The trend of going green has not left any industry bereaved. Even the packaging and material handling industry has become all set to show its greener face to the world. This write up tries to focus on the impact of sustainability on the packaging world and other related trends that can aid in giving a boom to this industry. Two of the most important vogue that has arrested the packaging supplies and hardware industry are – sustainability and private labels. These are the latest two developments that will be discussed minutely in the following write up.

Sustainability

Sustainability has become the key mantra for every manufacturer as well as supplier of packaging and industrial materials. Be it using post-consumer recycled material or checking a control over carbon emission through energy reduction, sustainability is the 'in factor' in the present economic scenario. With around 200,000 barrels of oil being utilized towards plastic packaging materials everyday, the need for sustainability becomes an essential step. Besides, the 25% housing of paper and cardboard packaging alone is also a rising concern. To counter this, packaging manufacturers are being pestered to reexamine their practices. The rising concern among the consumers too is playing a major role in implementing this trend at a large scale.

With almost 80 percent of the packagers surveyed, some of the main issues that came forefront were need for reduction in waste, energy conservation and inclusion of poly lactic acid (PLA), a plastic alternative derived from corn, and other bio plastic materials in place of petroleum-based materials. Some other steps towards this initiative that too were pointed out were – use of consumer recycled materials and industrial storage and recycled materials.

Besides the fact that various government agencies as well as non profit associations have been involved in this initiative, the manufacturers too are showing great interest in implementing them. The manufacturers are scrutinizing their secondary packaging that is an essential part of their sustainability efforts. Local supply rather than global approach, better and eco friendly techniques of production and greener innovation are some other steps that should be taken to promote greener packaging.

Private Labels

Another popular buzz in this segment is the growth of private labels. By private label, one means products or services that are manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. These packaging labels are becoming an effective way to lower cost when compared to regional, national or international brands. The rise of stores as a powerful marketing tool has helped the package design to become a successful idea in appealing the senses of the consumers. The consumers are eying largely upon this as they cost around 30 percent less than name brand counterparts on an average scale.

Other than sustainability and private labels which form the major trend in the packaging industry, some smaller initiatives like e- packaging and electronic labels too are becoming popular options. Web Handling Processing Equipment is also gaining momentum in the green packaging industry.