A new report from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, finds that end users and OEMs often share similar goals but face different challenges when trying to make packaging more sustainable. The report shows that collaboration between end users and OEMs is critical to making packaging more sustainable.
According to The New Material World: Packaging’s Path Toward Sustainability, end users rank cost as their top concern, followed by legislation and regulation, while OEMs place regulation first. The lack of clear federal standards makes compliance difficult, leaving companies to navigate a patchwork of state laws and retailer requirements.
The study, which surveyed 302 participants from both end users and OEMs, shows that both groups see trade-offs as unavoidable. Moving to greener materials can increase costs and sometimes reduce packaging performance or equipment efficiency.
“Collaboration is essential,” the report states, noting that progress depends on both sides working together. End users are feeling the pinch of rising material costs but remain focused on recyclability. Materials like paperboard, corrugated packaging, and clear glass are gaining favor, while polystyrene, foams, and PVC are on the way out. Compostable materials, once viewed as a major opportunity, have lost momentum due to higher costs and limited infrastructure.
