b'FOOD PACKAGINGThe future of food packagingBy Riikka Tietvinen-Arola, Manager, Customer Communications, Pulp & Paper, KemiraThe food packaging value chain is facing rapid change, challenged by the need to be more sustainable and resource-efficient and to meet the demands of urban consumers. The current megatrends seem to present a golden opportunity for the fibre-based packaging industry, but what does the future of food consumption, purchasing, and packaging look like? A recent scenario report published by global chemicals company Kemira identifies four possible futures.As a chemical supplier to the pulp and paper industry, Kemira is an important part of the value chain for fibre-based packaging solutions. We wanted to investigate what food consumption and especially food packaging could look like in ten years time, in order to provide some food for thought for the players in the packaging value chain and to facilitate discussion between different stakeholders, states Antti Matula, Senior Vice President leading the Global Product Lines and Business Development for the Pulp and Paper segment at Kemira.To create the future scenarios for food consumption, purchasing and packaging in 2030, an internationalWhat does the future of food packaging look like? A recent scenario report published by global panel of industry experts werechemicals company Kemira identifies four possible futures of food consumption, purchasing, interviewed. The panelists includedand packaging.experts from across the food and packaging value chain: paper andplay a significant role in the globalBoth food andThe four scenarios present plausible board manufacturers, packagingdiscussions about sustainability andits packagingalternatives for the future and discuss converters, food brand owners,resource-efficiency and relate toconsumer attitudes and behavior, and regulatory experts, as well asconcerns about single-use plasticsplay aplaces and ways of purchasing food, researchers from related fields.and waste. At the same time, the ratesignificantfood packaging, recycling schemes, Based on their insights, four plausibleof urbanization continues to growrole inand regulation.alternatives for the future of food andand related phenomena, such as thethe global its packaging were created utilisingtake-out and ready meal culture anddiscussionsFRAGMENTED EXPERIENCES, ENHANCED BY the qualitative Delphi forecastinge-commerce, increase the demandaboutPACKAGINGmethod. of packaged consumer goods. ThesustainabilityIn the first scenario, titled Individualism packaging value chain is expected toandto the max, the food industry This is a common interest topic,come up with future-proof solutions toresource- fragments to serve a vast variety of as both food and its packagingthese challenges. efficiency. consumer tastes and interests. The WORLD PULP&PAPER 29'