As a result of a previous analysis arising from an interview with Rosario Trefiletti, in Italy, there is an issue about advances in the fruit and vegetable supply chain and consumers' ideas, especially when it comes to product packaging.
From the data of Confcooperative, we know that most fresh fruit traded is unpackaged (78.6%). Only 21% is packaged. As for vegetables, 82% are sold unpackaged, only 18% packaged.
During a conference at Sana in Bologna, the national body responsible for Coop Italia fruit and vegetables, affirmed that organic fruit and vegetables are 5% of the sales and unpackaged products increase the sales by 8/9%.
Consumers of organic food and vegetables (well-educated, with high income and children) prefer buying products without useless packaging.
More studies from the Netherlands Ulteriori studi, giunti stavolta dai Paesi Bassi (Excess packaging discourages consumers from buying fruit and vegetables) would confirm what has been said so far.
Being consumer-oriented again
It is important for packaging companies, either corrugated cardboard or plastic producers, to be consumer-oriented.
FreshPlaza interviewed Carlo Milanoli, president of the Consortium for the re-usable packaging EURepack and Claudio dall'Agata, president of the Consortium of corrugated cardboard producers Bestack about the importance of packaging in terms of value, offer and supply chain.
More opinions are expressed by ILIP sales manager, Mauro Stipa, who observes "I read the article about the Dutch research on how the excess packaging discourages buying. In response, I attach three photos I took in a supermarket in Hong Kong. Let's see grapes...".
Clamshell 2lbs. (= minimum packaging impact) = 42,9 HK$ = 4,95 €/kg
Clamshell 1 lb. with protective net (= medium packaging impact) = 45,9 HK$ =5,30 €/kg
Box with… 4-5, apples and a bunch of grapes (= maximum packaging impact) = 338 HK$!!! = about 40 euros!!!
Mauro Stipa observes: "We all take care of the environmental impact but the following equation is not always true: no packaged fruit and vegetables = no pollution and, above all,= more consumption".
"At ILIP we think that it is important to use the right amount of packaging:
not "over" (excess packaging) nor "under" (deficient in packaging); however, we are ready to discuss with those who want to examine "over with consciousness" packaging".
According to the ILIP sales manager, the focus of the issue is the education of consumers about recycling: it's up to local, national institutions and schools to create suitable infrastructures and separate collections of rubbish".
"As far marketing - Stipa says - eye-catching packaging is added value with no doubts. In the Netherlands, where the study comes from, to be honest, supermarkets use plenty of packaging".
"According to the Chinese (at least as far as the supermarket in Hong Kong is concerned) the equation is more packaging for fruit and vegetables = more quality, more consumption, more ranges to achieve a better consumer target. We are talking about China, where the economy is leading and making great progress. Are they wrong?".