Ilip focuses on sustainability and innovation in produce packaging

Packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables is undergoing a period of rapid evolution. New demands for sustainability, a growing focus on reducing food waste and the complexity of international supply chains are transforming the role of packaging, which can no longer be considered merely a container, but a strategic element for protecting the product, extending its shelf-life and enhancing the product’s appeal on the shelf.

For Ilip, this evolution is developing along three main lines: sustainability, product innovation and the ability to adapt to customer needs. Our approach is based on a very clear principle: every piece of packaging must be ‘fit for purpose’, that is, designed to respond effectively to the specific application for which it is used, without excess but without compromising on performance.

One of the central themes is resource optimisation. Reducing the use of raw materials is a priority, but in the fruit and vegetable sector this reduction must always be balanced against the requirements of protection, hygiene, durability and product preservation. This is why Ilip has been working for years on downgauging and eco-design: as early as 2010, with the EcoDesign-Reduce project, we achieved an average reduction in packaging weight of 18.5 per cent, whilst maintaining the performance required by the supply chain.

Sustainability, however, is not limited to weight reduction. Another key pillar is circularity. As a member of the Ilpa Group, Ilip is part of an integrated recycled PET supply chain that enables the development of the T2T R-PET (tray-to-tray) model, transforming post-consumer trays and punnets into new packaging suitable for food contact. This approach reduces the use of virgin raw materials and achieves a certified recycled content of 81 per cent, whilst ensuring quality, safety and traceability.

In the fresh produce sector, the protective function of packaging remains essential. This is particularly true for small fruits, where shocks, moisture and handling can significantly affect product quality. To meet these needs, Ilip has developed solutions such as AirWave, the range of R-PET punnets for berries and delicate fruits, featuring a special domed base that absorbs shocks and eliminates the need for cellulose or bubble pads. This ensures the packaging is made from a single material for optimal end-of-life management, contributing both to product protection and the reduction of food waste.

Alongside our R-PET solutions, we are also expanding our range to include alternative materials and hybrid solutions. Ezy:Split, for example, combines an R-PET punnet – made up to 45 per cent lighter – with a cardboard base, whilst ensuring that both materials can be easily separated at the end of their life. It is a concrete example of how sustainability, functionality and product enhancement can coexist within the same design.

Another increasingly important requirement concerns customisation. Producers, packagers and retailers are seeking solutions capable of adapting to different formats, automated lines, markets and brand strategies. This is why Ilip has invested in the Sprint project, the department dedicated to new bespoke products, which supports customers from the definition of their requirements right through to the creation of the most suitable packaging solution.

Looking to the future, the European regulatory framework, starting with the PPWR, will also drive the sector towards packaging that is increasingly recyclable, lightweight and contains a growing proportion of recycled material. The challenge will be to transform these requirements into concrete, industrially viable and truly effective solutions throughout the supply chain.

For Ilip, the packaging of the future must therefore be sustainable, circular and intelligently designed: not simply ‘less packaging’, but better packaging, capable of reducing environmental impact, protecting the product and creating value for the entire fruit and vegetable supply chain.