Eco-friendly labels give foods a natural face

Food packaging can reinforce messages of product sustainability and naturalness with eco-friendly label and packaging materials.

Lightning Labels says putting natural-leaning food and beverage products inside sustainable packaging and labels can turn shoppers into customers.

The company manufactures custom-designed labels, stickers, and other packaging products for food firms, beverage brands, and other customers. AnneMarie Campbell, business development manager for Lightning Labels, told FoodProductionDaily natural products can greatly benefit from having packaging materials that match the message.

“For companies that create green products, natural labels are a must," she said. “A brand's commitment to natural ingredients in products should also be reflected by the packaging; expanding that green mission to include labels is an important way to gain consumer trust.”

Natural Products Day

Tuesday, April 8, is Natural Products Day; created by the Natural Products Association 17 years ago, the event encourages food and beverage companies to engage legislators to discuss relevant matters and educate them about regulations impacting the industry. According to Campbell, the event is as good a time as any for companies to assess their packaging and labelling strategies.

On-pack messaging can engage consumers and inform them about the impact their product choice can have on the environment, fair-trade economies, and other issues. Food firms can also use on-pack messaging to inform shoppers on how to properly recycle the package and labelling once the product inside are consumed.

Recycled-content packaging

The use of recycled labels can reinforce the product’s overall natural message; without recycled-content or natural-material packaging, Campbell said, consumers might be inclined to distrust the product’s earth-friendly message.

Lightning Labels provides a range of labelling products appropriate for natural and eco-friendly products. Its Kraft product is made of 100% post-consumer waste, with an earthy appearance; Vellum also offers 100% post-consumer content; and compostable, biodegradable BioStone is made from stone instead of paper.

Source: http://goo.gl/3BH2rC