Protect the Environment and Attract Eco-Conscious Consumers with Sustainable Packaging
Today’s consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, demonstrated by a 71% increase in online searches for sustainable goods in the last five years. Consumers are looking for brands to level up their sustainability game, and they’re willing to pay a premium for it. In many cases, consumers are willing to pay up to 12% more for sustainable products. An easy way for your business to increase its eco-friendliness is to switch to sustainable packaging solutions. Here, we’re diving into the details of sustainable packaging and giving you a roadmap to make the switch. Let’s dive in.
What is Sustainable Packaging?
Sustainable packaging refers to any kind of eco-friendly material that’s used to wrap, store, ship, or shelve products. When it comes to sustainable packaging, there are a range of options available. They include:
Biodegradable
This kind of packaging refers to any kind of material that will naturally disintegrate and decompose. But, this label can get tricky. With this definition, anything from a wooden box to a cellulose-based wrapper can be considered biodegradable. However, the wrapper will take a few weeks to decompose, while the box may take decades or more. Typically, packaging is only considered biodegradable if it decomposes within 180 to 365 days, according to a source in the National Institutes of Health database.
Eco-Friendly
If packaging is not considered biodegradable, it can be labeled as “eco-friendly” or “sustainable.” This typically means that the packaging is recyclable, renewable, and/or reusable. Perhaps the most common form of eco-friendly packaging is corrugated, cardboard, and paper products. In fact, many corrugated boxes and displays are created with between 70% and 100% recycled materials.
But, other materials can be considered eco-friendly, as well. Recent advancements in science have created a bio-additive that allows plastic materials to degrade quickly, leaving a smaller impact on the environment.
Steps to Transition to Sustainable Packaging
We’ve already outlined some of the benefits of switching to sustainable packaging, along with options to choose from. So, if you want to make the switch, how do you do it? Following these simple steps can help you lower your carbon footprint and attract more eco-conscious consumers.
1. Research and Educate Yourself
With a broad range of sustainable packaging options to choose from, there’s surely one that can meet your needs. Start by researching potential options online, from corrugated to eco-friendly plastic materials. You can get a good idea of what’s best from sources on the web, but an experienced packaging manufacturer can point you in the right direction even faster.
2. Conduct a Packaging Audit
A crucial step in switching to sustainable packaging is conducting a packaging audit on your current offerings. How sustainable is your packaging at the moment? Does it meet your expectations? If not, where would you like your sustainability initiatives to be? Keeping this in mind can set you up for success in step number three.
3. Set Clear Goals and Objectives
Having a clear goal of what you want to achieve through switching to sustainable packaging is vital to your success. Here are a few examples of sustainability goals other major companies have set. You might use these as inspiration for your own project.
- Amazon has been incorporating sustainable packaging into its mix for the last few years. Since 2022, the company has decreased single-use plastic delivery packaging by 11.6%.
- JDE Peet’s, a Dutch coffee group, launched recyclable paper packaging for its instant coffee range. The goal is to make 100% of its packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030.
- Kellogg’s already has one of the smallest plastic footprints among food companies, with 76% of its packaging being recyclable. By the end of 2025, the company intends to make 100% of its packaging either recyclable or compostable.
4. Collaborate with Suppliers and Partners
The next step is to collaborate with suppliers and partners who can help make your packaging more sustainable. A partner like Orange Packaging can walk you through your options and create pilot programs to determine their efficacy.
5. Test and Pilot Sustainable Solutions
Once you have a sustainable option in mind, you can create a program to test it under certain variables. This might include durability testing, life cycle analyses, user feedback, and more.
6. Gradually Implement Changes
As you saw in the “set clear goals and objectives” section, companies slowly roll out sustainable packaging initiatives. Start with small changes and gradually increase the intensity until you meet your overall goal.
7. Monitor and Measure Progress
The most important part of this process is to monitor and measure progress. Set regular intervals to check in and ensure you’re on your way to achieving your goals.
Need Sustainable Packaging? We Can Help
If you need sustainable packaging, turn to the Orange Packaging team. We’ll handle everything from initial design to final shipment, so you can focus on other revenue-generating tasks. When you partner with us, you get a team that’s always looking to improve operations, ensuring you get the best products on the market.
Since 1950, we’ve been providing exceptional products and services to customers just like you. With over 150,000 square feet of manufacturing space featuring over 10 production lines, we can meet even the tightest schedules. Our manufacturing capabilities range from eco-friendly thermoforming to finishing, assembly, and Pack It Here fulfillment. Trust us to deliver quality packaging products and services, every time.
Let’s Get Started
Want to learn more about what we can do for you? Reach out to our team for an initial consultation.
