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d more packaging, in original shapes and with colourful graphics, is making its way onto Polish shelves. According to Grzegorz Karaś from Famag, interest in biodegradable films is growing and he sees that this could be more widely in use in the years to come.
d more packaging, in original shapes and with colourful graphics, is making its way onto Polish shelves. According to Grzegorz Karaś from Famag, interest in biodegradable films is growing and he sees that this could be more widely in use in the years to come."I think that the trend to follow is bio-degradable packaging. For years, there has been a growing awareness of Polish consumers who, in addition to healthy food, are asking for ecological packaging. The packaging consists of various raw materials such as cellulose, starch, vegetable oils, glycerol and other recyclable materials. However, the number of producers and the price of these raw materials is still high. On the one hand, we see pressure from supermarkets to find new sustainable solutions, but on the other hand, they are not willing to pay for the higher production costs," explains Grzegorz.
Packaging sizes continue to decrease in Poland, especially for vegetable like potatoes and onions. Instead of the traditional large netted packaging, many producers are switching over to novo-pack net bags 1-3kg, vertical forms (VFFS) or flow-pack. The type of packaging the a producer ultimately goes with to do with several factors such as consumer awareness, a wide range of choice, convenience or demography.
"This year's drought caused a decrease in vegetable production by around 15-20% along with quality issues, especially for potatoes. A majority of Polish potato growers are focuses on processing, so the producers who do produce are focused on getting more attention and increasing consumption by improving the material quality and appearance of their packaging. I believe that OPP, PPCast and PET films will play a special role in the near future," said Grzegorz.
"We are introducing some new packaging products this year. One of these new products is laser perforation, which helps extend the shelf life for fresh fruits and vegetables. A balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide is needed in the packaging to preserve freshness and the laser perforation helps keep the correct balance. We are able to add laser perforation to various types of mono films and laminates, and after we add the flexographic printing and antifog lacquer, we are left with a high quality, conscious packaging."
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