In your opinion, what functions make packaging irreplaceable?
Siegert: In addition to the protection of food and hygiene, for example, its function as an information carrier is also important, especially for brand manufacturers. If something is unpackaged, there is no information about the origin of the product or its shelf life. In addition, brand manufacturers have a claim to offer consistent quality. If the product is not protected by packaging, consistent quality can hardly be promised. The stronger the brand, the more difficult it is to realize unpackaged concepts. Packaging can also invite the consumer to interact with the manufacturing company, for example via QR codes and corresponding digital offers. I see so-called “intelligent packaging” such as the “Digi Code”, which uses image recognition to enable waste to be separated according to type and processed further, as an opportunity to put the plastics recycling industry on a completely new footing.