Sustainable packaging push

摘要

The shift to sustainable consumer packaging has hit the fruit industry, and several packing companies say they are using more cardboard.Costco is driving much of the change, replacing its plastic clamshell packs last fall with 4-pound corrugated boxes. Others are experimenting with biodegradable pouch bags.The switch means more capital investment in the packing lines."To develop the packaging equipment for those plastic trays was no small investment," said Steve Lutz of Category Farmers, a market analysis company that tracks consumerpreferences in the produce industry. "Now you've got to regroup and do it all again.”