Sustainable Packaging: Keep it Green

Businesses and companies always ensure the packaging of their products is top notch, as it could make or mar the profit margins in their business operation. Presently, the packaging industry is under review to determine the quality of its services and the effect to end users. Many companies are more interested in sustainability because of consumers and retailers now concentrate more on green products.

Waste from packaging is a big global problem, and no business wants to identify with it. Therefore, the key to becoming a more responsible eCommerce retailer is to know the intricacies required to “keep it green” in terms of your packaging design.

Sustainable packaging is an action plan used to display a strong commitment towards Corporate Social Responsibility due to its growing attention on sustainability.

As a result of changing times, consumers are becoming more aware of their purchasing lifestyle and its aftermath on their immediate environment. According to research about 70% of customers desire to pay a “green premium” for a product because of its eco friendly packaging. This is one of the benefits of going green in your packaging design as a business owner.

Also, brand owners may be at a risk of incurring damages to their business profile without the use of sustainable packaging.  For instance, when your product packaging materials aren’t easy to recycle, it could frustrate your customers and repel them from using the products.

What is sustainable packaging?

To avoid any form of ambiguity, a definition is necessary. According to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, a packaging design that “can be transformed into a closed loop flow of packaging materials in a system that is economically robust and provides benefit throughout its life cycle” may be taken as sustainable.

There are great ideas to make packaging more sustainable and these include:

Reduced packaging:

The cliché “less is more” comes to mind here. Over-packaging is broadly used in eCommerce which leads to more packaging waste with its associated costs. Streamlining your packaging design is the best means to reduce the cost of product packages and to increase its sustainability.

Recycled or reusable packaging:

It’s important to maximise the use of recycled materials for your product designs. When you design packaging with the options for reuse, it produces a better economy of raw materials in circulation.

Plant based packaging:

Alternatives for plant based packaging have expanded greatly within recent years. eCommerce businesses may focus on biodegradable packaging options, like coconut, mushroom filaments, and compressed plant fibres. These are agricultural by-products that help to reduce waste in the supply chain.

Paper options produced from bamboo or sugarcane have gained popularity with alternatives to traditional petroleum-based inks being used for custom printing.

Consumers and businesses prefer to purchase products with Eco-credentials. The FSC certification provides guarantee for paper materials that possess the FSC label, which comes from a forest and supply chain that’s being managed efficiently.

It‘s crucial for businesses to integrate sustainable packaging in their mode of operation as the environmental threats continues to wax stronger.  Luckily, more green packaging options abound in the market now than ever before at affordable prices. It’s a great means to lower the carbon footprints of your business and give yourself a competitive leverage in your industry.

In conclusion, you should look for ways to “keep it green” in your packaging designs as a means of demonstrating your commitment towards impacting the environment positively.

Here at MCF we are big on protecting the environment so use eco-friendly packaging, we provide our customers with a chance to make a positive impact on the environment. Using eco-friendly packaging also has economic benefits, as using lighter, thinner packaging reduces material and transportation costs.

Eco-friendly packaging is versatile, can be re-used, and re-purposed for packaging.  We utilise this packaging for almost all the goods we ship out daily as there is an eco-friendly type of packaging that will meet the needs of most products sold.