16 Jul Plastic (not so) Fantastic!
Every year, we produce around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste. So, this ‘Plastic Free July’, we’re celebrating Product of the Year’s sustainability movers and shakers.
Single-use plastics are so last decade. Today, it’s all about reusable, compostable, and natural packaging that leaves less of a trace on the world. The good thing is many brands are getting creative, from using materials like bamboo to cardboard and glass that reduce the traces we leave behind.
Perfetti Van Melle found their eco-mojo with Mentos Pure Fresh Gum (a Product of the Year 2024 winner). Encased in a first-of-its-kind paperboard bottle format, this packaging innovation pushes the boundaries and steps things up a gear. Brands take note!
Innovation is also about the incremental steps you take to improve a winning formula. Yeo Valley Organic Milk 1L Cartons are part of the brand’s organic range ranked the UK’s fastest-growing dairy product in 2020 by AC Neilsen, but the brand took things back to the drawing board with their packaging. The new and improved carton uses 70% less plastic, earning them a Product of the Year. Fellow winner, Barratt Favourites sharing tubs use a hugely impressive 85% less plastic than the original tubs. Now you can enjoy your groceries (almost) guilt-free.
We love nothing more than when a time-old FMCG classic innovates. When Arla introduced the Lurpak Butter Box – the first block butter packaging innovation in 60 years! – they sparked a trend. Iconic in design (beautifully compact and aesthetically pleasing), but also as a sustainable product. The Lurpak Butter Box is 8% less CO2-heavy than the silver foil packaging, which is a step in the right direction to accomplish Arla Foods global ambition to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging by 30% by 2030, compared to 2015 levels.
Green queens and plastic-free pioneers, your time is now – enter Product of the Year to get recognition: https://www.productoftheyear.co.uk/
But don’t delay, the deadline for entries closing soon – 31st July