Food packaging is a constant part of our everyday lives but it’s easy for the more ‘general’ food packaging products to go unnoticed. As we pour our cereal into the bowl, rip open a pizza box or snack on a box of cookies, little thought goes into the many regulations, requirements and extremely clever products that go into producing this packaging. So, we asked Lee Andrews, VP of the Paper and Board Business Line for ACTEGA in North America, to lift the lid on the trends and challenges behind bringing these deceptively basic boxes to market.
First, why is the topic of ‘general’ food packaging a subject that should be of interest to readers?
Well, food packaging for general or everyday products – the typical foods you would find in every grocery store – is the single largest segment within the folding carton market. These products demand high performance coatings to create graphics that pop, protect the package and product and keep the consumer safe. In addition, coatings that cater to this sector need to be high-performing, run at high-speed, and are designed to be low in cost due to the ever-increasing pressures of this fast-paced, value-driven market. Combining all of these requirements makes this seemingly ‘everyday’ subject actually quite complex and worthy of a closer look.
2. But ACTEGA is well-known for its premium coatings and inks, how does your expertise in high-quality printing products translate to products for general food packaging?
ACTEGA has had a long-standing leadership position in some of the most demanding printing markets. Our expertise developing premium coatings to support the most demanding applications allows us to apply these capabilities and resources to all sectors of the industry. We have exceptionally strong teams of R&D chemists and in-field technicians, and the expertise to consult on regulatory requirements to address even the most exacting market challenges. In this case, we’ve taken all these resources and created high performing, low-cost products with the added benefit of the high-level service and support that all ACTEGA’s customers have grown to expect.
So, are these more standard food packaging products new?
Actually no, ACTEGA has been supporting the folding carton market for food packaging for as long as we have been a coatings company in North America. We have a very strong, qualified, stable of products for this market, including many high-gloss, matte, and protective coatings. However, this is a highly dynamic market that is constantly changing as the bar continues to be raised both on the press and on the shelf. ACTEGA is committed to being a leader in this space and we are constantly developing and enhancing our portfolio to be a leader in this market. In addition, we have recently executed a focused review of these products to ensure we are formulating our best solutions at the lowest total cost.
Going back to what brands and customers expect from ‘general’ food packaging products then, how do products like these meet these requirements?
Sustainability is definitely the highest priority for our customers and our customers’ customer. While ACTEGA’s position in the water-based barrier coating market is not new, our ACTGREEN barrier coatings portfolio is pushing the envelope by providing water-based barrier solutions to eliminate polyethylene extruded barriers that simplify the recovery of paper fiber. These products meet the need for an effective alternative to PE laminates and are an example of ACTEGA’s innovative approach to finding new solutions to current market challenges in a safe, effective, and sustainable way.
These markets also demand that we remain highly focussed on performance at low cost. ACTEGA understands that in this market cost pressure is constant. It is our responsibility as a supplier in this highly competitive supply chain to keep keenly focused on product cost and the pressures facing our customers.
Lastly, these markets also demand a relentless focus on continuous improvement. ACTEGA’s sound financial platform allows for necessary investment into our business to optimize product development and our manufacturing footprint. In addition, our ALTANA X Continuous Improvement Platform creates a systematic approach toward getting better. We team this foundation up with a consultative approach in the market to assist our customers in their efforts to get better every day.
With food safety at the top of companies’ priority lists, how do you ensure that this is central to ACTEGA’s food packaging products?
Safe, sustainable products are always central to our development process.
As a company with a global footprint with a far-reaching view of regulatory and food safety expectations, ACTEGA is always designing solutions based on the markets needs of today with a commitment to solving the challenges of tomorrow. Our products are designed to fit within these regulations, and our teams of experts are there to consult to our customers on these complex requirements in both our local and global markets.
What would you say are the key challenges for the market and your customers today? Are there any other trends driving a particular need or growth in this sector?
There are a couple of key trends occurring on a retail level that are impacting the supply chain. Consumer purchasing habits for food products is different today than it was prior to the pandemic. Food service packaging is growing at a rapid rate which has created opportunities for us to develop unique coating solutions for take-out packaging.
Another interesting trend is that consumers are more educated and aware of the downstream impact of waste created by packaging choices. Consumers demand a complete understanding of how their food is being brought to them, how it was packaged and what is the ‘end of life’ scenario for the package. This means customers are driving the behaviour of food companies more than ever before, putting pressure on packaging suppliers to provide better and more sustainable solutions. ACTEGA embraces these challenges and we are positioned to solve these problems for our customers.
What is your vision for the sector and perhaps your predication for its outlook next year and beyond?
The general food packaging sector is certainly a growth market and ACTEGA intends to continue to invest in our manufacturing footprint to support this growth. We will continue to invest in our talented teams to ensure we have the bests teams in the market and the best on-press support for our customers. Lastly, we will continue in our relentless pursuit of advanced technologies to solve tomorrow’s challenges, especially in the area of sustainability.
