Brands can use sustainable packaging in a variety of ways. For example, a company may choose to increase the size of its packaging or change the material to reduce carbon footprints.
When choosing sustainable packaging, looking for options that use renewable materials and are made with environmental concerns in mind is essential. Additionally, they should not contribute to deforestation or excessive pollution. For more sustainable packaging options, check this out.
Corrugated
Corrugated packaging has long been a sustainable packaging option, even before the rise of online shopping. It has a very high recovery rate and can be recycled multiple times without losing strength or quality. It also uses a meagre few natural resources and is an excellent alternative to less eco-friendly materials.
This packaging is an excellent option for businesses that want to reduce their packaging waste. Its strong and flexible design makes it ideal for shipping products, protecting them against rough handling and preventing damage from weather conditions. It can also be shaped into custom designs and printed using flexography, a highly sustainable printing technique.
Recycling corrugated has a direct impact on the health of the planet by decreasing solid waste disposal. Old corrugated containers (OCC) are collected and sold to paper mills, where they are sorted, compacted, and baled for space-efficient storage until they can be used again.
Glassine
Unlike standard paper, which can shed tiny fibre bits when crushed, glassine has no “tooth,” meaning it is smooth and does not rip easily. It is also acid-free and pH-neutral, making it ideal for protecting art or other sensitive items.
Plastic poly bags are a known culprit for environmental pollution as they often end up in landfills or, even worse, our oceans, where they can cause harm to marine life. By switching to glassine, apparel brands can reduce their packaging waste and communicate a message of sustainability to their customers.
Cellulose
Cellulose is a natural polymer made from glucose molecules. It’s found in all plants and is the most abundant organic compound on earth. Plants use it to build their stems, branches, and leaves; we can find it in paper, cotton, and wood.
Its linear shape allows glucose units to pack tightly together and form hydrogen bonds with each other. It is also stiff and sturdy, so we make fibres to create products like paper and cotton. Cellulose is non-toxic and resistant to moisture, oxygen, and oils.
It can be used to make transparent, thin packaging. This type of product is often called cellophane, and it’s great for packaging foods, spices, tea bags, sweets, potpourri, and bath products. Using this material can reduce your company’s waste, mainly when you ship products back to customers. Return rates in e-commerce are currently at an all-time high, and seamless returns processing is essential for customer satisfaction. For more sustainable packaging options, check this out.
Cardboard
Cardboard is a paper-based material that’s thicker than standard paper types. It is manufactured by cutting and lumbering softwood trees to pulp them into cellulose fibres ground into sheets. They’re often bleached white or left a natural brown colour, but they may also contain recycled materials in their inner or central liners.
Packaging accounts for a third of municipal solid waste in the US. It significantly contributes to climate change and pollutes marine environments, occupying landfill space for 500 years or more. It is why forward-thinking brands are looking to switch to more eco-friendly options.
One way to reduce packaging waste is by developing a minimalistic design that uses less material. Another is by using a baler to compress waste before sending it for recycling or composting. It can save on costs by reducing the frequency of waste collection and fuel consumption. Lastly, companies can reduce their carbon footprint by shipping products on shorter routes.
The Benefits of Sustainable Packaging
Sustainable packaging can save retailers money on materials and shipping costs while positioning them as environmentally mindful. It can also lead to more customer loyalty, brand reputation, and valuable consumer and vendor data analytics.
Choosing lighter-weight materials is another sustainability best practice — it reduces shipping costs and storage space. For more sustainable packaging options, check this out.