SIX global consumer goods companies have come together to accelerate the development of responsibly designed paper-based alternatives to flexible plastic packaging.
The PaperFlex Consortium, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and powered by (RE)SET, includes Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever as founding members and is open for others to join.
The consortium will focus on markets where flexible plastic packaging is widely used and where a lack of collection and recycling systems could increase their likelihood of ending up in the environment.
For such markets, the consortium aims to design alternatives that are recyclable as collection systems improve, and biodegradable in the event they unintentionally end up in the environment.
Over the next few years, the consortium – through its members – intends to shape, fund and conduct collaborative trials covering innovations in areas such as biodegradable coatings, and other technologies that deliver product protection, shelf life, and consumer usability, and improve how paper-based materials perform on manufacturing lines.
Joint research and development efforts will help develop and scale promising innovations faster and at a lower cost, getting new options to consumers sooner.
While helping to accelerate the availability of solutions, each participating member will continue to adopt its own strategy and make decisions related to its packaging independently, individually, and in their own independent interests.
Sander Defruyt, strategy lead for plastics at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said,“Responsible paper-based flexible packaging solutions don’t yet exist at the performance, scale, and cost required.
“This consortium signals strong demand for them – and real ambition from six consumer goods companies to help scale them. We’re inviting other FMCG companies, innovators, suppliers and investors to get involved now – the faster we develop such solutions, the sooner they reach the markets that need them most.”
Frank Gana, CEO and co-founder of (RE)SET, added, “Our track record in running R&D consortia shows how they can speed up the path to solutions. While participation in this consortium is voluntary and each member makes its own packaging decisions, this approach lets us develop and scale solutions faster and at lower cost – benefiting consumers, the environment, and the entire industry.”
Gilles Demaurex, head of global packaging development at Nestlé, commented, “Nestlé believes that paper-based flexible packaging can play a valuable role in addressing virgin plastic reduction and minimising flexible packaging waste and pollution. By joining our efforts under the PaperFlex Consortium, promising paper innovations will be developed and deployed responsibly at scale faster and at lower cost.”
Allison Lin, global VP of healthy planet and chief circularity officer at Mars, said, “The consortium challenges the traditional mindset of innovating on our own, demonstrating that partnership – structured with legal oversight, clear guardrails on permissible topics, and an independent third-party convenor – can accelerate the development of more sustainable packaging in ways that no single company could achieve alone.”
Pablo Costa, head of packaging, digital, and transformation R&D at Unilever, commented, “At Unilever, we have made significant investments in packaging innovation. Our dedicated teams are accelerating the development of next-generation paper-based packaging that can be scaled while delivering the experience consumers expect. Through the consortium, we are helping bring together the expertise, investment and shared learning needed to accelerate innovation and support a responsible transition at scale.”
