Frances Butler
ArticleThe Brief: What is ‘shrinkflation’ and how does it affect the packaging industry?
In this edition of The Brief, we investigate what ‘shrinkflation’ means, why it happens, and how it affects the packaging industry. Shrinkflation is generally defined as when the size or quantity of a product is reduced, but the price remains the same. We’ll look at why businesses might make these reductions, how they affect consumers and the need for brands to communicate these changes clearly.
ArticleThe Brief: How to make industrial electrification in Europe a reality
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently published a report setting out its strategies and policy recommendations for industrial electrification in Europe. In this edition of the Brief, we take a look at the proposed strategies and policies and the key challenges that could potentially impede the electrification process.
ArticleThe Brief: could global action eliminate plastic pollution by 2040?
The OECD recently published a report stating that global action across the plastics lifecycle could ‘nearly eliminate’ plastic pollution by 2040. In this edition of The Brief, we outline the organisation’s proposed policy scenarios; the implications of scenarios with ‘partial’ and ‘high’ ambition; and the potential costs, challenges and priorities involved in implementing the recommended comprehensive global policy.
ArticleThe Brief: exploring the use of multilingual packaging
In this edition of The Brief, we explore how companies decide what languages to include on their packaging and why; how multilingual packaging can be effective; and the issues, constraints and potential solutions surrounding the use of multiple languages on packaging.
ArticleThe Brief: How can the packaging industry successfully achieve its sustainability targets?
In this edition of The Brief, we take an in-depth look at FoodDrinkEurope (FDE)’s ‘Sustainable Packaging Pathway’, which gives advice on how the industry can meet the PPWR targets.
ArticleThe Brief: Our guide to sustainable packaging at events
Summer has arrived! And to many people, that means attending festivals, sports events, and concerts. In this edition of the Brief, we look at packaging reuse and recycling in this context – what infrastructure is available, how widespread are deposit return schemes, and how do sorting systems work?
ArticleThe Brief: re-branding in packaging
In this edition of The Brief, we look at re-branding in packaging: why and when companies choose to re-brand, the aims of re-branding, and how it can impact the consumer.
ArticleThe Brief: is the use of straw and grain in packaging a scalable option?
In the last few years, more companies have been producing packaging made from crop waste, such as sugarcane bagasse, molasses, straw and grains. In this edition of The Brief, we will take a closer look at straw and grain packaging and whether it is a scalable option.
ArticleThe Brief: How viable is biorecycling for plastics?
In this edition of The Brief, we will outline the current research and developments happening around the biorecycling of plastics, look at the challenges involved (such as whether it can be implemented at scale), and ask if its place in recycling could be seen as an addition or an alternative to current methods.
ArticleThe Brief: Using ocean-bound plastic in packaging – how, why and should we?
In this edition of The Brief, we will be looking at how ocean-bound plastic is being used in packaging, the arguments surrounding its use (particularly in food packaging), and future plans and strategies to tackle it.
ArticleThe Brief: Sustainable innovations in ‘on the go’ food and beverage packaging
Changing regulations and increased consumer demand have heightened the need for companies and manufacturers to develop more sustainable options for food and drink packaging. Many ‘on the go’ items have been created with convenience in mind but are not always the most sustainable.