"To Go" is the trend

Sustainable convenience packaging: a salad bowl made from recycled PET.What is important for contemporary and innovative packaging: This is shown by the easyFairs^®-The "Packaging Zurich 2014" and "Packaging Innovations Zurich 2014" trade fairs will be held at Messe Zurich on March 26 and 27, 2014. All the nominated and award-winning exhibits from the Swiss Star Packaging Competition 2013 will also be presented to the general public there, for example the "Vegi-Snack" vegetable shaker developed by Bachmann Forming AG / Neuzeit AG on behalf of Gebrüder Meier AG. The Swiss Star jury praised the shaker as a "good practical example" of high functionality and ease of use. Innovative materials and precise dosing were convincing features of the "Practical Pouch" - a stand-up pouch (Doypack^®) with a special spout (silicone membrane) and easy-opening reclosure for liquid or semi-liquid products, developed by a team around Cellpack Packaging on behalf of Famille Michaud Apiculteurs. These concepts, like others submitted for Swiss Star, set the tone for packaging innovations of 2013: Saving resources, demonstrating new possibilities for production and design, and generating more benefits and convenience for the consumer.Sustainable conveniencePackaging "To Go" - this is often associated with a trend towards disposable products in modern consumer society. One thing is certain: The production of packaging consumes energy and raw materials, and resources are also needed to reuse, recycle or dispose of it. Another trend is that the mobile society is buying more convenience products, which are packaged in ever smaller portions and consumed more quickly. More is therefore packaged per calorie we consume. Accordingly, the amount of packaging waste is also increasing. However, "To Go" packaging and sustainability do not have to be a contradiction. On the contrary! Packaging innovations offer new opportunities for the conscious and sustainable use of resources - for example, through improved reclosability, the use of environmentally friendly materials, or the saving of raw materials, materials, energy and working time.With a view to greater sustainability, manufacturers are increasingly paying attention to avoiding superfluous packaging. Some companies are reducing the packaging of their products - the bottle for drinking yogurt or body lotion is becoming lighter, the foil in the lid is being produced thinner. At the same time, however, packaging is becoming more costly because it plays a greater role in selling products in the first place. In a supermarket, an average of 170,000 products compete for buyers. Most purchases are spontaneous, which is when packaging is crucial. Packaging should stand out and be distinguished from others by color, shape, surface and gloss. The material is coated, printed or otherwise refined. The yogurt cup gets an extra bend to distinguish it from other yogurt cups. Chips and sweets should crackle appealingly, the juice bottle should fizz and pop appropriately when opened.Successful combination of ecology and designThe Swiss Star jury explicitly awards not only consumer-friendly and highly functional, but also sustainable concepts - in 2013, for example, a novel convenience salad bowl. The angular plastic container - commissioned by Coop, developed by awtec AG - is made of recycled PET and integrates croutons, cheese and lettuce fresh and crisp in different chambers. The shake function allows everything to be mixed without ruining your clothes. The convenience function facilitates a quick snack. And disposal is also a breeze: the functional design means a third less plastic ends up in the trash. Recycled PET and less transport weight due to a reduced wall thickness of the container additionally protect the environment. The jury found: "The combination of ecology, design and convenience is very successful. "Visitors will find detailed descriptions of these and other Swiss Star 2013 exhibits on the presentation area at "Verpackung Zürich 2014" and "Packaging Innovations Zürich 2014" on March 26-27, 2014.