.png)
Plastic bags and wrappings, plastic containers, bubble wrap, and Styrofoam packaging. We see them daily and will continue to see them for years to come thanks to some of these materials taking more than 400 years to biodegrade whilst contaminating our landscapes and oceans in the process. As we continue to see the effects of climate change, customers and consumers increasingly demand more sustainable packaging options. By making the switch to greener alternatives, you will not only be taking steps towards creating a better environment but also ensuring that your brand aligns with customer expectations.
What is Green Packaging?
Sustainability centers around the desire to maintain an ecological balance that avoids depleting the world’s natural resources. Green packaging supports this with the use of reusable, biodegradable, or compostable materials to serve, wrap, and pack products. Green packaging should be manufactured using techniques that minimise both pollution and waste materials.
Helping the Environment!
The obvious benefit of green packaging is to reduce the negative environmental impact on the earth! Landfill space is limited and currently, 91% of global packaging waste is sent to landfill or abandoned in the environment. Much of this waste is made from plastics. Plastic materials aren’t biodegradable, meaning every single piece of plastic that has ever been made is still on this planet. Approximately 10 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year, threatening wildlife, altering ecosystems, and posing a risk to human health. Much of the plastic waste sent to landfills is incinerated to make way for more waste. Burning plastic releases toxic chemicals into the air causing further pollution and health risks. Environmentally friendly packaging aims to minimise energy and resources during manufacture whilst preventing harmful waste from being disposed of. Focusing on reducing single-use plastics and increasing the usage of biodegradable materials would significantly reduce packaging’s negative environmental impact.
Economic Benefits
At one stage, making the initial switch to eco-friendly packaging was expensive. However, with more and more green packaging solutions now available, the marketplace is increasingly competitive. It’s worth remembering that customers favour green packaging options, so much so that they’re willing to pay more for using them. Research by Trivium Packaging found that 74% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging. And of the 74% who said they would pay more, approximately 25% said they’d be willing to pay an increased cost of 10% or more. There are savings to be made too. Most eco-friendly packaging is made of lightweight, raw materials making them cheaper to ship and reducing costs. Creating packaging that’s economically sized also reduces waste - and with efficiency, there’s financial savings.
Improved Brand Image
With so many consumers now understanding their own environmental impact they naturally look for more eco-conscious companies to do business with. Demonstrating your business’ dedication to more sustainable methods and implementing initiatives such as green food packaging will draw positive attention to your brand, building trust and customer loyalty. Creating a positive brand image attracts more customers to your business, from a boarder customer base which in turn provides another economic boost! Don’t forget a positive brand also attracts talented staff who wish to work for a company that strives to make a difference leading to increased efficiency!
Make sure your Packaging Represents your Brand!
Being eco-friendly doesn’t have to come at the cost of aesthetics, and your branding should be part of the product. Why not include a reference to your environmental ethics on your packaging design or include a QR code to encourage customers to do their bit at home?
To discuss creating the perfect compostable branded greaseproof paper for your business, contact us!
Share
