WPO: multi-layered recycled material with a virgin layer on the inside has overcome several issues especially in the food packaging

WPO: multi-layered recycled material with a virgin layer on the inside has overcome several issues, especially in the food packaging

-Seven times less impact if we go for the plastic bag and even more so if we recycle that plastic.

-the more responsibility that producers of packaging take, the better the outcomes of recycling will be.

The Pulp and Paper Times spoke with Prof.Pierre Pienaar, President at World Packaging Organisation. Mr. Pienaar shares his views on many global key issues such as Food Wastage, Greenwashing, Ready Retail Packaging, Impact of the Covid Pandemic on the Industry, Global Plastic Pollution Treaty, Single-Use plastic, Circular Economy, and many more issues. Here is his full interview:

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Q: Please describe in brief WPO’s areas of work and its objectives.

Our (WPO) focus is education so we go out there and we educate across the world. We have programs running as we talk, across 10 countries right now where we will have educational teams going in there and teaching them about technology of packaging as well as the science and as well as the engineering.Every country is different so our level of education is differentas we adapt our training programs to the country concerned. So if weare in a developing country which is very different being in a developed country when it comes to education. The otheraspects to bear in mind is that we align ourselves with numerous other global organisations across the world, one of them being United Nations more specific United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.

Here we align ourselves with them for the sheer reason because they have access intocountries and we have people on the ground in every country simply because we have packaging in every country. We have programs that are running Oman, Pakistan, Mongolia, and we are looking at Tanzania now so there are numerous projects running and as I mentioned previously there are anumber educationalprojects focusing on independent countries and then we look at countries like China, Indonesia, Philippines, across Africa and Kenya, Tanzania,Ghana and Nairobi just to name a few,we will continue to broaden that as we broaden our educational advice.

Q: WPO’s one of the main visions is about ‘Food wastage’ that can be reduced by better packaging. Food Grade packaging is more dependent on Barrier resistance and biodegradable coating. What is the size of Food grade packaging globally, And what are the WPO’s initiatives to promote the food packaging in order to minimize food wastage?

I can't answer what is the size of the food grade packaging globally, I don't think anyone knows the answer to that question, so let’s just put that question aside. What I can tell you is the fact that if one looks across the developed world and more so coming in from the developing world that more and more packaging is food grade, and why is this?Simply because that if it’s made food grade that it can be used in food grade but also in all other areas whereas though if it’sonly for the other areas it cannot be used for food grade. Slightly different to pharmaceutical packaging but that's not what the question relates tohere. We are finding across the globe more and more packaging is being geared for high-level barrier resistance. 

Why is this so important, it is because of the 35%, and that's a huge figure,  35% of global food is wasted bearing in mind that the 35% is made up of the developed countries, in other words  from the farm to the processing,  than in developed countries from processing to the plate.In other words in the home environments, and those are two different percentages together makes up 35% and then that number is not a finite number either because it could be more. In fact, some have said as high as high 50% and as low as around about 30%, so for the purpose of this discussion, we use the figure of 35% given to us by the United Nations. So what we do know is that packaging is part of the solution and not the problem that is key fundamental aspect and also that amount of 35% where a quarter of that, namely 25% can be solved by having the right packaging, by better packaging, by more suitable packaging, more food grade packaging. This is the message that we push across the world in our training programs and educational opportunities and when we are with the people face to face, right there in their home countries and that is what we are good at, going into those countries and teaching
We have tried it and they are doing it online as well as during COVID but it is a limitations. I’s far better being physically with them. We have commenced that physical presence in 2022 again kicking off the first one on 26th of March in Nigeria. All credit to the training portfolio of the WPO.

Q: What does one understand about Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) in the Packaging, Why it is becoming more demanding nowadays? What is the status of ESG in developing counties?

We focus on sustainability, we have a portfolio in the WPO that is all about sustainable packaging,and wherever we have the opportunity we push that aspect of that sustainability scenario and how important it is in the packaging world. Sustainability is becoming the buzzword and with that goes more demand for it and it makes sense because if we don't do something about sustainable packaging because right now the amount of natural resources that we are using across the world equates to nearly two planet Earth’s. By 2050, if we continue on that same trajectory we will require nearly three planet earth’s. Now we all know there is only one planet earth. So we have got to do something about it. If we do something about it then we will bring it back in line with requiring one planet earth by 2050, that is if we implement these sustainable procedures and ensure that we recycle as much as much as possible.

This is fundamental to the sustainability aspect and I am going to come back to this because it relates to a few questions later on in this discussion as well. Yes, we are finding that there are more countries getting involved in this ESG - Environmental, Social and Governance, there is no doubt about it as we go out there in our various training programs, we push it as well. It’s a double whammy so to say because they are getting it from all sides. This is the way to go folks, we have got to do something about it we have a responsibility to leave the planet in a better place in a better way than we found it. We have the means, we have the knowledge, and expertise to do something so let's stand together and do something about it.

Q: Any product’s impact comes not just from the product itself, but also from how it’s packaged and delivered to the customer. At WPO, how do you evaluate the perception of new-age consumers about compostable and sustainable packaging? Does the packaging keep an ‘edge’ on the Products?

A: There’s a lot in that question in terms of sustainability because we have to as I have just mentioned a moment ago. It drives sustainability and along with recyclability, more so recyclable than compostable. How nice it looks if we don’t litter the countryside or our waterways, seas and oceans and so on. But if we want to maintain sustainability in relation to not affecting our natural resources then it’s all about recyclability. You must look at it not in isolation. You have got look at the total picture in terms of answering this question. The reason for this is, if I take a bag let's just take a A4 size plastic bag and A4 size brown paper bag,  now which one is better for the environment? The immediate answer you would think is that the brown paper bag is better for the environment. Well the answer is not so, if you look at the LCA- Life Cycle Analysis. Looking at the total picture, then all the energy and whatever else is used in chopping down those trees putting it through the Fourdrinier machine and creating a bag, as opposed to taking in the oil refining etc. and by chemically creating a polymer and finally a bag.

Roughly, not specific because each ones is different, but in that scenario I have just painted that picture is then about seven times less impact if we go for the plastic bag and even more so if we recycle that plastic. It's actually less impact in terms of LCA looking at all the aspects, right through the whole process even the ship, trucks and the train that transport the product across the world taking all that energy consumption into account then the plastic bag is better for the environment. So you have to see it in the total picture. 

This the crux of packaging because packaging is not just a simple aspect, it is not just a bottle or box, no there’s a lot of science and technology that goes behind the creation of that particular packaging component and you have to understand all the aspects of that packaging component to come up with a scientific verification which one is actually better for the environment.

Q: There have been more stories about the ‘Greenwashing’, especially for Paper Bottles and Food grade packaging. What is the truth behind this ‘misconception’? Don’t you think that Greenwashing in developing countries is deceiving to the consumers?

Unfortunately because you know “Money is the source of all evil” as they say and yes it's a classic example of that because greenwashing is misleading it's not telling the whole truth and so the majority of the consumers don't understand all the science and technology in the packaging so they are led by these people that are greenwashing.  Lots of greenwashing terminologies and that's why in one of the question I kept it torecycling and compostability because that's clear. Even so because compostability, the question should be asked whether it is in an industrial compostable apparatus or in your garden compost. One must verify that aspect as well to ensure that recycling is the true sense of the word. Now all the other words could be misleading, yes it certainly is, and it’s not only in paper it's also in plastic. It is a misconception or I would say it’s a misunderstanding. But I think in most cases we are deceiving the consumers.

Q: The United Nations (UN) has approved a landmark agreement to create the world's first global plastic pollution treaty; Most of the nations are in the race to curb single-use plastic. Does WPO think that alternative packaging (Paper and Moulded Fibre) will work equally or better than the plastic version?

Again you can't take it in isolation, because certain products will not be able to be packed in paper and board, but rather they will need to be in one of the polymers.This leads me to what I said earlier for those of you didn't quite catch I was talking about making sure that the user understands that packaging is part of the solution and not the problem. The problem is ‘You and ‘I’. What are we doing with the packaging once we remove the contents from it, that is fundamental and probably the most important part of any of these questions. We have to get our own backyard correct and right, and make sure that all the packaging once we remove the contents goes in the correct recycling receptacle.

It can be recycled and therefore it will not impact our environment and that will not use more natural resources. But we recycle that is the KEY. Irrespective of the product because the product required different packaging, some products require metal or glass or aluminium, so this is this question is not clear in what is being asked because it depends on the product.

Now you can take paper or board and line it with the polymer coating or some sort of lacquer that is impermeable. For recyclable alternatives that can be used it's more what type of product it is then what type of material it is because the product development determines the material so long as person performing the designing understands material science, that is key. Those designing must be fully familiar from a scientific perspective of the various material and what they are capable improving.

Q: The Retail-ready packaging industry is expected to grow faster in the coming years, a large number of retailers have turned to measures that cut down on labour. How does WPO assess the future growth of Retail –ready packaging and its disadvantage (if any)?

Retail ready packaging has its place in retail, it's not suited for all types of retail. If one looks across the world, there is a lot of retailing being done that is not formalised or formal type retail as may many of the developed countries might be. But one must understand as I have been privy to, andseen for myself certain Central African and West African countries where a large part of their products are sold on the open market.What do I mean by open market, for some of those developed countries, you might call it a farmers market.

With that in mind, it's not about retail ready packaging it's about where will it be sold. If, I am only looking atretail repackagingin the informal sector, then there is certainly a place for retail ready packaging. And, it works exceptionally well and cuts down on the time in putting the products onto the shelves. 

The impact that it has on the labour force, yes that is a spin-off of it negatively or positively depends on how one looks at it. This is all in the process of engineering development over many years, and for sure, I think there is a lot of future growth potential in retail ready packaging. 

There are certain disadvantages but one must see in the context of where it is used. Is that the majority across the world or only in the selected type formalised retail shopping typecentres.You want to clarify the differences. I think in my travels to various countries over the last four and half years or more, that it is clear to methat this question generally is generated by looking at it more from a developed country’s perspective than a developing country. I think there is a lot of developing countries around the world and they don't need retailready packaging. They’re not ready for retail ready packaging. I don't think it's going to affect them and in the formal sector of developed countries. There’s a certainly a need for such packaging and who knows what the next development will be. It's quite possible that something new will come up regarding that favours  the developing world than the developed world. This is all part of evolution and development.

Q: Covid Pandemic has surged the price of paper packaging multi-folds, the reason behind is costly raw material and spikes in shipping freight, Finished paper price has been almost double. Doesn’t WPO think that the extra burden of price may derail the drive of sustainable and compostable packaging among the various industries?

I think to a certain extent the answer is yes it could well be an extra price burden.However, and this is important is to see it in the total context all of us that are in packaging, as I said earlier on, we have an obligation to the generations that follow us.We have a responsibility to leave the planet in a better place than what we found it. 

I want to stress that before I answer this question, because in giving you that statement I have just told you that in itself means that we need to do something that doesn't use up more natural resources then we should. And certainly not more than what we are using at the moment because already we are using too many, and why?, because we’re not recycling.

Yes, this drive and certainly the pandemic has been an influencing factor, but in the big scheme of things, one thinks back to the Spanish flu that lasted three years from 1918 to 1920. 

The predictions are that covid-19 we'll be around about five years according to those in the in the know of epidemiology. Should that is the case then5 years in the lifespan is only a small part ofCovid that is making the impact. We don't know any alternative now other than to reduce the amount of burden being placed on our planet in terms of natural resources. The price to pay is to ensure sustainability and recyclability, there is no getting around there. I think, in time my gut feel based on what I’m seeing around the world and what I’m hearing, that sustainability aspect will become the norm in 10-15 years like absolute norm and that will drive the unit price down again. We've seen that with many other commodities over time solet's just take the electronic calculator when calculators first came out there were an exorbitant amount back in the early 80’s, now you buy them for a few dollars that does the same function. I'm convinced, that over time prediction, 10 15 years the price will come down.

Q: Being a prominent packaging Organization, what are the major researches being carried out on paper-based packaging in the world? Any breakthrough?

We have a lot of breakthrough’s, all the time new technologies in the paper based packagingindustry, especially in strength and thickness. I think that, in itself is an enormous plus for the paper and board industry, and that they're not sitting on their laurels. There's a lot of work being done and i've seen that prior to COVID when I was doing a lot of travelling that there's a lot of research-based organisations doing fun, real fundamental work in terms of fibres in paper and board. There's no doubt in my mind that this continual research that is being done delivers better outcomes over time.In the past 10 to15 years we've seen a surge in the polymer sector and that's left paper the based board guys a little bit behind. I see that changing, simply because they've been bored and always had a place in packaging and probably will always into the future. In next generation of say 20years 25 years from now,the majority ofthe population will have this perception that paper and board is better than plastic but bearing in mind what I told you a few questions back.With that in mind there will always be ademand by the consumers for paper and board over plastic. I have no doubt about it but and when there's a choice to be made they'll probably go for the paper route even though the LCA is not as good. But if we can continue to recycle that isimportant.So if we can make products out of paper and board that lend themselves to better recycling,and that they can berecycled more than the figure of seven times. Recently there was a study in Austria claiming recycling paper and board 25 times. I am aware that the fibres get shorter and shorter as it's recycled.I do think with this ongoing researchthat aspect is going to be increased. I have no doubt in my mind about that. We will see more recycling happening in paper modein the future.

Q: WPO’s mission of “Better quality of life through better packaging for more people” How does packaging change our life?

Well, we cannot do without packagingabsolutely not,  we can’t buy sugar, flour, milk,and meat especially if it has to be storedwithout packaging. We as a population have putthe pressure on the system and on the industry, to create more packagingfor all these products. We have placed so much pressure on them that we've extended shelf life for freshfood from about seven days some years ago to 70 days and up to 90 days. That is phenomenal how and why-the how is throughpackaging, and the why because our lifestyles are such that if we're from a southernhemisphere country and we're travelling into Europe in northern hemisphere in winter, we still want to eat bananas. How do we do that?, packaging allows us to have bananas outof season in another region. We are to blame for this, but we cannotchange our lifestyle to that of our great grandparents, where the packaging was much less or limited. We’ve moved onand it will take,I don't know what to move us back to 100 or 150 years ago. I cannot see that happening and therefore, we need to now make decisions around where we are in our lifespanof this whole packaging development.

Q: Amid the Covid Pandemic, studies indicate that the virus may stay on surfaces from 3 to 9 days. This is where packaging and material technology comes into play. Pandemic-proof packaging of the future will remain in wider demand across the world or it is just a temporary bubble?

A: The few ways of looking at this question is that my thinking is more that it's a temporary bubble but it's not a short-term temporary bubble, remember a few questions ago,I mentioned that the pandemic is estimated to be around with us for five years that's how long the temporary bubble will last.

I think in 10 years hence this will not be a factor. In other words, in 2032 remember what I said now and see if I’m right or wrong, I don't believe that we will be too concerned about pandemicproof packaging.There may well be far more important aspects to be dealing with than pandemic proof packaging in2032. At the moment, yes the demand is there because our whole focus for the last twoand some years has been COVID-19. Each and every one of us have lived withit every single day for the last 700 and something days. Our mindset is of such that we need pandemic proof packaging for now, but I don't believe in five ten years from now.

Q: According to a journal, In Circular economy infrastructure, we need to track and trace for reusable packaging, Digital Passports and mandatory reporting could provide a way to audit and incentivize reuse of packaging, allowing governments to focus on prevention and to frame packaging as an asset. What is WPO stand on this?

Now this question all revolves around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the WPO supports EPR. No doubt, that EPR can and should and will play a significant part into the future, the more responsibility that producers of packaging take, the better the outcomes of recycling will be. We have to take ownership in producing packaging. We've got to own that packaging and get it back and recycle it.This is working well in countries in Europe in particular Austria, Germany, and Netherlands. But, we need to move that across into more countries around the world. 

Recently WPO undertook a project with Indonesia and amongst other things this was one of the fundamental aspects that had to beput in place in Indonesia which is the fourth largest country bypopulation. To makea more sustainable packaging world for that countrythey saw it as being the answer to current issue, and is also the issue in many other countries too. 

I urge all those that are involved in packaging that this is the way they should be steering it towards i.e.;an EPR system.I urge you to have a look at the WPO website where you will see there that we have a book that givesguidelines to exactly this aspect of recycling.

Q: The plastic industry has been striving to save its existence and as a result, many kinds of research have been conducted to make minimum use of plastic in food packaging. In one research in which three layers of recycled plastic are blown up with one layer of virgin grade plastic where the virgin layer is placed towards the food contact side, Is it a successful research? if this research is successful then 100% paper-based packaging with biodegradable coating has to wait a long time to get the plastic packing replaced as primary packaging for food products?  How does WPO assess this research and its outcomes?

The answer would be yes that is correct that multi-layered recycled material with a virgin layer on the inside has overcome several issues especially in the food packaging. To ensure that the virgin material comes into contact with the food.

This format of packaging has been used extensively over many years and solves many food and beverage packaging issues. It is also used beyond food into food pharmaceuticals.I don't think that the paper and board guys across the world should see it as a negative aspect on their industry, but to rather embrace it and improve the concept even more. So long as that layer on the inside is recyclable and/or sustainable product or polymer based materials that can be recycled or removed to be able to be recycled. What I've seen it would appear to me that the internal lacquers that are being used can be recycled would be the option to go. I’ve seen this in a couple of countries already and working exceptionally well. I think more research needs to be donefrom a barrier perspective.I haveno doubt in my mind we've got some clever guys in in that industry in paper and board and I'm sure that they will come up with the answer so that it competes in that same space with the plastic guys. The WPO would support such research outcomes. We don't we favour one packaging material against the otheras they're all equally important to us because they all form part of themainstream materials being plastic, glass, paper / board and metal. On that note I farewell you and wishing you all the very best thank you.
 

Web Title: The Interview of WPO President on packaging aspects