A UK biostimulants manufacturer is switching to “bag in a box” packaging amid rising plastic costs and pressure to cut farm waste.
Orion Future Technologies says the move will reduce plastic use by 63% while lowering transport, storage and recycling costs for growers using its plant nutrition products. The price of plastic has risen by more than 40 per cent since the Iran/Israel conflict started in February.
Opportunity
“As a UK manufacturer of biostimulants, Orion has seen this as an opportunity to manage our cost of production and protect our customers by reducing the plastic needed to package our biostimulant products,” says agronomist Mike Stoker.
The company says the new packaging format extends shelf life by limiting air exposure once opened. Similar systems are widely used in the food and drinks sector.
Best crop
Mr Stoker says: “The bag in a box reduces plastic use by 63 per cent, which helps us to keep prices down and has knock-on benefits including reduced storage and transport costs which brings down the carbon footprint of our products.”
The packaging is said to be easier for growers to store, recycle and dispose of than conventional hard plastic containers. It is likely to appeal to buying groups looking to promote sustainable credentials.
“We have targeted more sustainable packaging as part of our overall desire to reduce unsustainable plastic consumption.”