What Millennials think, say and do will dominate all aspects of businesses for many years to come. The reason? Millennials are putting a significantly higher priority on sustainability than have the generations before them. That is the finding of EcoFocus Worldwide's 2019 U.S. Trends Survey.

It is a part of our daily lives — we find what we need online, click the button and the package with whatever our heart desires arrives on the doorstep. But, the euphoria of receiving the package is somewhat diminished by knowing the negative impact that box after box and package after package can have on the environment.

Nestlé, Unilever, Kraft Heinz and Premier Foods are just some of the food companies that have signed a U.K. initiative to cut food waste by 50 percent.

Smart and sustainable packaging trends have gathered pace across the globe. Recent innovations are demonstrating that both can coexist and grow harmoniously.

FPA's new report on sustainable packaging, "A Holistic View of the Role of Flexible Packaging in a Sustainable World," is now available. The report focuses on the industry segment that adds significant value to flexible materials, usually by performing multiple processes such as printing, laminating multiple layers and adding coatings. It focuses on the U.S. perspective, though global data is utilized to provide a broader picture.