CPG Cos. Opt for Smarter Packaging

Undaunted by the recession, consumer packaged goods manufacturers are increasingly rolling out packaging that’s better for the environment, offers new convenience benefits and is more functional than ever, according to Canandaigua, N.Y.-based Datamonitor.

Among these innovations is an update of the plastic beverage bottle, which has become, in the research company’s words, “something of a symbol of consumer excess and waste.” Among the exciting new developments in this area is the packaging introduced by Aquamantra Natural Spring Water, which comes in bottles produced by Enso that use a form of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that can be recycled and biodegrades in one to five years. Additionally, State of Mind Bottled Water is available in Planet Green’s Reverte Back to Nature Bottles — “oxo-biodegradable PET bottles” infused with Planet Green’s Reverte additive, which biodegrades over time via molecular degradation triggered by exposure to light.

When it comes to larger CPG companies, PepsiCo has recently launched its Aquafina Bottled Water in an Eco-Fina Bottle using 50 percent less plastic than previously, along with a new compostable package for its Frito-Lay division’s Sun Chips Multigrain Chips, which is said to decompose in a matter of weeks in a compost pile.

Beyond sustainability considerations, smarter packaging is becoming a more common sight on store shelvs. The QuickStrips rolled into the sides of new Sensis QuickStrips Condoms by Grove Medical LLC function like pull-off tabs for adhesive bandages and ensure that the user doesn’t have to touch the condom to put it on, and S.C. Johnson’s new Off! Mosquito Repellent Clip-On is a wearable, refillable product that uses a battery-powered fan to circulate the repellent, making it a unique alternative to spray and cream format insect repellents.

Nielsen Business Media