Need for Sustainable Packaging in Meat Industry

In 2016, India exported US$ 5 billion of meat. By 2022, the Indian meat market is estimated to touch US$ 65 billion as compared to US$ 31 billion in 2018. 

According to Central Pollution Study board, India produces 26,000 tonnes of plastic every day. Data provided by FICCI confirms that the plastic packaging industry in India is worth US$ 32 billion.  

As of today, more than 50per cent of consumers in the US pay heed to recyclability, sustainability and biodegradability of packaging into account while purchasing products. In fact, according to a study done by Dataessential, 43per cent of consumers believe that it is vital for retail packaging to be recyclable and reusable.

 Need For Sustainable Packaging

For meat consumers, there are still lots of uncertainty about the packaging of meat regarding whether it is recyclable or not. 47% of customers in European countries state that sustainable meat packaging is their primary choice. The health of the animals, the origin of the meat products, and the influence on environmental of meat products packaging are as a whole influencing the buying perspectives of customers.

Improved Preservation Of Meat

Meat is extremely perishable and requires packaging with superior performance, ensuring attractiveness, freshness, and safety of the meat products. Plastics caters an amazingly essential goal — guaranteeing that the meat delivery to the users safely with extreme freshness. Dropping the use of plastic in packing the meat products would drive to a massive acceleration in wastage of food. It is necessary that we place the function of packaging into a prospect. For instance, the carbon footprint of beef weighing around one kilogram is almost four hundred times that of the used packaging of plastic in it for preserving it during shipping & retail trade.

Better For The Planet

Thus how can we reach both? How can we satisfy the increasing user expectations for recyclable packaging while guaranteeing the rising standards of food safety & protection? New, technologically advanced packaging items are hooking up and filling up the breach among the practicality of business & demand of clients. Concurrently with highly appreciated Belgium-based concocted meat products and chilled prepared meals yielders. Amcor generated impressive laminates made up of paper – Packpyrus – to pack concocted meat shipped in major merchants of Benelux.

Requires Less Energy and Cost

Trays which are created using sustainable methods require low levels of heat for sealing which reduces the energy consumption of the manufacturer by 15per cent. Alternative packaging materials are lighter and therefore could result in cost reduction . Lightweight materials would also cost less to be manufactured.

Transparent Packaging Helps Customers to See the Product Directly

Traditional packaging methods end up covering the meat completely. Therefore the consumer wouldn’t know whether the meat is bad unless the packaging is removed. Sustainable packaging methods also play  huge importance on keeping the packaging transparent so that consumers can literally see and then pick the meat product that they wish to buy.

 Toxin-free: Sometimes, even if the meat is produced organically, the packaging ends up creating toxicity into it. Sustainable packaging uses materials which are allergen and toxin-free. This ensures that the quality of the meat remains uncompromised. In fact, consumers are getting aware of the non-toxicity of bio-degradable products and hence getting attracted to brands which are using these for packaging.

Improves Brand Image: Being a user of sustainable packaging material projects the brand image as caring for the environment. This not only enables a brand to receive positive press but also earns respect among consumers who, as written earlier, wish to reduce their carbon footprint.

Read more: How Online Ordering Is Revolutionizing Food Industry