Virgin plastics are plastics that have been produced from natural gas or crude oil without any recycled materials and have never been processed before. They introduce brand new plastic into the environment and are a significant pollution risk. Different manufacturers have different timescales for reducing the use of virgin plastics, but it is a common theme in corporate sustainability goals in the food industry. Similarly, many manufacturers are moving away from using “problematic” packaging materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP), which can be harder to recycle.

Materials like cardboard, recyclable aluminum and glass are increasing in popularity as they are widely recycled around the world. In addition, there has been a reduction in multi-layer plastic film which is hard to recycle. This is being replaced with mono-material film that has a better recycling profile.

Alternative compostable packaging materials are also being developed, ones that are made from natural substances. These include plant-based polymers, seaweed-based, or mushroom-based packaging. In fact, the biodegradable packaging market is forecast to reach $25.3 billion by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 17%. This sum illustrates that the drive towards sustainable packaging is not going to slow down any time soon.

Some manufacturers are working with organizations around the world to promote a "circular economy" for their packaging. This involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible. Simply put, it means that companies will take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their packaging. For example, manufacturers are investing in their entire infrastructure worldwide to enable widespread recycling of the packaging they use.

As for the packaging itself, more thought is going into its design to minimize environmental impact. Manufacturers stipulate that packaging designs are simple and clean, with reduced color palettes, and use as little material as possible. The era of excessive packaging is coming to a close, once again driven by consumer expectations.