The silent shop assistant

Trends in the packaging of daily goods are influenced by global processes in world society and economy, creating new opportunities and demand, but posing new challenges as well. Experts have already given several names to products’ packaging, but ‘the silent shop assistant’ is probably the wittiest, the one that really grabs the essence of packaging. According to a study by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), food and beverages constitute 70 percent of consumer packagings; medicinal products and personal care represent 10 percent. For the food industry the study forecasts a significant increase in packaging demand. In the beverage sector a restructuring is expected to take place. In the field of cosmetics and chemical products plastic is the dominant packaging material with a two-third share. In general, the study points out that the strengthening of the middle class all over the world will create business opportunities for the packaging industry, as demand for functional and convenience packaging will grow and e-commerce will spread rapidly. On the other hand, fluctuation in base material prices and pressure from retail chains to lower prices will be a great challenge for the sector.

Tetra Pak’s carton boxes are mainly used for packaging milk and fruit juices, but more and more often they are used to package cheese, ice cream, tomato sauce, wine, soup or vegetable preserves. AMCO Kft. offers not only packagings, but packaging machinery and systems, maintenance and consulting services too. Sz.Varians Kft. developed paper packaging solutions tailored to the needs of the FMCG market. Besides, they have advertisement- and promotion-related products for practically each sector of the economy. Experts of the three companies have the same view on problems to be solved: environmental issues, the low level of selective waste collection, fluctuating base material prices and euro exchange rate, lower volumes commissioned and decreasing unit prices. Sz.Varians’ managing director, János Szakál told us that they stress the importance of innovation. In Hungary they are the only company to use two-layer micro-corrugated cardboard, which they manufacture in many colours.

Most of their products are 100-percent recyclable and 98 percent of the ink and adhesive they use is water-based. In the past couple of years they focused their efforts on manufacturing cheaper packaging material, by using more economical production methods or alternative base materials. Jenő Kampós, the key account director of Tetra Pak Hungária Zrt. explained to Trade magazin that the market expects hygienic, long shelf-life, practical, easy-to-open, environmentally sustainable and cost effective packaging solutions from the company. A packaging company makes decisions for 10-20 years when purchasing equipment. By supplying and maintaining this equipment, Tetra Pak enters into a lasting cooperation, paying great attention to customer feedback and showing flexibility. The company manufactures 5-6 product ranges, offering 4-5 different sizes per range. Kálmán Magyar, the
managing director of AMCO Kft. said that the Hungarian market is very price sensitive, but the company never loses sight of innovation either. They think of CSAOSZ’s role as crucial, facilitating the flow of information and representing members’ interests.