Judging Packaging
Food (and drink) for thought.
Some trends fizzle out faster than it takes to scroll the length of your Instagram feed. Others? They sink in. They change how we think, live and create. Sustainability should be one of those deep-rooted trends, yet despite all the talk, progress hasn’t been as quick as it needs to be.
The truth is, consumers can only move as fast as the manufacturers let them. And that’s when we, as specifiers and creators, can step in and build the bridge between innovation and what actually lands in people’s hands.
Lind & Lime Gin
ARE SMALLER BRANDS LEADING THE CHARGE?
We’ve found our clients want to be green. They’re hungry for solutions that are smarter, cleaner and better for the planet. Plastic-free packaging has become the go-to option, alongside systems that use less post-consumer waste and take less energy to transport. But lets be honest:
reduced plastic is still plastic.
Burnt Faith Brandy
NOSTALGIA MEETS SUSTAINABILITY
Since 2020, nostalgia has made a comeback, and not just in music and fashion. Consumers are craving the comfort of old habits done in better ways. Remember when glass bottles were the norm? You’d return them, collect a wee pocket of change, and the bottle would be washed and reused. No microplastics. No toxic waste. Just a simple, circular system that worked.
The Green Hustle, Absolut
A SEAWEED SOLUTION?
We’re not there yet, the green revolution is still a work in progress. But one innovation worth keeping an eye on is seaweed-based packaging.
As Notpla Ltd puts it:
“There are forests below the sea that are very dear to us. Seaweed grows quickly, and needs no freshwater, land, or fertiliser. It captures carbon and makes the surrounding waters less acidic… In the quest to heal our ecosystems and food chains from the toxic waste of plastic packaging, it is the perfect companion species.”
And they’re not just talking. They’ve already launched real-world packaging solutions, with more projects on the way. Could seaweed be the plant-based hero that finally kicks plastic to the curb?
The Maclean Foundation
THE MISSING PIECE: GLOBAL ACTION
Recycling. Upcycling. Reusing. Refilling. We’re all making moves, but without a unified global approach it’s like patching a leaky boat with duct tape - it might hold for now, but it’s not solving the problem.
The fight needs top-down leadership as much as it needs grassroots action. Until then, the best we can do is choose wisely, support innovation, and replace old habits with smarter future-proof ones.