Bandall: Reducing plastic in fruit packaging with banding

Plastic has played an important role in fresh produce packaging for decades. In certain situations, it offers protection, extends shelf life, and helps create retail-ready packaging.

At the same time, growers, packers, and retailers are under increasing pressure to reduce plastic consumption and develop more sustainable packaging solutions.

Consumers are demanding less plastic. Retailers are setting packaging reduction targets. Governments continue to introduce new regulations aimed at reducing packaging waste.

The question is no longer whether plastic reduction should be considered.

The question is how to achieve it without compromising the functionality of packaging.

Rethinking fruit packaging

Reducing plastic does not always mean eliminating plastic completely.

In many cases, the first step is reducing the amount of packaging material used while maintaining product protection and shelf appeal.

Packaging designers are increasingly focusing on:

• Packaging reduction
• Mono material packaging
• Paper-based solutions
• Packaging simplification
• Improved recyclability

This has led to the development of alternative packaging concepts across the fresh produce sector.

Replacing plastic bags with cardboard punnets and banding

One example can be found in the packaging of fruits like apples and pears.

Traditionally, these types of fruits are often packed in plastic bags. While functional, the bag itself serves limited purposes beyond holding the products together and displaying branding.

An alternative approach uses a cardboard punnet combined with paper banding material.

The cardboard punnet provides product support and stability, while the paper banding material secures the contents and carries branding, product information, and traceability data.

This approach can:

• Reduce plastic usage
• Improve product presentation
• Create a retail-ready package
• Provide ample space for branding
• Support paper-based packaging strategies

The result is a packaging solution that combines functionality and sustainability while increasing shelf impact.

Moving beyond flow wrapped packaging

Flow wrapping is another common packaging method for fruit products.

In many applications, fruit is packed in a tray or container before being wrapped in plastic film. While this provides a seal preventing fruit from falling out of the container, the packaging often requires significantly more material than is needed to prevent this.

For selected applications, a tray or container combined with paper banding material can provide an alternative to flow packaging.

Rather than wrapping the entire package in film, the band secures the product while simultaneously communicating branding and product information.

This creates a packaging solution that uses less material while keeping the product highly visible to consumers.

The future trend of fruit packaging

There is no single packaging solution suitable for every fruit product.

However, one trend is becoming increasingly clear: future packaging designs will focus on reducing material usage while maintaining functionality, efficiency, and consumer appeal.

For many fruit and vegetable applications, combining trays, punnets, or containers with banding material already offers a practical way to move toward that future.

By reducing plastic usage, maintaining product visibility and providing labeling and branding opportunities, banding helps growers, packers, and retailers create packaging solutions that align with both consumer expectations and sustainability goals.

As the industry continues to evolve, packaging reduction will remain a key priority. Solutions that combine branding, functionality and material efficiency will play an increasingly important role in the next generation of fruit packaging.

This article was originally published by Bandall.