November/December 2020 - 25

THE ASSOCIATION FOR PACKAGING AND PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES
PMMI
Plant-based food begets plant-based packaging
U.S. retail sales
By Sean Riley
Senior Director,
Media & Industry
Communications
PMMI
of plant-based foods
grew more than 11%
in 2019, expanding
the total plant-based
market value to over
$5 billion, according
to The Good Food
Institute (GFI) and
the Plant Based Foods
Association (PBFA).
In comparison, the
broader food market
grew at a relatively modest two%,
according to the Trends and Advances
in Food Packaging and Processing
report from PMMI, The Association for
Packaging and Processing Technologies.
All categories of plant-based foods
experienced growth across the board,
with the highest rates in creamers,
sauces and dips, per the PBFA. A
specific look at the plant-based meat
category reveals a sector approaching
$1 billion on its own, with sales up 18%
in the past year. Refrigerated plantbased
meat is the biggest driver, up
63%, while conventional meat more
closely followed food in general at
around 2.7%.
Sales of plant-based milks grew 5%
over the past year and now account for
nearly 14% of the entire milk category
at a time when cow's milk sales are
nearly flat. More impressive than the
recent increase in plant-based milk
consumption are emerging plant-based
dairy categories growing even faster.
Studies show that as consumers
embrace one plant-based food, they
UNITED, continued from page 24
Leading by example
No association is successful without
volunteer leaders - passionate
members who contribute knowledge
to guide the association and industry.
Each sector of the vertically integrated
produce supply chain is represented
by a United Fresh board or council,
are more likely to experiment and
try plant-based alternatives in other
food sectors. For example, in the past
year, plant-based yogurt has grown
31%, while conventional yogurt faces
declining sales. Plant-based cheese
has grown 18%, while conventional
cheese is flat. Plant-based food sales are
growing rapidly across the store, while
many conventional animal products'
sales stagnate or decline.
With plant-based food positioned as an
eco-friendly option to environmentally
taxing animal products, the goal
of packaging is
to uphold these
sustainability standards. With an
ultimate goal of zero landfill, plantbased
food companies are particularly
interested in packaging materials that
are plant-based to be more recyclable
or compostable.
Modern consumers prefer their food
to be consciously sourced and ethically
produced. Sustainability in packaging
is as big as, if not a more significant
concern for consumers who prefer
materials from recycled goods that
are also recyclable. The next frontier
of sustainability is the biodegradable
and compostable market.
Packaging is moving toward
sustainability with recyclable and
compostable alternatives that use novel
substrates to avoid plastic and decrease
degradation times once discarded.
Companies claiming sustainable food
items want plant-based packaging
materials. So much so that many
consumer packaged goods companies
are investigating renewable packaging,
ensuring the 400+ volunteer leaders
provide a united voice.
" No matter your career level,
supply chain sector or position,
United Fresh's volunteer leadership
has a spot for you, " said Cheryl Enlow,
Vice President, Quality Assurance
& Food Safety, Renaissance Food
Group, and Member, United Fresh
Board of Directors. " The opportunity
such as testing plant-based and biobased
packaging options, according to PMMI's
Packaging Sustainability: A Changing
Landscape report.
For machinery, this forces plant-based
food manufacturers to retrofit existing
machines to run these plant-based
materials. A few of these materials
include plantable packages made from
100% post-consumer compostable paper
containing embedded seeds, mushroombased
alternatives to polystyrene for
protective shipping packers, alternative
flexible film from potato starch and
renewable plant-based resin material
target ing modified atmosphere
packaging (MAP). Addit ional ly,
plant-based inks improve the overall
sustainability profile of a product,
especially when combined with some
of these other strategies.
New technologies and trends
covering the changing landscape of
plant-based food and the packaging
required to market it amid COVID-19
were numerous at the inaugural PACK
EXPO Connects 2020, a live, web-based
event produced by PMMI Media Group.
Featuring more than 700 exhibitors
in a diverse range of industries, the
show serves as the resource for the
most advanced packaging innovations
and solutions. Equipment demos,
educational content and valuable
industry insights presented during
PACK EXPO Connects are st i l l
accessible on the free platform until
March 31, 2021. For more information
and to access show offerings, visit
www.packexpoconnects.com.
to provide expertise is rewarding and
networking with others you can learn
from is invaluable. "
The value of engaging with United
Fresh was not created through the
pandemic; it was simply illuminated.
As companies seek new ways of doing
business, United Fresh will be there
to serve, just as it has for more than
a century.
PRODUCE PROCESS ING
25
http://www.packexpoconnects.com
November/December 2020

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