Polski
Paper, Seaweed, and Glass Deposits: Three Twists in the Race for Tomorrow's Packaging
This week in the packaging industry brings three fronts in the war on single-use plastic: from a laboratory innovation with seaweed, through a rare alliance of FMCG giants, to political moves to expand the deposit return system in Poland. We look at what connects these stories and why each of them could affect your production lines sooner than you'd expect.
01 · Biomaterials
Seaweed where plastic used to be
British cosmetics brand Bower Collective and biomaterials company Kelpi have unveiled a liquid cosmetics sachet in which the plastic barrier layer has been replaced with a biodegradable seaweed coating [1]. It's a solution to a specific, well-known problem with paper packaging: its lack of resistance to liquids. Crucially, the packaging can be thrown into household paper recycling, and even if it ends up in the environment regardless, the coating will still biodegrade. Just as important for manufacturers, the rollout required no new machinery – the sachets were filled on existing production lines, and the technology has already received US FDA approval for food contact. It's a sign that algae-based materials are moving beyond lab curiosities and starting to scale up industrially.
02 · FMCG & R&D
Six rivals, one goal: the paper sachet
A similar problem – albeit on a much larger scale – is now being tackled by a consortium formed under the wing of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation by Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever [2]. The PaperFlex Consortium aims to accelerate R&D on paper alternatives to plastic sachets and small flexible packaging – a segment responsible for a huge share of litter in countries with weak waste-collection infrastructure, such as India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It's a rare moment when direct market competitors are joining forces instead of each promoting their own individual "green" solutions. Experts, however, are tempering expectations: a flexible paper technology that meets all the required criteria – barrier properties, strength, and cost – simply doesn't yet exist at industrial scale. It will be interesting to see whether experiences like those from the Bower Collective and Kelpi project [1] end up inspiring the consortium.
03 · Deposit Return System
Poland: the deposit scheme could extend to single-use glass
The third thread takes us to Poland, where after several months of the deposit return system being operational, a discussion is starting about expanding it. Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska has announced that around the turn of September and October she will meet with system operators to determine the direction of its further development [3]. Two changes are on the table: bringing single-use glass bottles – including popular small "shot" bottles of hard liquor, beer, and mineral water – under the deposit scheme, and extending the validity of deposit vouchers from one month to three. If the changes go through, the first reverse vending machines could start accepting the new packaging types as early as 2027. For glass packaging manufacturers, it's a signal to start planning now for adjustments to labeling, marking, and return logistics.
Summary
Summary
Three stories, one direction: the industry is looking for ways to cut down on single-use plastic without sacrificing packaging functionality – whether through seaweed, joint FMCG research, or regulations forcing the return of glass packaging. These are exactly the kinds of topics – materials, barrier technologies, regulations, and the circular economy – that will be up for discussion at Packaging Poland – International Trade Fair for Finished Packaging. Stay tuned for the next installments of our roundup, and be sure to save the date for the fair.
Invitation
Seaweed instead of plastic, paper sachets from FMCG giants, an expanded deposit scheme for glass – these are just some of the conversations awaiting you at Packaging Poland – International Trade Fair for Finished Packaging. Meet suppliers of barrier materials, packaging manufacturers, and circular economy experts all in one place. Reserve your spot and stay one step ahead of regulations that are already just around the corner.
Packaging Poland 2026Footnotes
[1] Packaging Gateway — https://www.packaging-gateway.com/news/bower-collective-kelpi-seaweed-liquid-sachets/[2] Food Dive — https://www.fooddive.com/news/cpgs-team-up-on-paper-flexibles-research-development-ellen-macarthur-foundation/830568/
[3] biznesinfo.pl — https://www.biznesinfo.pl/beda-zmiany-w-systemie-kaucyjnym-w-polsce-mozliwe-niespodziewane-rozszerzenie-mt-wmp-100926