Consumers today don’t just want quality products with appealing price points; they want products that are good for them and the environment. As the global sustainability movement continues to reshape various industries, adopting greener packaging initiatives becomes increasingly vital for businesses that want to stay competitive and meet customer expectations.
In this article, we will take a closer look at why sustainable packaging is so important, the benefits of giving your packing an eco-friendly upgrade, and tips on how to take your packaging in a newer, greener direction.
Why Sustainable Packaging Matters
Green is in. Modern consumers care about sustainability now more than ever before. Online searches for sustainable products have increased significantly in the past decade, and this interest includes not only the products themselves but also the packaging.
According to a McKinsey survey on sustainability in packaging, 39% of consumers have indicated that the environmental impact of packaging is important to their purchasing decisions and 50% are willing to pay more for products with sustainable packaging.
These astounding stats indicate that if businesses want to continue appealing to modern consumers, they must show that they align with their values — and with climate change concerns increasing, customers today value sustainability.
Benefits of Giving Your Packaging a “Green” Makeover
Whether it’s for everyday products or even promotional products, eco-friendly packaging should be made a priority. However, If appealing to modern eco-conscious consumers isn’t reason enough, let’s take a look at the many other advantages of sustainable packing for your business:
- Lower costs: Sustainable packaging often uses fewer materials, which can help reduce packaging spending. Minimalist packaging also takes up less space, which means lower storage costs. Furthermore, adopting sustainable packing practices helps reduce your business’s carbon footprint, which can also help cut costs by reducing energy usage, especially in packaging processes;
- Increased sales: Greener packaging doesn’t just mean happier customers; it also means more customers. You’ll also attract more eco-conscious consumers who might not have been part of your target audience beforehand, which can also help boost sales;
- Enhanced brand image: Investing in more sustainable packaging shows a commitment to environmental responsibility, which can help boost brand awareness and establish a more positive reputation;
- Greater social impact: Not only does sustainable packaging support the environment, but it also shows support for social responsibility through fair trade practices.
Additionally, as environmental concerns increase, so too will ecological regulations. Adopting more sustainable practices now ensures compliance to protect the future of your business.
Tips and Strategies For Eco-Friendly Packaging
Sustainable packaging initiatives require more thoughtful package design and consideration of how the packaging is used.
1. Less Is More
When it comes to adopting greener packaging practices, think minimally. Companies often use much more packaging than necessary, frustrating customers with bulky boxes. To be more eco-conscious, use packaging that is more comparative to the size of the product and avoid using fillers.
2. Opt for More Sustainable Materials
Environmentally friendly materials are more readily available today than ever, so there are no excuses. There are plenty of packaging material alternatives that are better for the planet, including:
- Bioplastics;
- Plant-based plastics;
- Compostable packaging;
- Bamboo;
- Mushroom-based packaging.
You can also use packaging made from previously recycled materials, such as recycled plastic, cardboard, metal, glass, and paper. Biodegradable adhesives ensure everything sticks together renewably.
3. Use Sustainable Inks
The inks used on packaging can also be harmful to the environment because they are made with toxic chemicals. However, water-based inks are much more eco-friendly and have a lower carbon footprint than traditional solvent-based inks.
4. Aim for More Efficient Design Processes
It’s not just the packaging itself that can be wasteful; it is also the process of designing the packaging. Often, companies will go through many design iterations before they land on the final choice. This drawn-out process often uses more resources than is necessary, both for the packaging materials and the energy used in the design process.
However, process simulations are much more efficient as they allow you to test real-life processes, such as your packaging design, without having to create the physical design for each test run. This helps conserve resources, improves visual output, and achieves better results as you can more easily make changes in the simulation that are quicker than making changes in real life.
Sustainable Packaging Case Studies
Many brands have been using green packaging practices successfully for years, showing how collaboration between designers and manufacturers can lead to a more eco-friendly packaging ecosystem.
Le Club
Le Club was one of the first swimwear brands to use alternative packaging made from seaweed. They used a recycled Kraft box and a seaweed film for the packaging window to display the interior product.
Prana
Prana is an apparel company based in California that claims to have avoided the use of millions of plastic poly bags by using Vela paper bags and recyclable bag ties for its product packaging. It also uses 100% recycled paper and recyclable paper tape for its labels.
Scentbird
This popular subscription-based perfume brand is showing how other subscription companies can positively impact the environment by switching to 100% recycled and recyclable mailers.
URBN
URBN, an umbrella group that owns Free People, Urban Outfitters, and Anthropologie, has implemented sustainable packaging efforts across all three brands. Anthropologie uses tissue paper from 60% post-industrial fibers and only uses the paper in gift packaging. Urban Outfitters no longer uses tissue paper and gift boxes in stores and also recycles and repurposes its plastic polybags. Free People has switched to using 100% cotton bags, which are reusable and biodegradable.
Final Thoughts
On a final note, in addition to adopting eco-friendly packaging practices, it’s also important to communicate sustainability initiatives to customers. A significant part of environmental and social responsibility is being transparent with customers about sustainable processes. Communicating these initiatives also improves marketing campaigns and helps attract more eco-conscious consumers.
