Packaging can be found everywhere, including your shopping cart, cupboards, deliveries, and much more. This abundance of plastic and other non-natural materials can lead to environmental issues like pollution. But there is an alternative: sustainable packaging.

In this article, we will discuss all of the advantages of sustainable packaging that you may reap.

Packaging is primarily designed to confine and protect products. Today, packaging is usually about convenience, particularly for food and disposable items. The packaging we see is typically comprised of a form of plastic called polyethylene. It can occur in different types:

• Polyethelene terephthalate: commonly used to make drinks bottles. It’s the most common and most widely-recycled of all plastic resins.
• High-density polyethelene: this is used to make containers for heavier items and liquids such as laundry detergent, shampoo or even motor oil.
• Low-density polyethelene: used to manufacture plastic bags and flexible plastic films. This type of plastic is not widely recycled.

These sorts of plastic can even cover the clothes we buy, whether they come in a plastic bag or are supplied in plastic packaging.

Along with the convenience of plastic, many people believe that it is recyclable, and they are correct. But does that mean everything is being recycled? Unfortunately, the answer is no. In Europe, 70% of recyclable plastics end up in landfills or the ocean.

Another difficulty with non-environmentally friendly packaging is the production process. The majority of plastic is produced by refining crude oil, and the breakdown process is equally damaging. Plastics disintegrate over hundreds of years, releasing harmful compounds such as bisphenol A, which can affect animal hormonal systems.

Furthermore, you may be thinking “What about paper and cardboard? Surely they’re natural and eco-friendly?” The answer is complicated. Yes, paper and cardboard are natural, but that doesn’t mean they’re an eco-friendly packaging option. 40% of all globally traded wood is used for the pulp and paper industry. This is about 7.5 million hectares of forest.

What is Eco-Friendly Packaging?

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition has set up a number of rules when it comes to what can be called eco-friendly or sustainable packaging:

• Beneficial, safe and healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle.
• Meets market criteria for performance and cost.
• Sourced, manufactured, transported and recycled using renewable energy.
• Optimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials.
• Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices.
• Is made from materials that remain non-toxic throughout the life cycle.
• Is designed to optimise materials and energy.
• Effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial closed-loop cycles.

Essentially, it needs to be made from eco-friendly materials, biodegradable and able to be either reused or recycled.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Packaging

Reduces Carbon Footprints

If it’s made from recycled products, the carbon footprint of your packaging will be greatly reduced. Similarly, if the packaging is made from natural materials such as bamboo or FSC-approved paper or cardboard, the growth of such products actually draws carbon out of the environment. If you’re looking to make your business carbon neutral, eco-friendly packaging is the way to go.

Biodegradable

If the packaging is made from natural materials, this means it will be biodegradable. Plastic is not easily biodegraded, taking hundreds if not thousands of years to break down, releasing harmful chemicals on its way. Some eco-friendly packaging, such as sustainable paper products, will even be compostable.

Easily Disposable

Most businesses and places in the UK and Europe have dedicated recycling or disposal locations or services. It’s relatively easy to recycle nowadays, provided you separate your disposables so they can be recycled properly. 

No Harmful Toxins

Non-sustainable petrochemical resources such as crude oil, which is used to make most plastic, is incredibly harmful to the environment in terms of both extraction, refinement, distribution, use and disposal. Eco-friendly packaging has none of these issues over its lifespan. As it biodegrades, harmful chemicals such as the ones produced by plastic are not present.

Easily Reused or Recycled

Part of what makes packaging eco-friendly is its ability to be reused or recycled. Encouraging the reuse of packaging means that its lifespan is extended, which reduces the need for new materials, further lowering its carbon footprint. If the packaging is of good enough quality, it should be able to be reused for things like further packaging, storage and even arts and crafts.

How Eco-Friendly Packaging Benefits Your Business

Eco-Friendly Packaging is Versatile

Any industry can utilize eco-friendly packaging. Whether you’re looking for packaging for foodstuffs, clothing, cosmetics or even electronic devices, there will be an eco-friendly packaging type that will meet your specific needs.

It Improves Your Brand Image

Developing yourself as an environmentally responsible company creates trust within your customer base. Trends concerning sustainable products are on the rise. For example, in the fashion industry sustainability is a widely-trending topic.

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Fashion producer Zara claimed that all of its collections will be made from 100% sustainable materials by 2025. There is even calls to create certifications so that fashion brands can label themselves as ‘truly’ sustainable. Staying up to date with the trends means that your business will always be at the forefront of innovation and customer satisfaction.

It Can Reduce Transportation Costs

If you source good quality, eco-friendly packaging, it can mean you need to use less of it. This means an overall reduction in transportation costs.

Helps Expand Your Customer Base

90% of CEOs find that sustainability is fundamental to success. With the rise of sustainability trends, we can see that customers want to interact with and purchase from businesses that work towards sustainable practices and goals. Sustainability is increasingly important for any established or fledgling business.

What are the Benefits and Drawbacks with Sustainable Packaging?

In the age of E-Commerce, the packaging in which the product is delivered has a significant impact on the audience, as the first impression is the last. Nowadays, companies’ typical bags made of plastic may still be in use, but customers are increasingly looking for sustainability. Furthermore, in consideration of consumers’ particular preferences and choices, the current technology world is shifting toward environmentally friendly packaging.

It appears that the benefits of ecological packaging will continue for the next few years. But is this substantial change fortunate? What are the advantages and downsides to doing so?

Pros

Eco-friendly Packaging ideas come up with more benefits and help to attain sustainable environmental results. It is safer & secure for human life.

The following are the factors that support the use of eco-friendly packaging.

• Intensified Regulatory Acceptance

According to the 2021 Global Buying Green Report, 67% of consumers prefer eco-friendly packaging boxes for the products they purchase. The product should be in recyclable material. These 67% were well aware of the environmental factors that affect human health. This recent research shows that people are becoming more fascinated with conservation matters.

Canada and the European Union tend to move to a greater extent toward Sustainable Packaging. These nations are about to apply massive taxes on non-ecofriendly Packaging. The European Union will strike additional tax in the new year on non-recycled Packaging. It won’t be wrong to say that the future is about eco-friendly packaging.

• Less Aquatic Pollution from Plastic Packaging

Plastic bags and Plastic waste materials are significant donors to ocean pollution. It is not safe for humans and for aquatic life. The future is based on custom eco-friendly packaging because they have 100% recycled content and are made by industrial processes or through a landfill. It is naturally biodegradable, and companies design it in any size, color, and dimension. The consumer will appreciate that the bags are composed of them.

• No Toxins and Allergens

Companies use petrochemical and synthetic materials to make traditional bags with toxins, but compostable Packaging is not toxic and does not contain any type of allergens. It allows the consumer to live a happier and more secure life.

• Convertible Utilization

You can always reuse eco-friendly kraft boxes many times to make other products, but it depends on the nature of the box’s material. Bamboo is a great example. You can use it further in cutlery packages.

• Lessen Prices

You can move to eco-friendly packaging wholesale, which is cost-effective. It is beautiful, captivating, and lightweight. It is beneficial for every single commodity. In addition, this type of packaging reduces shipping and elevated costs.

• Better Brand Reputation

When you switch to sustainable packaging, your brand will be loved and can attain customer loyalty. Contrary, if you utilize plastic packaging, it can destroy your brand’s name as people’s aptitude are now toward safer Packaging for a healthy environment.

• Broaden Customer Base

Eco-friendly packaging can help you broaden your customer base and allure new customers. Evergreen Packaging published papers that showed an increasing trend in customer choices of eco-friendly packaging.

Similarly, Trivium Packaging and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) issued a report at the start of 2020 on the talking point of Sustainable Packaging. The report contains a survey. Its response rate is higher than 15000 South American, European, and U.S consumers.

These studies show that now you have a fantastic opportunity to uplift your company by using eco-friendly boxes.

Cons of Ecofriendly Packaging

Though green packaging has a lot of merits, let’s discuss its demerits too.

Costly for Small Entrepreneurs

The cost of switching can be expensive for some small businesses. The materials used in producing renewable sources are of more price than others. There is a chance of having high-cost issues in production procedures or at any point in your operations. The price point of traditional bags in comparison with plastic bags is lower.

Required Execution Concern

Sustainable packaging may not meet the criteria in terms of functional, performance-based, or practical requirements.

Moreover, sustainable packaging is not:

Durable

Waterproof Adherent to specific climates and temperatures

For their decomposition, favorable circumstances might be required. In the United Kingdom, nearly 90% of houses do not have compost heaps, and they also have a narrow range of industrial fertilizer facilities

Furthermore, eco-friendly packaging is still an under-research concept. So, it can lack idealized properties and traits.

• Time Taking Process

Some sustainable packaging materials require agricultural crops that take the whole season to grow. For Instance, Corn is a costly and renewable crop. Corn serves compostable packaging as well as food. It is under discussion that we can use it to feed poor and needy people rather than packaging.

• Some Packaging Materials might not be Safe

Some types of sustainable packaging cannot stop contamination at markets or in food stores. They lack specific properties required to keep the product safe. And we can’t neglect this factor at any point because nothing is more important than someone’s life.

• Sensitivity to Moisture

Some types of eco-friendly packaging are sensitive to moisture, and it is very thin and can unveil the object. If your product requires high-barrier packaging, then those types of eco friendly soap boxes are not the right choice for you. You can use boxes with lamination or other materials instead of them.

• Misleading of Manufacturers

Companies can mislead customers by greenwashing. They sometimes claim that certain material is present in packaging production, which in actuality might not!

Bottom Line

The main business advantages of using sustainable packaging are:

• Improved brand and consumer perception, leading to the potential for increased sales.
• Opportunity for unique brand positioning in specific markets.
• Potential for increased sales amongst certain demographics.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction through more straightforward disposal and recycling of packaging.
• Cost reductions through minimised material usage.
• Reduced costs through increased lifespan and longevity (e.g. returnable containers in the supply chain).
• Reducing your organisation’s carbon footprint.
• Potential reduction in transit costs through minimised materials and volume.
• Possible savings in storage and warehouse requirements (dependent on materials used).

After considering the advantages and disadvantages, we can say that eco-friendly packaging is healthier, maintains high standards, and is a more profitable business. It can uplift your company name, boost your product sales, and attract new customers.

But these plans can face challenges. For Instance, moving to sustainable packaging for small business holders is 25% costlier, as compared to traditional packaging. Moreover, some brand-new packaging alternatives don’t perform as well as the traditional packaging, they mislead the consumer with their tactics.