, pre-packaged products are less risky)
-performs marketing and information functions: attractive packaging provides a visual experience, if it is transparent, it is because we can see what we are buying, if it is not transparent but the striking design entices us to buy it. And the information on it helps the consumer.
It also takes into account convenience features: practical, easy to use, e.g. it can be easy to tear, reclosable for larger packs, but importantly not accessible to others in the supply chain, i.e. its authenticity is assured without any visible breach of the closure - so-called 'tamper-evident' packaging
-Economical aspects are highlighted: cheaper packaging material, less quantity, thus avoiding multiple packaging or over-packaging (e.g. plastic packaging even in a separate paper box), and
-transportability, less environmental impact, weight, volume as small as possible to avoid transporting empty space (2) and
-can be cost-effectively recycled by consumers and producers - more on this later.
As we are trying to follow the principles of zero waste, or more precisely the zero waste hierarchy (3), which is more commonly used in manufacturing, we are taking this into account in our developments and comparing it with the needs that our partners are showing us, because only together and together with the end consumers can we achieve a lot.
2. Our guiding principle is to use as little packaging as possible, so we look at how many grams and what functions does each package perform?
- For bulk products, bags: sacks: recycled paper, for ground products PE (recyclable plastic) with lining or PP (recyclable plastic) bags or PE bags, closed by sewing or PE bags closed by welding, bags weighing between 100-200 g. As we prefer less packaging material and therefore larger packs, ALPAKA Ltd. has a price policy from the beginning to offer significantly lower prices for the Lédig products, and if there is only a small difference between the quantity ordered and the weight of the product in the bag, we will negotiate with the customer to obtain the product in its original packaging at a lower price.
-gastro products - 1000 g and 250 g packs: our pouches (aroma-barrier (4), vapour-barrier (5), in some cases light-retardant bags - e.g. for hot peppers, the Food Guide (6) requires that they be packed in "light-retardant, non-absorbent, non-permeable packaging material") are functionally
-multi-layered,
-transparent on the outside,
-resealable (tamper-evident),
-adjustable at the bottom,
-with an easy-access notch
-smallest 250 g bag weighs 7 g, largest 5 kg bag 26 g
- these features make our very fine quality, special spices clearly visible, so that the products sell well at retailers, and the resealability helps to maintain quality.
We use several types of pouches for these:
-KpeE-KPE (metallised plastic) bags (non-recyclable)
-extremely paper, with a plastic layer inside (non-recyclable)
-for the smallest products, BOPP or LDPE (plastic) pouchess (recyclable), weighing only between 1 and 2 g,
-for individual orders, e.g. Christmas gift gastro products with glass, metal sealing caps- the weight of the glass is significant, making them less economical to transport and cost, but they are still the most popular for small quantities of gifts.
3. What innovations have we introduced in 2022 in our packaging at ALPAKA Ltd?
We are constantly consulting with our packaging partners and visiting food exhibitions to find the best packaging for spices and teas, i.e. the lightest and most recyclable packaging possible. In 2022, 2 new packages will be available:
-for our new small packs, up to about 100-200g, our new logo-printed recyclable paper bag, which can be sealed by welding and is also aromatic but not transparent. It is an innovative packaging material made from fibre pulp, paper quality, yet still heat-sealable, with a greaseproof layer to allow direct contact with dry, wet and oily food. The pouch weighs 5 g. If you are looking for this type of packaging, please ask for our individual quotation.
-New to our new Pink.Pepper.Pro range is the transparent PET bottle packaging, sealed with a PP spray cap for induction, guaranteed seal and convenience of use - which are selectively recyclable. The small bottle weighs 28 g, the large bottle 46 g and the cap is 10 g for both.
These products will be available from the beginning of November 2022 on the webshop: https://webshop.fuszerkereskedelem.hu/en/spl/966932/Bottled-Products
To learn more about the recyclability of different materials, we recommend you visit:
https://plasticoceans.org/7-types-of-plastic/
4. Food safety, environment and packaging
EU requirements (7) and (8) for packaging materials are that they must be quality certified and have adequate leaching values to be used for specific types of food, such as spices with high oil content, without contaminating the food. We always buy our packaging materials from reliable partners with whom we have a long-term cooperation. And when it comes to packaging, we use closure solutions (most often welding) that also prevent contaminants from entering the food.
It is important to note that, as a food producer, we also play a financial role in addressing the challenges of the environmental impact of packaging. We have to pay an environmental product charge on all packaging that is imported into the country and on packaging that we produce and buy ourselves. We declare and pay the product charge for these by type of material, based on their quarterly quantity, with the aim of assuming responsibility for their recycling and neutralisation after use.
5. Europe's solution: the EU circular economy model
Today's society has been characterised by an unsustainable linear consumption pattern, i.e. acquire-consume-dispose. The EU's circular economy model (9) aims to redefine this behaviour by making used products recoverable and storable. The basis and starting point is reuse planning, for which a useful guide has been developed and is now available in Hungarian on the GS1 website (9).
Objective 3:
1.Reduce
Reduce the amount of material used to avoid waste from packaging.
2.Reduce to Reduce (Reuse)
To enable reuse of used packaging, for example after cleaning.
3. Recycle
To design packaging in such a way that it can be recycled to produce quality secondary raw materials.
-In this economic model, packaging design is a priority, and I can also give an example from Biofach of the importance of this. We admired the pre-packaged, assembled dried fruit, fruit mixes and oilseed products in glass jars of an Austrian organic smoothie, protein shake and snack company. The contents of the pretty little jars can be turned into a ready-to-eat smoothie in seconds using a blender or grinder that can be bought with them and, because of the way the jar is threaded, can only be used with them.
But when we asked the representative how they could arrange for the collection, transport and recycling of the bottles, he said that they were still thinking about it. Because upcycling can be a good solution for a few pieces, like you can use the washed glass for toothbrush holders, candle holders or jam next summer, but these are small quantities. And in hindsight, it seems much harder to find a solution than when it's taken into account at the product development stage.
The circular economy model emphasises the life cycle approach to products, which is further elaborated in 8R, in addition to the 3Rs presented in the above-mentioned guide: Rethink/Redesign (reconsider whether so and so much packaging is necessary), Refuse, Reduce, Repair, Reuse/Repurpose , Recycle, including Upcycle (value-adding), Downcycle (value-reducing recovery) and, as a last resort, Recovery (energy recovery) (10).
6. Why should pre-packaged products not be an enemy?
In addition to packaging functions, there are other topical aspects of today's world that may justify the presence of pre-packaged products. One-serving products, for example, in view of the fact that in our fast-paced world there are fewer meals together. In such cases, it is more important to reduce the amount of food thrown away through common solutions.
By the way, do you know why it is so important to reduce the amount of food that is thrown away? I heard data on the Circulation podcast that 1/3 of the world's food today ends up in the trash. One more fact: in this country, according to the NÉBIH survey, the amount of food waste generated is about 68 kg per person.
So for this 1/3, we have wasted resources, soil, water, energy, labour and, of course, packaging material, all for nothing.
In addition, even for larger households, pre-packaged products have the advantage (e.g. thanks to modern packaging or heat treatment) of retaining their quality for longer, making them less likely to go to waste. Once again, 1/3 is still thrown away.
7. NÉBIH Recommendation on the use-by date for products with an expired best-before date (11):
And one small digression, but useful enough from a sustainability point of view. Despite the date of minimum durability indicated on the packaging, the Hungarian authorities themselves consider certain groups of products to be safe to consume beyond that date.
In the gap-filling Recommendation, experts have compiled a list of how long after the date marked on the product, certain products with a best-before date can remain safe. The recommended intervals should be taken as a guide for properly stored foods, and it is important to note that in all cases, only an individual weighing scale can determine whether a product is safe to eat.
spices: plus 9 months
teas: plus 12 months
- After this additional period of preservation, these foods can be consumed responsibly and even donated.
8. What can be expected?
A generation is growing up who are already part of the climate-anxiety generation. For them, plastic thrown into the recycling bin means a lot at the individual level and if consumers and manufacturers do this on a mass scale, something bigger will be set in motion. What's more, if there is a packaging-free shop near you, shopping there on a daily basis will give you a good experience of the obvious value of packaging-free, which will reinforce environmental awareness in the long run.
Smart packaging (12) may soon become widespread, with functional requirements including improving the quality of food and actively responding to changes in the food or its environment, which is important for fast-perishing foods.
In the area of labelling and on-packaging information, an exciting step forward could finally be the inclusion, from 2024, initially on a voluntary basis, of the eco-footprint of a food, which should be as colourful and practically informative as the energy class of electronic products, i.e. the letter A in the large green box would indicate the food with the smallest environmental footprint and the most environmentally friendly production, while the letter G in the red box, moving towards red on the colour scale, would indicate if the food in our hands has been produced using huge resources compared to others.
Also of similar importance is that manufacturers are beginning to include nutritional values on the labelling of packaged food, although the purpose of this is slightly different, as it has a role to play in balanced nutrition. However, in the same way, moving up the colour scale from green to red, from A to E, an indicator is used to indicate the more nutritionally beneficial composition of a product. The use of this labelling system has already started in pioneering countries and food companies, with France introducing a nutrition labelling system called Nutri-Score.
9. What can we at ALPAKA Ltd do to combat climate change or to promote sustainability?
First, this year we looked at where we can make a difference. The topic of packaging materials and packaging and its possibilities have been covered in detail in this article.
But we also found one more point: we believe that by introducing organic spices into our products and making organic quality available to the food industry and food businesses, we can do more to help the planet live longer.
Therefore, from 1 January 2023, around 50 organic spices will be available for ordering in the webshop, in the usual 1000 g and 250 g sizes (whole bags will be available on individual order as a start). We will try to continuously expand the range of organic spices according to demand next year, including teas and tea blends if necessary. Our operations and products are certified by the Biokontroll Hungária Nonprofit Kft.
Their packaging is one of those described above, we strive to protect the products in the best possible way.
I have to admit that during the preparation and packaging of the first organic products we were surprised ourselves, some of the spices smelled so fresh, rich and exciting. And we thought, based on the experience of the last 17 years of production, that we could recognise their fragrance notes from a distance, with our eyes closed. So we are looking forward to 2023.
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