The main goals of packaging, which are to market the product and protect it from damage promoting the integrity, health and safety of the product cannot be dismissed completely to satisfy recycling and composting needs. It is also not as simple as changing the design. Any changes made to a package itself must also be coordinated with product filling systems, distribution channel needs and consumer packaging demands. Finding the right balance will require collaboration at both the design and recovery phases.

Reflecting on our work for this topic from 2023, we aim to support and promote that dialogue and to measure what’s changed in this dynamic industry. This paper begins a conversation on trends, forecasting a 3-5 years ahead, looking at the OEM point of view.