Today, an overwhelming majority of consumers feel the pinch from inflation when grocery shopping. In fact, according to Amcor research, 94% of European consumers say that the cost-of-living crisis impacts their grocery shopping.

When it comes to meat, fish and proteins, shelf-life extension and food safety are still primary concerns. However, consumer appetite for more sustainable packaging remains high, despite challenging times.

So, how can meat brands strengthen consumer confidence in 2023 and beyond? Keep reading to find out.

How can packaging support consumers’ sustainability goals?

Recent research found that in the last 6 months, 84% of consumers have made a product choice, at least once, based on the product's sustainability credentials.

Already back in 2020, our research found that 66% of consumers would feel more positive towards companies that can demonstrate efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of their products, therefore reducing climate impact.

Our study showed that the majority of shoppers are keen to play their part in recycling and make more sustainable choices. Some even say they are willing to pay extra to ensure they’re doing their part for the planet. This presents brands and retailers with a big opportunity.

What can meat brands do?

There are a range of packaging options out there, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. It’s very important that brands strike the right balance between sustainability, freshness, and shelf-life in order to gain customer loyalty.

As an example, second-skin meat packaging is an increasingly popular choice that is both more sustainable and reduces operation costs. Solutions - like PrimeSeal™ SkinTite VSP and our flat cardboard skin – offer your customers better flavor, longer shelf-life, and reduced food waste.

Compared to conventional MAP packaging, the flat cardboard skin replaces plastic trays with a cardboard base, reducing plastic use by over 70% and CO2 emissions by up to 45%*. Furthermore, the cardboard base can be easily separated from the film and can be recycled clean and dry.

With consumers becoming more conscious of sustainability and recycling, it’s no wonder that paper and cardboard packaging have a natural appeal. Paper can make an excellent recyclable packaging choice when used appropriately. When derived from a sustainable source, it represents the circular economy in action: originating from trees, harvested to create paper, and recycled to be used again.

While paper-based packaging is already used for dry goods that don’t require a barrier, such as pasta, it’s not always thought of as suitable for perishables such as meat, seafood, and cheese. Because these foods spoil quickly, packaging must undergo rigorous safety testing to ensure the product maintains freshness.

However, meat and cheese producers should not have to miss out on the benefits of paper-based packaging. This is why Amcor launched AmFiber™ Packpyrus paper base-web, a range of paper-based packaging for meat that maintains product freshness. Packpyrus contains at least 85% paper fibers from FSC® certified sources, and delivers a 52% reduction in non-renewable primary energy, as well as a 56% reduction in carbon footprint compared to a traditional plastic APET/PE tray.

We are focused on developing packaging that makes sorting and recycling easy. For flexible packaging, that means moving towards recycle-ready structures based on polyolefins such as Polyethylene (PE) or Polypropylene (PP), or aluminum or paper structures.

Amcor's new recycle-ready thermoforming film offers meat brands excellent packaging performance and improved circularity of packaging. Suitable for fresh and processed meat and fish, the new packaging is heat resistant up to 100°C and is made with low EVOH content without compromising barrier and shelf-life for perishable foods.

Certified as recyclable by Cyclos-HTP, the new PrimeSeal™ Thermoformable Films are recyclable within Polyethylene (PE) streams** and offer up to 80% lower carbon footprint compared to existing PA/PE thermoforming films.

As customers look at ways of reducing their carbon footprint, these new thermoforming films offer both businesses and consumers a better choice when it comes to recycle-ready packaging.

Historically in shrink packaging for meat and seafood, PVdC (Polyvinylidene Chloride) has been the primary material used for the oxygen barrier. Fresh meat is packed in wet and humid environments, so a reliable oxygen barrier that holds up to moisture is essential - and PVdC is very effective for this. However, PVdC isn’t recyclable, and it can contaminate the recycling streams if uninformed consumers attempt to return it for recycling.

Amcor’s new developments for the meat and seafood market are focused on PVdC-free structures, providing excellent shrink performance and exceptional clarity like our PrimeSeal™ Chrystal Shield shrink bag. With its strong abrasion resistance, you can also say goodbye to punctures and leakages.

Making a difference

Consumers are looking to brands to support them in making more environmentally friendly choices. Through more sustainable packaging, meat brands have an opportunity to improve their operations, demonstrate their values, and gain new customers.

At Amcor, we are ambitious about sustainability and helping our customers to deliver premium, environmentally conscious solutions. If you’d like to learn more about our latest packaging innovations, speak to a member of our team.