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Credit: Unilever Mike Edgett is director of industry and solution strategy for food and beverage at Infor. Consumer awareness about the environmental hazards of plastic, especially in food and beverage packaging, has reached a tipping point. Although plastic provides a relatively inexpensive container that can protect taste and prolong the freshness of food, the shocking amount of unrecycled plastic bottles floating in oceans and washing onto beaches is driving public outcry and demand for changes. For manufacturers in the food and beverage industry, this means pressure to rethink packaging strategies, revise go-to-market plans and forge new supply chain partners. Fortunately, modern software solutions can help manage these multiple factors, starting with research and development and ending with consumer feedback. Do you use the same product content for all of your online grocery partners? Maximize your e-commerce growth with retailer-specific optimization. Learn How A widespread transformation The shift away from plastic packaging is like the proverbial “back to the drawing board” type of mandate. The ramifications are complex. A wide variety of factors will be impacted, from package sizes to labeling and shipping, as manufacturers begin to migrate to containers made of more environment-friendly materials. Old standbys such as glass, tin/aluminum and paper, will see a resurgence, and single-use plastics may soon be phased out. Costs and margins will also be influenced. Manufacturers must determine what premium consumers are willing to pay for alternative forms of packaging – and what conveniences they are willing to forego to help reduce the environmental footprint of their favorite foods and drinks. Credit: Mike Edgett This will not be an overnight process as some questions will be difficult to answer, needing to be examined through the lens of science, logistics, profitability and public opinion. Some of the data points around bottom-line costs and environmental […]