A marked shift in consumer awareness and a rapidly changing regulatory environment are driving major change. Companies are responding to this by setting ambitious goals to make their operations and products more sustainable. Those with the right focus are already thinking of ways to design circularity into their systems and products from the beginning, and using innovation as the key to unlocking sustainability.
For the global food packaging industry, this is a time of tremendous opportunity. With today’s digital breakthroughs, the industry as a whole can harness this momentum to reconsider what can be achieved, how, by when and with whom.
With 100 years of history and a strong Nordic heritage in sustainable food on-the-go and food on-the shelf packaging solutions, we at Huhtamaki are committed to making packaging more circular, with a lower carbon footprint and embedding sustainability in everything we do.
But we also believe that no single organization holds all the answers.
Packaging circularity involves everything from raw material (to start), design, production and disposal to recycling, recovery and reuse.
To address the challenges we face—and gain perspective on their true size and scope—all stakeholders must cooperate across the value chain. Only together can we continue to protect the health and safety of consumers and the wellbeing of the planet, and deliver sustainable innovation for generations to come. Together we can learn from one another and dare to make a difference where it matters.
One risk in trying to solve such complicated problems is the so-called progress paradox: decisions that might seem progressive can have unintended consequences and end up hurting the cause. In some cases, these decisions can even make matters worse.
Through this platform, we want to openly address these issues and move towards finding solutions. By reflecting differing viewpoints from a range of contributors—such as leaders from academia, business, the European Parliament, NGOs and other key institutions—we hope to move the circularity dialogue forward, contribute to a common understanding, and help create general conditions for circular businesses to flourish—together.
Think Future. Think Circle.
Thomasine Kamerling
Executive Vice President, Sustainability and Communications, Huhtamaki
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The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors or interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Huhtamäki Oyj or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (Huhtamaki). Huhtamaki makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this publication and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Except as otherwise specified, no article or portion herein is to be reproduced or adapted to other works without the expressed written consent of Huhtamaki.