Empack: In your view Marta, what are the 3 key points that will make a difference in sustainable packaging in the near future?

Marta: PepsiCo’s vision is that no plastic becomes waste. We’re working to Reduce, Recycle and Reinvent our packaging.

It is clear that the most sustainable packaging is packaging that is not used, i.e. there is no need to recycle or reuse packaging that has not been put on the market. Therefore, the first axis, that of ‘reducing’, is the one on which we have to focus the most. We have reduced the weight of the bottles, we have optimised the height and width of the snack bags, we have reduced the cardboard boxes… all of this not only has benefits in terms of reducing packaging material but also emissions.
As far as recycling is concerned, the first thing is to make sure that the packaging is recyclable and make the relevant changes in this regard, transparent vs. opaque packaging, monolayer vs. multilayer, etc…, the second thing is to have infrastructures in the country that allow the maximum circularity of packaging in the most efficient way possible, and we have to work collaboratively with authorities, management systems, recyclers, all of them ….. because there is still much room for improvement in this respect in Spain and, thirdly, to incorporate recycled materials in our packaging to reduce virgin materials, packaging waste and, therefore, emissions.
Finally, we have to question the status quo: can our products be made available to consumers in another way that does not require packaging or with much more sustainable packaging? The on-trade beverage dispenser may not seem innovative but it is the most sustainable form of beverage consumption as it does not require packaging. We have taken the same concept, for example, into the home with SodaStream, a carbonated soft drink dispenser that eliminates single-use packaging, for example.

Empack: What do you think are the biggest advantages of having trade fairs like Empack for our industrial fabric, and for the food industry in particular?

Marta: In the context of packaging and sustainability as a whole, collaboration is key. Fairs like this one allow you to get to know trends, innovations, stakeholders who work with similar objectives to yours and, therefore, they are perfect to inspire you and build your network of contacts and collaborations to face the challenges of the future.

Empack: The new generations are coming on strong, what advice would you give to those who are thinking of starting out in the world of work, and especially in the world of sustainability?

Marta: Sustainability is not the responsibility of a specific area or department, but should permeate the entire organisation. Fortunately, the new generations are much more sensitive to the need to change the way we operate and I am convinced that they will integrate sustainability in a more natural way in all areas and business decisions.

‘Whatever area you are in, don’t take off your sustainability lenses’, that would be my advice.