What does it mean to innovate sustainably in today's business landscape? For the packaging industry, sustainable innovation represents a convergence of environmental stewardship and economic growth. 

As brands navigate rising pressures from legislation, consumers, investors and supply chain challenges, sustainable innovation has shifted from being a priority to an imperative. The answer lies not just in individual innovation but in finding the right partners to drive meaningful change. “Leader” businesses are successfully reducing waste, lowering emissions, meeting legislative requirements, cultivating customer appeal and encouraging sustainable practices throughout their value chain. There is also a critical need to understand and respond to consumer behavior as it pertains to preferences for sustainable products and packaging. To continue progress in these areas, packaging industry businesses must align, collaborate, and identify and overcome challenges. This includes partnerships with:

• Label manufacturers with expertise in designing for recycling (DfR) guidelines, novel adhesives, and digitized solutions like QR codes and RFID. 
• Label converters who can integrate advanced materials seamlessly into production lines. 
• Raw material suppliers committed to responsible sourcing and lower carbon footprints. 
• Recyclers capable of enhancing collection and processing efficiency for complex materials.