< Previous20 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS Sustainability is the key word of the logistics industry today – both in terms of environmental sustainability, and in terms of finding a sustainable source of freight workers and drivers T he transport industry won’t be pleased to see a renewed plea from scientists as to the vast environmental damage humanity is doing to the world right now. Fossil fuels remain a thorny subject for many, especially in a time when economies are doing poorly and it’s tempting to reach for the quickly profitable fossil fuels over long-term investments. The transport and logistics industries have been struggling with the problem of green transport for a long time now. The technology has been there for a while, but while the consumer demand for greener method has only grown stronger, wholesalers and retailers have been so unwilling to consider paying higher costs that fleet managers haven’t been able to invest. 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 27/03/2023 09:48 Page 1Food & Drink International 21 www.fdiforum.net TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS The simple factor is that costs would have to go up to cover changing a whole fleet to greener methods, but big supermarkets would rather guard their profits. This is reflected in reports that freighters have been offering a range of environmentally friendly options, but that shippers are balking at the procurement stage. Sustainability is positively talked about in all areas that might reach marketing or be seen by the public, but the interest falters as soon as shippers are faced with a choice between sustainable fuels or cheaper, more environmentally damaging, alternatives. Inevitably, profits are prioritised. One of the largest couriers, DHL, provided a target of spending 7 million euros on sustainable measures and decarbonisation by 2030, but has only spend 440 million euros so far. While DHL themselves blamed the slow uptake on a lack of measures, those in the logistics industry have said the fault lays more on an unwillingness to spend, and customers’ willingness to pay a 22 Á © stock.adobe.com/Joaquin Corbalan 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 27/03/2023 09:48 Page 222 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS premium for sustainable transport. Many transport companies are calling on governmental support to further push the issue, but the true need the industry faces might be in greater scrutiny on supermarkets and retailers who are happy to claim they are doing all they can to decarbonise, but at the same time refuse to deal fairly with their logistical suppliers. These companies are unlikely to budge for anything but a threat to their reputations and profits. The industry faces greater challenges than just environmental, however. Rising fuel costs have also impacted earnings and left many in a precarious state of needing their existing contracts so badly that they cannot afford to take risks pushing sustainable alternatives or higher costs. At the same time, freight forwarders are struggling under recruitment issues of their own, with transport and logistics reporting high levels of job vacancies in specialist jobs from dock working, to warehouse operatives and HGV drivers. With competition for new drivers rising and existing ones growing closer to retirement, attention is turning toward the next generation – who, by all accounts, have poor understanding of what it means to be a lorry driver, and even poorer perceptions of it. Hollywood depictions of HGV drivers as slimy, overweight men certainly haven’t helped, and with how much of today’s world is influence by social media and Instagram, it has to be said that the job of a lorry driver is not seen as particularly desirable. More must be done to bridge the gap between the industry and younger people, because it is in fact a well-paying job involving a lot of travel, and it’s certainly not low- skilled. Finding new drivers wouldn’t be such a problem if it was. While logistics firms are doing their best to lobby to younger audiences to try and get more people interested in the industry, it’s hard to know how effective this has been. Shocking new research published nationally suggested that 25% of young people feel they are not prepared to enter the workforce, up to and including having no idea what they want to be. While it’s naïve to say © stock.adobe.com/Daniel Jędzura 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 27/03/2023 09:48 Page 3Food & Drink International 23 www.fdiforum.net TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS that is 25% of young people the logistics industry can be targeting, they can at least aim for a portion of that number. The fact is that school visits and talks to students won’t do anything to change minds. It didn’t when we were younger and won’t now. Children will see it as a free day from lessons and that alone. To really make a difference it may be more important to talk to people of the age of 14-16, and stress real-world things like the pay, the work, and the opportunities – and then to get them interested by offering to involve them in operations and let them see first-hand what the job will entail. All too often is “reaching out to the youth” seen as something one does maybe once per generation, standing in front of a class of distracted children and talking about things they can’t really grasp and haven’t had to think about yet. On the other hand, there is another easily accessible demographic in female workers. Women are woefully underrepresented in the logistics sector and aiming to make the workforce more inclusive for them is not just to meet goals of inclusivity, but to open up a pool of new recruits. There is obviously a lot of work to be done, but the recruits are there if people can only improve on reaching them. Perhaps what the sector means when it says, “there is no one to hire” is more “it’s harder to find the people I could hire.” D Davies Turner © stock.adobe.com/Monkey Business 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 27/03/2023 09:49 Page 424 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net END OF LINE PACKAGING P roper end of line packaging, whether that means cartonisation, palletisation, stretch wrapping or otherwise, ensures that food products are transported safely and efficiently, while averting waste due to breakage or bacterial permeation. However, as everyday and essential as the end of line phase is, it’s never without its means of shaking things up and adding excitement, as you’ll soon see if you read on. End of line packaging can be responsible for maintaining the integrity of many different types of products, including fresh produce, frozen food, dairy products and beverages. Amongst all this variety, packaging for transport must take into account the unique characteristics of each product. Various materials may be used to ensure that food is protected from environmental factors that can compromise its quality, such as moisture, air and light. Fresh produce, for instance, requires breathable packaging to allow for airflow and prevent the build-up of moisture, and are commonly protected by mesh bags, clamshells and paper bags. In comparison, snacks and baked goods require packaging that is airtight to maintain their freshness and prevent them from becoming stale, which often involves plastic or paper bags and resealable packaging. Certain products require specialised attention because of their tendency to spoil, becoming a health hazard when improperly isolated from external environments or contaminants. Dairy products are one such risk element, with milk, cheese and yoghurt needing airtight containers of plastic, glass, paper or foil to prevent contamination. Meat and poultry is another group that must be given close attention at all stages of packaging, as any product of animal origin poses a high risk of transmission of harmful foodborne bacteria. Here again, packaging that’s End of the line All packaging plays a critical role in the food industry, helping to prevent damage and contamination and extending the shelf life of food products, assuring their freshness and quality once they’ve reached stores. But this last concern in particular is where end of line packaging is essential, distinguished from other forms of packing and containment in its purpose of safeguarding products and preventing spoilage during shipping and storage. 24-29.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2023 08:47 Page 1Food & Drink International 25 www.fdiforum.net END OF LINE PACKAGING airtight and moisture-resistant is a critical health and safety measure. With meat it’s often a case of the snugger the better, vacuum-sealing, skin packaging and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) some of the most common solutions used to prevent product pollution or degradation. It’s important to note that the packaging used for each type of food product can also vary depending on factors such as the product’s shelf life, packaging regulations, and customer preferences. As a result, food manufacturers must often carefully select and customise their packaging solutions to meet their specific needs. Tailoring the size and shape of packaging to fit your products more effectively can be managed by creating custom moulds, or using flexible packaging that can be easily shaped. Manufacturers can also choose from a range of different packaging materials to suit their specific needs – such as Food packaging specialist Sealed Air is taking digital packaging one step further with prismiq™ Advances in technology, such as smartphones with native scanning and connectivity technology, are helping brands offer solutions that go far beyond packaging. Through digital packaging, also known as smart packaging, brands are now able to connect physical products to digital devices to engage with consumers directly on their devices. Digital Packaging offers a way to improve the communication of brand messages, in addition to offering increased traceability through printed codes such as QR or watermarks that allow for 1:1 traceability and a match between individual products and the end consumer. These digital engagements not only allow the brand to communicate with consumers, but also allow consumers to communicate with the brand, paving the way for valuable two-way communication. To this end, Sealed Air today introduces prismiq™, a portfolio of solutions for design services, digital printing and connected packaging, to unlock new value for the food supply chain. Prismiq has been designed as a one-stop shop for brand owners who not only want to have an easily accessible data set for their customers, but also allow them to streamline and connect all product information in one place, as well as design the packaging. “The prismiq™ portfolio of services is more than just a different way of communicating on the package, which is where most brand owners start,” said Alessandra Secchi, director of design and smart packaging for EMEA at Sealed Air. “One of the differences between what people think smart packaging is today - i.e. a QR code that links the user to a website - is the digitisation of the product. It’s about making everything that was produced at a given time unique by creating its digital identity also known as the digital twin.” For more information visit www.sealedair.com/uk/services/prismiq 26 Á © stock.adobe.com/fotopic 24-29.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2023 08:47 Page 226 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net END OF LINE PACKAGING biodegradable or compostable materials for eco-friendly packaging – or opt for materials that are particularly resistant to moisture or air to ensure the product stays fresh. A growing concern in end of line packaging is the availability and use, wherever possible, of sustainable materials. Rightful fears for the environment and the impact of packaging waste mean many food companies are shifting towards using packaging that’s considerate of our planet. These include the aforementioned biodegradable and compostable varieties, as well as recycled materials which reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. While this should be a leading cause to consider packaging customisation, there are many other ways to mix and match beyond the important human and planet health reasons. Aspects such as printing and sealing can be tweaked to suit and even promote your company’s particular style and aesthetic, as well as moral values. Details are what deliver, and end of line packaging is no exception. So here’s where we get to the exciting part. Even while your product is being shipped towards its destination and customers, your branding and slogans can still be enlisted for every layer and stage of packaging. This can make products stand out before they’ve even hit shelves, as you never know who might catch a glimpse of your thoughtfully considered and designed brand identity, or when it might attract attention. Once discerning eyes are on your company and product, the more layers of care and attention are present on your part, the better. Everything down to sealing methods you employ, which can also be bio-based and eco- friendly – just look at ultrapolymers as a starting point – are powerful signs of your determination to do the best for your product, its consumers and the planet we live on. With so many special features to choose from for every layer of your packaging, there’s no excuse not to experiment, play and make sure all your potential customers, which might include transport and store staff, know they’re wrapping or unwrapping something special. Speaking of exciting features, automated end of line packaging systems are becoming increasingly used in the food industry, as they can simultaneously improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure consistency 28 Á © stock.adobe.com/Seventyfour 24-29.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2023 08:47 Page 3Food & Drink International 27 www.fdiforum.net See us at interpack Hall 6/A61 24-29.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2023 08:47 Page 428 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net END OF LINE PACKAGING and quality in the packaging process. These advanced systems include a wide range of automated equipment, such as case erectors, which automatically form and seal cardboard boxes, and case packers which then load these boxes with your excellent products. Palletisers take things to the next level by stacking and arranging boxes onto pallets for you, leaving it to stretch wrappers to give pallets the film covering that’s often so important for an extra layer of stability and protection. The time and labour-saving benefits of these optional systems go without saying, but these can be of particular stress-relieving help to manufacturers with large production volumes. More than that, they can also improve product safety and quality by reducing the risk of errors or inconsistencies in the packaging process. In managing all of these aspects, automated end of line packaging can help to reduce waste and costs associated with packaging materials, by ensuring that products are packed and arranged in an optimal manner for transportation and storage. They can also help to improve supply chain efficiency, by enabling products to be easily identified, tracked and stored in a warehouse or distribution centre. ! စထထ ႅဈဈ#င%စဉထဓဇဒဇထဒဒ *+ © stock.adobe.com/I Viewfinder 24-29.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2023 08:47 Page 5END OF LINE PACKAGING EY Entrepreneur of the Year UK Transformational Leader and Wired Trailblazer of the Year, David MacDonald is the owner of Cullen, Europe’s largest combined manufacturer of corrugated and moulded fibre packaging. Here he explains how food and drink producers and retailers can turn the new EPR and plastic waste challenges into a commercial opportunity. The race is on to find sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging, driven by laudable sustainability targets and resulting regulations such as the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation. We are also far too familiar with the headlines warning of the climate crisis reality, the most recent research stating that 171 trillion pieces of plastic waste now pollute our waters. All of this poses urgent problems for the food and drinks manufacturers and retailers alike. Whilst this is a huge challenge, it is also an even bigger opportunity. The positive news is that there are already viable, cost effective alternatives available at scale, with scope for so much plastic to be removed immediately and the tax incentives for them make any price difference with plastic negligible. Like many of the world’s leading FMCG brands and retailers, most of you reading this need to replace plastic packaging, but don’t know what can be swapped or who can help you do it. So here’s how you can replace your plastic with sustainable alternatives. Solutions not stunts You’ll see exciting ideas for plastic packaging alternatives, but you should separate fact from fiction. To make a significant impact, look for solutions that are already available at scale. My company Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging has produced over 1 billion plastic free products in two years, that are recyclable and compostable. That number is accelerating as our innovation pipeline grows and we expand to meet surging demand from retailers and food producers. Easy wins There are simple ways to replace a large volume of plastics each year, look Could moulded fibre lessen the EPR headache? To find out more, contact sales@cullen.co.uk or visit www.cullen.co.uk for easy wins in the supply chain. Start by looking at secondary and tertiary packaging, where barrier properties are less necessary, for example collation trays, protective inserts, transport packs right through to primary packaging, items such as trays and punnets. All of these items can be replaced with moulded fibre-based alternatives. Lastly, of course, our latest innovation the Fibre Bottle is currently being trialled with multinational partners and will be on shelves in due course. Tax incentives With the new EPR legislation, you’re going to be liable for further taxation on harder to recycle packaging, including plastics, but less so with more sustainable packaging from the likes of us at Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging. So, the more you can move to moulded fibre the better for your business in the long term. David MacDonald 24-29.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2023 08:47 Page 6Next >