Which solution for sauces and spices really scores: glass or plastic?

In the past, the choice used to be easier: ketchup, mayonnaise, pepper, salt, maybe a little chili and salad herbs. Today, there is an almost bewildering range of sauces, dips, honey, dried herbs, and spices. There’s something for every taste and every cooking preference in the supermarket. Recent food trends have also contributed to this: Consumers are increasingly looking for healthy, organic, and sustainable alternatives to traditional sauces and spices. Vegetarian or vegan options are also increasingly in demand, as are regional or seasonal offerings. These should contain as few artificial additives as possible, such as flavor enhancers or preservatives, but still have a long shelf-life – especially as there is often no longer just one sauce bottle in the fridge but a greater variety of flavors.

As eating habits and the products offered change, packaging also inevitably changes. Here, sustainability is playing an increasingly important role. The contents and packaging should be a harmonious match. However, there are also stricter legal requirements: At the EU level, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has aimed to create a circular economic model, making packaging more sustainable and reducing packaging waste. The implementation of the PPWR and its requirements will also impact packaging in the sauces & spices segment.

This means that modern packaging needs to be made from easily recycled materials. It should be safe and contribute to consumer convenience – i.e., easy to open and use – as well as product shelf-life. In addition, the packaging should also be visually eye-catching: With an abundance of products on offer, the packaging can help the product stand out from the competition on the shelf. Whether through form, function, or decoration. 

But let’s start with choosing the “right” packaging material: When it comes to sustainable options, many consumers opt for products in glass bottles or shakers. Sauces, dips, and even honey are often packaged in high-quality glass jars. Glass packaging has existed for over 300 years, the material being perceived as high quality and visually appealing thanks to its transparency.

Plastic packaging does not break like glass, it can be produced cost-effectively in many variants and, above all, it’s especially lightweight, which is particularly advantageous with regard to CO2e emissions for longer transport routes.

More variety – in taste, size, and shape – and a more sustainable range: The market for sauces, dips, honey, and spices is booming. For packaging companies like Greiner Packaging, these trends and market changes call for the development of innovative and sustainable solutions that meet consumers’ wishes and the requirements of customers and their products. This also includes minimizing the ecological footprint. It’s not an easy task – but it’s the path to a successful and sustainable future.