Trimming the Fat Off of Food Packaging

Companies like McDonald's, PepsiCo and Kellogg are getting increasingly smart about reducing the amount of packaging they use. In terms of environmental impact, packaging may not be the most important part of the food chain, but it does make a difference -- and it's what makes the first impression on consumers.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, McDonald's recently upgraded its packaging to make it more sustainable, Kellogg is testing a more efficient cereal box, and Coca-Cola is working with Michigan State University to study greener packaging improvements.

In the UK, grocery chain Tesco just started a really clever experiment: a few locations are asking customers to leave behind the packaging they consider unnecessary. Tesco will then pass on its findings to its suppliers, with the hope of inspiring additional packaging cuts.

Not only does slimmer packaging save money, but green packaging is increasingly important to consumers. A majority will steer away from goods they view as overpackaged, a recent survey found, especially the older generations.

"While it's not a primary purchase motivator for most people, a blatant disregard for it may turn off consumers, who have increasing expectations for brands to incorporate green business practices," according to Brandweek.

The bottled water industry is particularly concerned about the issue. Bottled water has become a major target for environmentalists, who have launched aggressive campaigns endorsing tap water as a more sustainable alternative.

In response, Plant it Water recently released a recyclable carton made by Tetra Pak from more than 60 percent renewable materials. And PepsiCo's Aquafina introduced a bottle that uses 50 percent less material than the old bottles, which will save an estimated 75 million pounds of plastic per year.

But though many companies are rethinking their packing strategies, there's still a long ways to go. Lindt products are mostly packaging, a UK survey found, with chocolate making up only 9 percent of the total volume. And Easter eggs are still particularly overpackaged, even after companies significantly reduced their packaging on these products.

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