As businesses push to improve sustainability credentials, packaging has become one of the most visible expressions of ESG progress. When these changes are introduced under seasonal pressure, particularly in the run up to Christmas, they can also introduce less visible food safety, regulatory and recall risks.
In this joint white paper, RQA Group and BluNiche examine how ESG driven packaging decisions interact with real world operational conditions. Drawing on industry experience, the paper explores how changes such as lightweight materials, increased recycled content and alternative barrier technologies can affect shelf life, seal integrity and contamination risk, especially during winter distribution and peak production.
The paper also considers the evolving regulatory landscape across the UK, EU and US, the scrutiny of environmental claims, and why seasonal SKUs often magnify exposure when issues arise.
This insight is particularly relevant for food manufacturers, packaging suppliers and insurers seeking to balance sustainability objectives with product safety, compliance and recall preparedness.
ESG, Packaging and the Unsung Risks of the Festive Season, written in collaboration with BluNiche, is available to read now.
Collaborators Gill Dando and Alexander King