Packaging challenges of rapid urbanisation

OQ explored how polymers can help industry to meet the food packaging and waste
implications of rapid urbanisation, modern lifestyles, and environmental concerns
OQ has hosted food packaging industrialists at a webinar exploring the contribution that highgrade polymers can make to enhancing environmental sustainability in food processing and
packaging during an age of rapid urbanisation.
The webinar reflects global concerns raised by the United Nations: a third of all food produced
globally is lost or wasted. The UN suggests that the development of policies and interventions
can reduce food loss and waste, which include providing incentives for farmers and producers to
make it cost-effective for them to be more efficient and less wasteful.
The OQ webinar demonstrated how the way food and goods are packed – and how materials can
be reused and circulated – can play an important role in bringing down packaging costs and
reducing food waste, thus supporting the sustainability of megacities. The use of polyolefins
across industries can lead to lower material costs, lower production costs, reduced waste,
increased processing efficiency, lighter appliance parts, and reduced packaging weight.
OQ Polymer Marketing Manager Trevor Robinson explains: “Urbanisation is one of five
‘megatrends’ identified by the United Nations, leading to major changes in land use that have a
significant impact on environmental degradation and climate change. With 1.5 million people
added to the global urban population every week, demand for food will more than double by
2050. Nowadays 1/3 of all food produced globally is lost or wasted. But environmental
consciousness of food waste and the associated environmental impacts of food packaging is
rising globally, and there is a strong pivot from the take-make-waste food packaging module
usually associated with single-use plastic packaging, towards sustainable packaging
alternatives.“
Polymer products for food packaging developed by OQ offer greater durability and water
resistance such as OQ Luban DMDA-8007 – a secondary packaging grade limiting damage to
food produce from harsh weather conditions and heavy handling. Lightweight primary packaging
options developed with OQ polymers also reduce overall load weight, and due to low packagingto-product ratio reduce the frequency of transport. Examples include, thin walled rigid packaging
where OQ Luban HP1151K offers operational efficiency across the value chain from cycle time
to weight reduction, and in flexible packaging where OQ Luban DFDC-7080 combines easy
processing and enhanced physical properties with excellent aesthetics to make it an ideal
material for replacing traditional food packaging with more sustainable solutions such as standup pouches. OQ also offers a broad range of Luban PP and PE products for primary and secondary
food packaging covering rigid packaging for crates and pallets, containers, caps and closures
through to flexible packaging , for stretch hoods, form fill & seal, bag-in-box and liners, and other
food packaging film.
To watch the webinar for free, head to OQ’s website.
About us:
OQ is a global integrated energy company with roots in Oman. It emerged in late 2019 upon the
successful integration of nine legacy companies, united to form a stronger, more efficient and
consolidated entity. We operate in 17 countries and cover the entire value chain in the energy
sector from exploration and production, to marketing and distribution of end-user products. Our
fuels and chemicals are sold in over 60 countries worldwide. We also partner with local and
international companies in the hydrocarbon sector to increase value for the shareholders and
reap greater benefits for the communities.