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There are many reasons to choose sustainable packaging for your products. Some of the reasons are reduced waste, shipping costs, and environmental impact. You’ll want to consider these reasons before making a decision about sustainable packaging for your business. If you are in Australia you can find Custom Packaging Australia for your business. Here are three of the most compelling reasons to use sustainable packaging for your products:
Reduced waste:
The focus on sustainability is gaining ground among companies and consumers. The three “Rs” of sustainability – reduced waste, recycled content and reuse – are key areas of focus. Companies reduce waste by redesigning single-use materials and swapping them for more sustainable options. This effort has spawned a growing body of sustainable packaging materials. Listed below are some examples. The following examples show how manufacturers and retailers are tackling the problem of packaging waste.
To achieve this, packaging materials must be decoupled from fossil feedstocks and solve the problem of persistent plastics in the environment. In the EU, for example, if 100 million tons of organic waste are converted into 50 million tons of compost, that’s over 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Bio-based materials should be biodegradable and home-compostable by 2050. Bio-based packaging is also an ideal solution to the persistent problem of plastic waste and is in accordance with the EU Circular
Economy Strategy:
Innovative packaging is another option to reduce waste. Some innovative materials produce the same effect without the need for excessive packaging. Carlsberg, for example, replaced plastic rings holding six-packs of beer with dots of glue. In addition, ICA Gruppen is experimenting with laser etching to replace labels on fresh fruits and vegetables. Companies are also developing water-soluble films for laundry detergents and edible coatings to keep food fresh.
Reduced shipping costs:
A growing number of consumer and shipper-oriented companies are turning to sustainable packaging, which can reduce shipping costs by 20 per cent or more. According to Jorge Izquierdo, PMMI’s vice president of market development, sustainable packaging not only helps protect the environment but also increases profitability. In fact, a recent survey of millennial consumers found that nearly three-fourths are willing to pay an extra 5% for environmentally friendly products.
The first step towards implementing sustainable packaging is to replace a few products. If you have an ongoing supply of clothing, you can replace one size of a garment with sustainable packaging. Once you’ve mastered this step, you can then progress to larger orders. In addition to reducing shipping costs, sustainable packaging minimizes waste and increases the efficiency of storage. In turn, it can reduce storage costs and create additional space.
The next step is to determine how much packaging is necessary to ship your products. Lightweight packages take up less space than heavy ones, and they are easier to handle. This leads to lower shipping costs and a reduced carbon footprint. However, consider that light-weight packages may have to incur dimensional weight costs, which are based on weight and size. Ultimately, the shipping company will charge you more for the additional weight.
Environmental impact:
While packaging facilitates safe product distribution and delivery, it also contributes to the growing global statistics of two billion tons of municipal solid waste per year. In developing and underdeveloped countries, this burden is even greater. Achieving sustainable packaging design means tackling several challenges at once. These challenges include rapidly changing climates, pollution of waterways, species extinction and other environmental challenges of large scale. Sustainability can improve the bottom line of businesses by contributing to a more sustainable future.
In fact, in a recent study, more than 19,000 consumers from 28 countries were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward sustainable packaging and products. This study found that consumers place a great importance on the materials used to create products and packaging, and that integrating sustainability into business strategy can drive sales and profitability. Moreover, 69% of North American consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable packaging. In a survey, companies with a high commitment to sustainability were found to have a higher customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.
However, these changes can be costly. Companies must commit to higher costs for research and development, and work with stakeholders across the value chain to implement them. System-level changes include improvements in recycling infrastructure and technologies, as well as circular value chains. Further, the implementation of new types of materials requires extensive research and collaboration among manufacturers of substrates. But these efforts will not be without their challenges. However, the rewards outweigh the costs.
