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Companies constantly innovate and redesign their packaging to boost performance, improve marketability and enhance sustainability. Here’s a look at five packaging launches and revamps on Packaging Dive’s radar.
Smells like PCR
Personal care brand Every Man Jack launched new deodorant packaging which it says uses less virgin plastic and can be recycled. The new packaging is made with 50% postconsumer recycled material, which will reportedly reduce the product’s use of virgin plastic by 500,000 pounds annually.
The new packaging version is monomaterial polypropylene, instead of mainly PP with some polyethylene, like the previous version. “This mix of materials made the packaging difficult to separate and recycle properly,” said Ted Wang, director of technical services at Every Man Jack, via email. The new packaging is accepted in municipal recycling programs that process PP, he said, noting consumers should check their locally accepted materials.
The monomaterial packaging will be used for all of Every Man Jack’s deodorants and antiperspirants. It’s currently rolling out to retail stores, and 80% of the units on store shelves will feature the new packaging by July, Wang said.
rPET that sparkles
Bottled water company CG Roxane is launching its first line of Crystal Geyser sparkling waters. It’s sourced and bottled in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. The product is packaged in 16.9 fluid ounce-bottles that are with at least 50% recycled PET plastic, like the company’s existing Crystal Geyser spring water offering.
The company operates two rPET facilities in the U.S., in California and Tennessee.
Bean bag
Another redesign with PCR comes from Stumptown Coffee. The lighter plastic bag for its coffee beans also incorporates at least 30% postconsumer recycled content, whereas the previous bags didn’t have any.
The bags also incorporate features to enhance freshness, said Kelly McCann, Stumptown senior manager of product and innovation, via email. The bags have reusable tape instead of the common metal ties for resealing, and they feature a stronger oxygen barrier.
The previous bag was multilayered plastic with a kraft paper outer layer, which is no longer included on the new bags. While the paper made the previous bag look recyclable, it was not, the company says. The new bag can be recycled via dedicated polyethylene collection, such as drop-off collection sites or specialty pick-up services that accept multilayer plastic bags, according to the company.