Olga Munroe

The Futures and Foresight Learning (FFL) was the approach used for the ‘Future of Packaging’ programme with 16 industry professionals. Throughout seven sessions spread bi-monthly within a year, we facilitated a series of Futures tasks and discussions using a variety of FFL methods. The result of our work is summarised in this report, with the core aims of the project to map optimal outcomes for the packaging industry projecting into the year 2034. The generation of desirable future scenarios ascertained the number of actions that need to happen in the next 10 years. The systemic overview of the challenges means that this report will cover a range of themes, from consumer behaviour to self-sufficiency challenges in the UK to waste value chains. Both the action research and analysis of information generated by the groups provided rich data, which is mapped in this publication with the aim of highlighting the systemic dependencies and interconnectivity and the changes that must happen to ensure a sustainable future – both in the business and environmental sense. Notes were taken from each of the seven sessions and group members provided further information through follow-up research undertaken between each session. All of this data was collected and analysed thematically so that the current context, potential future scenarios and actions to advance packaging sustainability could be summarised comprehensively. This led to the chapters and sub-headings found in this report. Many of the topics are interrelated, with cross-cutting issues reflected in the chapter on ‘principles for collaborative action’. The analysis is also represented in our ‘Future of Packaging systemic model’ (Figure 1). This encapsulates the interrelated nature of ‘the packaging system’, acknowledging important roles in achieving circular outcomes for government, the public, and industry both as collective entities and individual organisations. The arrows in the model demonstrate the influence that each element has over others. For example, public attitudes influence political decision making and the legislation that comes from that has an impact on industry and the waste system. To produce the agreed outcomes, we need strong, reliable evidence and leadership and to enhance organisational capabilities, whether it’s through better knowledge, skills or technological capacity. Agreed outcomes must be based on good evidence and leadership. The report’s recommendations relate to each element of this model.

The paper examines the current state of the management of traditional retail markets (TRM) in the United Kingdom. TRM are indoor and outdoor markets located in town and city centres across the UK, selling food, household goods, clothing and the like. The paper employs comparative analysis approach of multiple cases using an analytical framework draws from place management and retail business management literature. The study investigates eleven retail markets in the UK, including seven run by Local Councils, two privately run and two operated by Charity Trusts. The paper identifies the management challenges of TRM lie at the intersect between its private-like business entity and the management overseen by local authorities, whose roles and functions are mainly on delivering public services. Although some council markets struggle, it remains a popular model for TRM because it offers social space and inclusion which other types of markets lack. The study also highlights that the environment within which TRM operate, such as policy, infrastructure, business and entrepreneurial aspects play an important role in influencing the performance of the markets. The paper contributes to the retail literature conceptual and empirical understanding of TRM management – the area which has been mostly neglected and under-researched. It offers an integrated analytical framework, including four dimensions of policy, infrastructure, business and entrepreneurial environment (PIBE) to advance the current limited understanding of this traditional form of retailing and sheds light on future research in this area.

The retail and packaging supply chain continues to tackle complex problems relating to improving the sustainability of its products. The problems of plastic pollution and carbon emissions have increased expectations from consumers and government for businesses to reduce the use of plastic and improve recyclability in packaging. These create significant challenges. Alternative packaging formats add extra costs and create unwanted consequences due to poor functionality and there are potential side effects that worsen rather than improve environmental outcomes. In addition, consumer behaviours and the waste infrastructure are not sufficiently prepared to ensure the successful implementation of new packaging systems. To tackle these complexities, representatives of businesses and trade associations from the retail and packaging supply chain were assembled to discuss what is needed to create a more sustainable future packaging system. The Futures and Foresight Learning (FFL) approach was undertaken as a collaborative group. Over seven sessions, organised into 4 action learning groups, priority areas for analysis and action were identified and a variety of FFL methods were utilised to anticipate possible and desired outcomes for the year 2034. This ascertained the actions needed in the present that will enable these desired futures and limit unwanted effects. As action learning groups, the participants worked on topics including consumer behaviour, UK self-sufficiency, the waste value chain and systemic change. The research and analysis of the groups, combined with discussions in each session, provided a wealth of rich data for reporting and identification of further action both by individual organisations and the collective group. The process has enhanced the knowledge and understanding of all participants and provides evidence to call for further action to improve the sustainability of the packaging system. The paper will report on the results of the processes undertaken and actions to be taken in the future.

Intense scrutiny of the retail packaging supply chain has led to calls from consumers, campaigners and government for better, more radical solutions for reducing waste, pollution, littering and energy consumption. Despite years of pro-environmental innovation in packaging, retailers and manufacturers are coming to terms with a new level of attention and expectation to change. This report presents the findings of a collaborative group of experts from the retail packaging supply chain that met six times over 12 months to share problems and identify strategic priorities for the future of packaging. While anti-plastic campaigners call for radical change such as a massive reduction in the use of plastics, people in the packaging industry feel frustrated that the media tends to ignore the environmental benefits of plastic, such as reducing food waste and the smaller carbon footprint of production and distribution compared with other materials. Solutions to the problems generated by packaging are likely to be multiple, context-dependent, complex and require actions by manufacturers, retailers, government, consumers and campaign groups.

The retail packaging supply chain is experiencing intense scrutiny following increased public awareness of ocean plastic pollution and criticism of single use plastics. Industry must meet these challenges while maintaining standards in packaging functionality and food protection and remaining economically viable. Solutions are likely to require the input from all areas and levels, including manufacturers, retailers, government, consumers and campaign groups. The success of any innovation must take account of multiple future scenarios that could affect policy implementation and new product development. These complexities require collaboration between stakeholders and academic input is vital to evidence-based leadership and decision-making. This paper describes early findings from a new collaborative group, led by Leeds Beckett University, which is using the Futures and Foresight approach to develop collective goals for tackling the environmental challenge. It seeks to answer the question of how action learning can be used to create a collaborative approach to considering the future of sustainable packaging. The approach focused on allowing groups of stakeholders to find actions to take and questions for their futures against which learning could take place. The early findings report some initial agreements on the challenges that the industry currently faces.

The report presents findings of a large consumer survey on packaging, environmental issues and the media, conducted by Dr Martina Topic, Ben Mitchell and Olga Munroe. The survey was conducted on a representative sample of 1000 respondents, and forms a backbone of the future research and research outputs currently being prepared. This report has been distributed to the clients of the Retail Institute and will be presented at the Annual Retail Institute conference in September 2018.