How Flexible Packaging Redefines Home and Personal Care
Trends
December 4, 2023Reading time: 2 minutes
Home Care and Personal Care products are experiencing a period of change. Many consumers are actively seeking more sustainable products. At the same time, the growing cost-of-living crisis is placing importance on affordability. How can your brand meet these demands? By being a little more flexible.
Home Care and Personal Care products are experiencing a period of change. Many consumers are actively seeking more sustainable products. At the same time, the growing cost-of-living crisis is placing importance on affordability. How can your brand meet these demands? By being a little more flexible.
Why are flexible formats like pouches popular?
Many household cleaning products and personal care products have traditionally been sold in heavy HDPE bottles and jars. Now, many brands are either switching to flexible packaging (such as spouted pouches) or complementing their bottles with refill pouches. Let's explore why.
Flexible spouted pouches use less plastic and support refills. Pouches can deliver a reduction of up to 90% in packaging weight compared to HDPE bottles, with up to 65% lower carbon footprint.
Flexible packaging supports the trend towards refillable packaging options. Refill pouches for household items like soap, cleaners, and detergents enable consumers to reuse existing bottles and containers, contributing to a circular economy. Better still, flexible packaging takes up little space in the recycling bins of consumers.
The increased sustainability of the refill model appeals to shoppers. Protecting the earth is now a priority for many consumers and 57% say they would pay more for packaging that’s better for the environment.(1)
Another important reason for the popularity of refill pouches with shoppers is the growing cost-of-living crisis across Europe. Consumers are more conscious of their spending habits, opting for brands that offer cheaper refill solutions to save money.
Lightweight and ecommerce-friendly
In addition to its lower environmental impact, lightweight packaging offers significant logistical benefits. But not all pouches are equally ready to meet the demands of ecommerce supply chains (especially when it comes to pouches that contain liquids). Optimizing your flexible packaging for ecommerce can mitigate product damages, safeguarding both your product and brand perception. This, in turn, strengthens consumer relationships by ensuring a positive and intact delivery experience.
For brands that want to launch products quickly and confidently, Amcor’s collection of ecommerce-ready packs are available. Through our ISTA 6-Amazon in-house testing lab we work with customers to simulate the behavior of these packs during the complex ecommerce supply chain. Through computer simulation and physical testing, we are able to optimize packaging material, format and performance for this channel.
Unilever’s dishwasher tablets: a real-world example
Take, for instance, Unilever's Sun All-in-1 dishwasher tablets.
Through a sustainability-driven transformation using our AmPrima® recycle-ready pouches, specifically engineered for the rigors of the e-commerce supply chain, Unilever successfully safeguarded its products during transit. This not only met environmental goals but also aligned with the preferences of modern consumers who increasingly favor online shopping.
Move to recycle-ready flexible pouches with AmPrima® for Home and Personal Care
Switching from HDPE bottles to stand-up pouches doesn't have to mean sacrificing recyclability. Our AmPrima® flexible packaging solution is available in recycle-ready mono-PE and mono-PP options.
AmPrima® meets all the same performance expectations of non-recyclable laminates in a recycle-ready format. This range enables a smooth transition for your product portfolio, while maintaining efficiency, and enhancing brand appeal.
The Amcor AmPrima® range includes mono-PE and mono-PP solutions, for dry and liquid applications, that will run on commercial filling equipment at speeds surpassing other mono-material options.
It could also help you save up to 75% on upcoming ERP (Extended Producer Responsibility) fees and meet the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) which, in time, will require all packaging to be designed for recycling.
Additionally, to improve circularity, AmPrima® for Home and Personal Care has the option to include post-consumer recycled (PCR) content too.
Let’s get flexible
Get flexible today! Upgrade your home care packaging with lightweight, versatile, and more sustainable formats.
Contact us to discuss how we can help you meet consumer preference for improved sustainability and navigate upcoming regulations like PPWR. Our experts will be by your side step-by-step.
(1) Nielsen global report (2022) Unpacking the Sustainable Landscape
(2) Flexible Packaging Association (2023), Leading the way in innovation
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