Not only industrial waste, but packaging waste in the form of single-use plastic is also a core reason behind the negative environmental impact. Plastic packaging takes hundreds of years to decompose. 78 million tons of packaging waste is produced every year.
Post-consumer packaging is responsible for half of global waste annually, urging us to mitigate the negative impact with the help of sustainable packaging. Now the question is whether sustainable packaging can help create a greener environment.
The answer is yes, when made from responsibly sourced materials and is recycled ethically, sustainable packaging could be the best solution. Read this blog to know more about it!
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4 Ways Sustainable Packaging Helps the Environment
Sustainable packaging is made from renewable sources and can easily be recycled to ensure environmental protection. This is why sustainable packaging is sure to protect the environment in various aspects. Some of them are as follows:
1. Reduces Packaging Waste
When replacing single-use plastic packaging with plant-based or reusable packaging, the plastic waste will automatically be reduced. During the holiday season, Americans generate 25% more packaging waste than at any other time of year. When business owners focus on creating eco-friendly retail packaging for Christmas sales, it leads to more eco-awareness and less packaging waste.
2. Lowers Carbon Footprints
When replacing plastic packaging with one made using recycled materials, it can greatly reduce the carbon footprint. Incorporating minimalistic designs reduces energy consumption and emissions during shipping. Packaging made from natural materials, like bamboo and recycled paper, absorbs carbon.
3. Conserves Natural Resources
Sustainable packaging is made from renewable resources such as wood pulp and plant waste instead of petroleum-based plastics, preserving natural resources. For example, even if you feel the need to perform deforestation for creating kraft or cardboard packaging, you can switch to sugarcane packaging made from plant waste called bagasse.
4. Promotes a Circular Economy
One of the best ways sustainable packaging can mitigate negative impacts is by promoting the circular economy model. Reusability and recyclability are two main elements of circularity to ensure environmental well-being. Reusable packaging, like tin containers, glass jars, or rigid boxes, can be used by businesses to run product refillability campaigns to promote sustainability.
5 Packaging Options to Ensure Sustainability
Now, you might be concerned about the type of packaging that can be beneficial for the environment and your business when discussing sustainable packaging. Here are a few packaging choices you can make to promote a sustainable environment:
1. Recyclable Tin Packaging
When it comes to saving the environment, the longevity of a product’s packaging matters most. One such packaging that reduces landfill waste is tin packaging, which is made from tinplate-coated steel. Tin packaging is not only reusable but also recyclable.
The best thing about tin packaging is that it can be customized in various forms, from bottles to containers to small sliding tins. Not only can tin packaging be used for food or retail packaging, but also be used for gifting purposes, which influences consumers’ purchasing decisions.
2. Reusable Rigid Box Packaging
One of the effective packaging options for a better environment is reusable rigid boxes. The best thing about custom rigid boxes is that they are not only reusable but also recyclable and luxurious. They help improve your products’ perceived value by showing their exclusivity with a high-end appeal.
You can customize Printed Rigid Boxes with Folding mechanism to ship them flat for compact storage. Their reusability and recyclability influence customers’ purchasing behavior. Custom rigid boxes in every style and design help businesses promote the circular economy for a better environment.
3. Biodegradable Kraft Packaging
Another excellent option is Kraft packaging, which is made from Kraft paper that is sourced from wood pulp. Kraft packaging is versatile and has vast applications across various industries. Its natural rustic charm exudes the sustainbilty and organic appeal.
Kraft packaging can be recycled. It can be used in various forms, like wraps, boxes, bags, honeycomb paper, and mailer boxes. The best thing about Kraft packaging is that it requires fewer manufacturing costs and complexities, reducing energy consumption.
4. Sustainable Cardstock Packaging
Is sustainable packaging a solution for a better environment? The answer to this question is, yes, it is, especially if you are sourcing it from responsible materials. One such responsible source material is cardstock, a paper thicker than kraft paper. Cardstock packaging is ideal for its versatile uses.
From retail to food, and cosmetic to gift industries, cardstock packaging is being used everywhere. Cardstock boxes, bags, sleeves, stickers, labels, and hang tags are made from recycled materials or paper fibers. This is why cardstock packaging could be an excellent choice when it comes to ensuring sustainability.
5. Eco-Friendly Corrugated Shipping Boxes
No industry can survive without shipping its products from one place to another. This is why robust shipping boxes are essential. They are made from corrugated cardboard, a material constructed using multiple layers of cardstock and kraft flutes.
Corrugated cardboard has the highest recycling rate and helps maintain sustainbilty. Large corrugated cartons are also used for shipping and moving, and are reusable. These boxes are also recyclable, reducing landfill waste.
Washable Tote Bags
9.9 billion of plastic have been produced since the 1950s, and it can not be classified as biodegradable. It is affecting the environment in the form of single-use plastic bags. Brands must switch from non-recyclable plastic bags to reusable fabric bags. These fabric totes are made from materials like cotton, jute, canvas, and linen.
Fabric totes are also washable. Using these bags can also help educate customers about environmental sustainability. Not only are reusable totes ideal for ensuring sustainability, but they are also user-friendly due to their handy mechanism. These bags convey a sense of reliability to people.
Conclusion!
Sustainbilty is an important concern which should never be overlooked. Consumers and industry leaders are looking for various solutions to protect the environment. One such solution is sustainable packaging that not only ensures environmental sustainability but also reduces packaging waste. Businesses must switch from non-recyclable plastic packaging to sustainable packaging options to build an ethical image while protecting the environment.