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Consumers today might switch loyalties and buy different products if they meet environmental standards. It is important for customers that businesses they associate with have a sustainability focus. The same goes for packaging. How sustainable the packaging of products is will have a direct effect on brand loyalty. Sustainable packaging is increasingly becoming a standard. The packaging industry has begun to resort to ways to assess their practices in relation to the environment. Sustainable packaging is said to have a positive impact on the environment.
Increased producer responsibility
Oregon has passed a law that necessitates that the largest manufacturers will reveal the environmental impact of a fraction of their portfolio. The law will go into effect in mid – 2025. Legislation is also being passed in New Jersey and California that also necessitates ‘truth in recycling’. To prevent the depletion of natural resources, it has become increasingly important to use sustainable packaging.
Advantages
Using excessive packaging doesn’t reflect well on a brand. Minimizing the use of packaging materials is a way to be sustainable. When materials such as paper board or sugarcane board are used for packaging, it reassures customers that packaging comes from a renewable source. Cost to dispose of less environmentally conscious materials is also more. Going green with packaging reduces carbon footprint and increases revenue streams. Given below are practices that will help a business to be more eco-friendly with packaging.
Share recycling practices
Customers can be educated on the best methods of recycling. They can be given incentives on recycling. For instance, a customer can be given financial rewards for returned packaging. A brand can also partner with recycling companies to provide convenient drop-off locations for items that are difficult to recycle. For instance, Mrs Meyer’s Clean Day has a recycling icon on its bottles. The bottles also carry a message that encourages customers to recycle.
Reduce packaging materials
Using smaller packaging for products is a sustainable strategy. It also reduces shipping costs. Mixing materials such as plastic and paper also results in a lot of waste at the warehouse levels. When packaging is minimal, it also helps to reduce packaging waste. Creative and simple packaging also appeals to minimalist consumers. Using fewer filler materials also leads to reduced packaging. Packaging waste can be minimized if products are sold in bulk. For instance, bedding is a foldable product which can be folded tightly to fit into smaller boxes.
Plant-based and edible packaging
Plant-based packaging is manufactured from biological sources. They could be anything from seaweed to food waste and mushrooms. There is an abundance in the availability of raw materials for making plant-based packaging. For instance, Coca Cola made PET plastic bottles from natural sugars found in plants. Cellulose is often used to make cellulose bags. Cellulose bags are often used for pasta, bath products, tea leaves, and rice. Edible packaging is considered safe to eat. For instance, Saltwater Brewery has manufactured edible ring holders for its beer which are made from barley and wheat.
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