7 Sustainable Packaging Tips for Businesses: Environmentally-Friendly Solutions for Conscious Consumers
A quick guide to saving the earth while growing your business.
As customers become more cautious about their purchasing decisions, they search for companies that are committed to being eco-friendly in all facets of their operations and demand sustainable products.
To provide truly sustainable products, businesses must take action to address the unsustainability of their supplied products and packaging. This is a crucial step towards building a more environmentally conscious and responsible business. By prioritizing sustainability in product and packaging design, businesses can attract and retain customers who share their values and are committed to making a positive impact on the planet. So, if you want to be a leader in sustainable business practices, it’s time to take action and prioritize sustainability in all aspects of your operations.
Due to the non-biodegradable nature of plastic, when it is thrown into landfills, it can last in the environment for up to 1,000 years. Because of this, wildlife is harmed by plastic products, as some species become trapped in plastic waste or ingest plastic. Microplastics have been discovered in salt, beer, seafood, and human stools. This plastic can then enter food chains.
It is high time we switch to more sustainable methods of packaging.
So, here is a curated list of sustainable packaging methods for brands, which they can follow in order to make their packaging and shipping practices greener and environmentally friendly.
- Make your products and packaging highly disposable
Make sure a product or packaging can be recycled or used again on purpose when designing it. Create a product that is simple to disassemble in order to promote the recycling of parts. For the consumer’s benefit and clarity, be sure to clearly state any special recycling instructions.
- Bulk shipping
Bulk shipping offers a highly cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for customers. Not only does it save you money, but it also helps reduce your carbon footprint. Trust us, bulk shipping is the way to go!
- Avoid plastics as much as possible
As previously stated, plastic waste is a serious problem that requires attention. Plastic is a material that your company must stay away from due to its effects on the environment, the extraction of its raw materials, and the release of hazardous chemicals. When possible, use alternative materials like wood, glass, tin, and foil. Use alternatives to plastic as well, like bioplastics.
- Packaging that can be returned and repurposed
A great way to guarantee that the packaging never ends up in a landfill is to use returnable packaging. A lot of companies provide incentives and coupons for customers who return packaging to be reused. Although not always ideal, this tip will help your brand gain a meaningful connection with the consumers.
- Stop unnecessary packaging and also use mono packaging
Avoid putting boxes inside of other boxes, or any extra packaging where it’s not necessary. Also, eliminate extra paper and promotional flyers whenever possible. Packaging made of only one material is referred to as mono packaging. As a result, less energy is needed to separate the various materials, which facilitates recycling. Use mono packaging wherever possible.
- Provide recycling info on the packaging to help customers
Indicate the composition of the packaging material as well as what can be recycled and how on the packaging. This tells the customer whether they can put the packaging in their curbside recycling bin or not. Inform them of the appropriate disposal location for the material if it is not curbside recyclable. If there are multiple materials, make sure to indicate how each one should be recycled.
- Use curbside recyclable plastic, and form ties with a plastic neutrality company to ensure plastic neutrality
Make sure it is curbside recyclable if plastic is absolutely required for your packaging (and plastic alternatives cannot be used). This indicates that the customer doesn’t need to take any additional steps to recycle the plastic in their home recycling bin. These additional recycling procedures for plastics increase recycling work and decrease the likelihood that a customer will recycle the product (customers crave ease and convenience).
The Disposal Company, for example, assists brands in becoming plastic-neutral.
To be deemed plastic neutral, a company must ensure that for each kilogram of plastic used, a measured equivalent amount of plastic waste is recovered and removed from the environment by a person or organization through recycling/waste management initiatives or plastic offset credits. Being plastic-neutral is a simple and inexpensive process. We are dedicated to assisting businesses in assessing, reducing, and mitigating their use of plastic. The Disposal Company gives you a Seal of Sustainability in just a few simple steps. Your customers will trust you more after receiving the Seal of Sustainability.
Hope this blog was helpful, join us in the fight against climate change.
Visit www.thedisposal.co to learn more.
