Environmentally Friendly Packaging Solutions
Are you considering more environmentally friendly packaging? We’ve listed five sustainable packaging practices that are easy to adopt. These eco-friendly solutions can help you make a significant impact on the environment.
Implementing sustainable practices in your business may seem like an unnecessary extra step, however, it should not be seen as a burden. In fact, acting in a more environmentally friendly way can bring advantages to businesses. Not only will your business be able to reduce its environmental impact, but it will also be able to attract more environmentally conscious customers. Corporate social responsibility is a necessity in today’s world and demonstrating that your business is acting in an ethical way by being aware and implementing sustainable practices will truly provide an advantage for your business.
Customers, employees, and businesses are demanding action, so here are 5 simple eco-friendly packaging ideas that you should be aware of and should try to implement in your production process.
1. Less is more
The less packaging you use, the less waste you produce. Excessive packaging creates excess waste, which ends up in landfills. While excess packaging can be used for aesthetic purposes, minimal packaging that displays more of the product can be used to show the overall appearance of the product.
Using a more minimalist design that requires less ink can also indirectly reduce the impact on the environment. When it comes to sustainability, one of the best things to do is reduce. Using in moderation, or using less rather than more, is said to be better for the environment than reusing and recycling. For example, printing colors and patterns only on the outer part of the package and not on the inside is an example of reducing consumption.
2. Soy-based Ink
A good way to reduce the environmental impact of your business is to use packaging printed with soy-based inks. Soy-based inks are made from refined soybean oil. It is renewable, easy to recycle, and environmentally friendly. In addition to being non-toxic, it produces brighter, more vibrant colors than traditional petroleum inks. Fewer toxic emissions are released during the printing process. Although soy-based ink takes a slightly longer drying time, it does make the paper easier to recycle.
3. Reusable bags
To stop urban pollution and save wildlife and resources, reusable bags should be used. Reusable bags are more durable and can hold more items at once, especially if they are made of materials such as cloth. They can also be seen as a source of additional advertising for businesses. Customers are more likely to reuse well-made cloth bags with your company’s logo on them than less sturdy plastic bags, which tend to break over time. This helps increase your brand awareness, and shows that your products are high quality and your brand is conscious of the environment.
4. Paper/cardboard over Plastic
Don’t underestimate the power of cardboard. Corrugated cardboard is a strong and sturdy form of packaging. It’s highly protective and if in the correct shape can be as strong as if not stronger than plastic packaging. Using paper or cardboard for packaging instead of plastic allows for recyclable waste. Paper is made from renewable, biodegradable resources while plastic is made from crude oil and natural gas, all nonrenewable resources. Lately, there has been a wave of companies switching to more paper-based products. For example, Starbucks has switched to paper straws instead of plastic straws. Movements such as these work well, reducing plastic waste, meeting customer’s demands, and promoting the business in a more environmentally conscious manner, thus increasing its CSR.
5. Remember to Give Back
Deforestation is increasing at an alarming rate, emphasizing the importance of reforestation. An effective method for increasing Corporate Social Responsibility is through demonstrating to your customers that you are giving back what you take from the environment. For example, EcoMatcher is a platform that strives to accomplish this.
Partnering with EcoMatcher is a great way to contribute to global reforestation, and offset your business’s ecological footprint. You can access the precise location of your tree, the date of planting, a picture of the tree, and even a picture of the farmer. It allows businesses to gift trees they adopt on behalf of their customers. Their services also allow companies to adopt an entire forest and distribute the trees to each of their employees.
