Small but mighty: Innovative spice portion packaging
05.02.2025 | 3 min read
Stefan Ebli
Whether you’re single, on vacation, camping, or just like the trial size – small portion sizes are incredibly popular, even in the spice sector. At Greiner Packaging, the team members in our internal “User-Centric Design” innovative focus group are working on making these small portions practical, attractive, and sustainable. The result from this cross-location, cross-department team: three different “Spice Cups,” all designed to prioritize sustainability while offering various optimization options – tailored to meet specific customer needs and requirements.
Less material, more production variety
The spice cups are produced using a resourcesaving injection mold or thermoforming process, and they can be made from a variety of materials – including up to 100% r-PET. The decorative possibilities are nearly limitless, from direct printing and labeling to sleeves, IML, and even cardboard. Those who want to save even more material can opt for the cardboard-plastic combination. A label or a foil seal provides evidence of tampering and can easily be removed by the user. The spice cups can be filled and sealed just like standard cups. These three distinct concepts for small portions are the perfect addition to the Greiner Packaging portfolio.
Sustainably packaged, easy to dispense
The cups provide the same convenience as traditional spice jars – the three concepts feature both a generous pour spout and a dispensing opening, which can be adjusted or closed tightly by rotating the lid as needed. This ensures optimal protection of the contents, preserving product quality over time. To best meet the varied sustainability goals of each customer, the three concepts emphasize different key benefits, allowing for a tailor-made solution that meets specific requirements.
Spices
Weight reduction:
115 ml of product in a 100 g glass jar or a 20 g PET or r-PET jar – weight reduction of 80%.
Carbon impact:
For a 115 ml product, a transport route of 150 km, material, and production are taken into account:
Greiner Packaging relies on validated CO2e calculations in accordance with ISO 14067 to provide transparent Product Carbon Footprints and achieve sustainability goals effectively.