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Because of the sanctions in Russia, problems began with the supply of certain types of cardboard, special varnishes and paints, which are needed to decorate packages with juices, fruit drinks and wine. Manufacturers are already warning that in the near future it will be possible to see various drinks in a new minimalist design on store shelves. Experts doubt that due to the current situation, enterprises will replace cardboard containers with PET this year, which may adversely affect the environment in the process of waste disposal.

The sanctions pressure caused serious problems with the supply of raw materials and necessary materials to our country, including some types of cardboard, special varnishes and paints, the press service of the Sady Pridonya company said. This information was confirmed in a number of other enterprises.

The press service of Sadov Pridonya reports that soon it will be possible to see the company's products "in a new minimalist design" on store shelves. “Such a design is a temporary and necessary measure,” the representatives explain. The use of fewer colors will ensure uninterrupted supply of products to retail outlets, the company notes.

According to domestic market insiders, the factories of the Swedish-Swiss transnational company Tetra Pak in Russia allegedly run out of packaging paint, so the enterprises are working with some difficulties.

At the same time, according to the Soyuzmoloko association, at present Tetra Pak continues to operate on the Russian market, operational negotiations are underway with all customers. Production of packaging material at a factory in the Moscow region and shipments to food industry enterprises continue. The press service of Tetra Pak confirmed to Izvestia that the company is making every effort to solve problems with the resumption of stable supplies of paint, cardboard and other raw materials to provide the market with packaging materials.

Despite the fact that since 2014 the share of imports of printing and printing inks has decreased by 17 percentage points, this figure in the Russian ink market remains high and amounts to 73%, Izvestia was told at the Center for Market Economics. At the same time, a third of all paint imported into Russia comes from Germany, and almost half more - from other European countries and South Korea.

Irina Svetlova, an analyst at the Center for the Economics of Markets, predicts that a shortage of paint could negatively affect the final price of products. Until manufacturers realign their paint supply chains with Asian manufacturers like India. Now this country accounts for only 4% of imports.

“The transition to any other type of packaging involves the installation of a new production line, and this is a complex process with very significant financial investments,” the press service of Sady Pridonya explains.

Manufacturers suggest that changing the design in favor of minimalism may cause a negative reaction from the consumer, at least at first.

- In the case of direct competition with color packages, colorless ones will certainly lose in the eyes of the consumer, and the product will be perceived as more relevant to the economy segment. Moreover, this perception will probably be transferred to the characteristics of the product itself, which just did not suffer, - they say in the Rusopros marketing agency. “But, most likely, all manufacturers will find themselves in the same conditions, where there will be a choice between high packaging costs or design simplification.

Packaging industry specialists emphasize that Tetra Pak is the market leader and most companies in the Russian Federation used their services. Therefore, this is, of course, a new challenge for manufacturers and agencies. Alternatives exist, but costs will rise, Vera Zvereva, creative director of Depot branding agency, explains.

“Already now we are adapting the existing design to 20% print,” says Vera Zvereva. “A well-executed design can survive this problem with minimal loss, but this is a very tough test of strong design decisions. We will definitely see white packages as they are already being printed, the question is how long this will last. What will come first: an alternative in cardboard or a switch to plastic?

Currently, more than 190 billion Tetra Pak packages are sold worldwide per year, while the Russian market, according to a rough estimate, accounts for more than 7 billion per year (that is, about 3.7% of global sales). For example, in the segment of dairy products, at least 60% of the units produced are bottled into cardboard packaging, and these are very large volumes, the Rusopros marketing agency notes. Also, this type of packaging is used in the production of vegetable and fruit juices, sauces, ready meals, animal feed, canned food, and alcoholic beverages. But basically Tetra Pak is milk and juices.

“As for the paint, it is really in short supply now, since it is imported, and the likelihood that Tetra Pak will completely leave the domestic market is extremely low,” the Rusopros marketing agency believes. - For juices, we can assume that production will be slowed down, but baby food and milk are socially significant products. And they don't want to lose such a huge market.

At the same time, experts believe that PET (plastic packaging) in general will not be able to replace Tetra Pak, since the factories already have filling equipment, well-established lines that are focused on cardboard bags. And there is no interchangeability of different types of packaging and cannot be.

At the same time, the Molvest Group of Companies told Izvestiya that for many, switching to PET could be the most convenient way out of this uncertain situation, since bottle preforms are still produced in Russia and the risk of short deliveries due to sanctions is lower. Now, the company admitted, various options for packaging solutions for the future are being worked out.

“I must say, it is an illusion that the use of Tetra Pak packaging is more environmentally friendly, and processing is easier and more convenient,” says Igor Muravyov, Executive Director of the Leningrad Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry. - In addition to cardboard, the package contains plastic, and their separation from each other is very problematic.

At the same time, Igor Muravyov admits that cardboard packaging is convenient to use. It has many advantages that are absolutely not related to environmental friendliness: cost, optimization of the formation of consignments and shelf life. “The task of business now, albeit in a different package, is to provide the necessary and familiar assortment for the consumer,” said the executive director of the Leningrad Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In general, the situation with packaging is aggravated by the fact that legally the packaging industry in the Russian Federation still does not exist, said Igor Smirenny, Vice President of the National Confederation of Packers (NKPak), member of the Board of Directors of the PACMASH Association.

“The development of the packaging industry is not included in either short-term or long-term plans for the development of the country's economy,” says Smirny. - The industry develops on its own without the participation and regulation of the state. Certain projects are, of course, financed, but haphazardly. And the sanctions reality has already shown that it is necessary to develop it.