Packaging of the Month January 2025: OGT – Granola bar with edible packaging

For us humans, granola bars are wonderful snacks. They give us a little energy boost in between meals and are easy to transport. However, the environment is less impressed by our enthusiasm for these little snacks. Because every single bar means additional packaging waste for it. Mike and Daniel Bedford want to put an end to this with their brand OGT (One Good Thing). The father-son duo from the UK has developed an edible packaging for its muesli bars, so that nothing remains after consumption that nature has to deal with. We find this idea to be a great example of the future of packaging and are honouring it at the start of 2025 by naming it Packaging of the Month.

The world’s first packaging-free protein bars

OGT offers the world’s first protein bars that do not require conventional packaging. They are coated with a special coating that ensures the necessary food protection while also being easy to eat. This coating consists of 100 percent natural ingredients, mainly beeswax. It works just like conventional plastic packaging, keeping the bar fresh and tasty for up to four months. The big difference compared to conventional packaging is that the coating does not need to be removed before eating. It is sufficient to rinse the product briefly, as you would an apple or a pear; after that, all that remains is to bite off and enjoy.

A simple idea with potential for the future

These cereal bars with edible packaging are currently only available in the UK and are not yet available in retail stores in general. OGT delivers the snacks in a box that is made from 70 percent recycled materials and is 100 percent recyclable. The brand places a high value on protecting the environment as much as possible. The bars themselves are cold-pressed, i.e. no heat is used, which in turn would require energy. OGT shows that it is possible to produce in an environmentally friendly way, from food production to packaging. We are convinced that this idea has enormous potential for the future and that it will soon be introduced in a comparable form in the DACH region.

A sneak peek

As more and more brands embrace edible packaging like OGT, we see ourselves confronted with new challenges, particularly in terms of branding at the point of sale. How do you visually stand out from the competition with your own edible coating? Of course, a conventional plastic wrap can be printed on in more ways than a beeswax coating can. Further innovations will be needed here that not only protect the environment but also meet the aesthetic demands of the modern consumer.

Source: weareogt.com