E-commerce may be booming, but the packaging that items come in has become a concern for consumers. What can designers do to make packaging affordable, reliable and eco-friendly? Delivery services and e-commerce have seen a jump in demand as more people than ever are working, learning and socialising from home. This increase in online shopping has a downside, however – a corresponding rise in waste. These interrelated trends have shone a spotlight on the role of packaging. How a product looks – and ships – plays an essential role in the decision to buy an item, the process by which it arrives at a home and the way it eventually leaves. With the at-home economy likely to continue at least in the near future, increasing the sustainability of packaging will be key to reducing the carbon footprint of e-commerce.

Mondi will open its new state-of-the-art paper bags plant in Cartagena, Colombia in January 2021. It will be Mondi’s first operation in South America, reinforcing the group’s strength as a global paper bags supplier with a wide local footprint. The new plant will enable Mondi to improve and grow its services to better serve customers in the region. South America is home to more than 250 cement plants requiring up to two billion cement bags per year. Cartagena is a strong location for the new plant, set up in a free-trade zone with good access to ports in Panama, the east coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico and other Caribbean ports. "Our global network already includes 39 plants across 22 countries. We are excited to be expanding our footprint to Colombia, helping us to provide innovative, sustainable and customer-focused paper packaging solutions to customers in South America who share our commitment to quality." Claudio Fedalto, Chief Operating Officer Paper Bags, Mondi

Taking a quantum leap forward in reducing weight in packaging, Amcor Rigid Packaging has developed a revolutionary two-step, lightweighting technology that eliminates more than 50% of the material and weight in the finish of the bottle. A leader in developing technology that produces more sustainable packaging options, ARP’s new Quantum™ technology for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles delivers sustainability benefits, lowers cost, and improves packaging appearance. By removing more than 50% of the material and weight from the finish, the new Quantum™ technology reduces manufacturing costs and GHG emissions, resulting in energy savings and lower carbon emissions compared to bottles with a traditional finish. Quantum™ technology also allows for up to 100% recycled material use and provides a superior consumer experience with a more sustainable, fully recyclable package.