What Can Businesses Do to Create Eco-Friendly Packaging?
Whether online or offline, most items sold in the market need packaging of some kind, big or small. Packaging is needed not only for gift wrapping, but also for storing products on store shelves, and durable packaging is essential when shipping items sold online. However, concerns about environmental pollution are also growing...
Whether online or offline, most items traded in the market require packaging of some kind. Packaging is needed not only for gifts, but also for keeping products on store shelves, and durable packaging is essential when shipping products sold online. However, concerns about environmental pollution are growing as well. Once packaging has served its purpose, it becomes waste, and waste centered on plastic does not break down easily, polluting the planet. If you run a business, you need to know about eco-friendly packaging.
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Why Eco-Friendly Packaging Matters
1. Consumer Preference for Responsible Sellers
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Consumers prefer brands that act responsibly. According to a survey conducted in North America, about 69% of consumers said they are willing to pay extra for environmentally friendly products, and around 50% said they are willing to adjust their buying habits for the environment. In particular, 80% of consumers want to know the exact origin of the products they buy, and 69% of them are willing to pay more for brands that provide that information. It is important to remember that consumers are setting higher standards when choosing products and brands.
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2. Building Positive Relationships with Customers
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A commitment to sustainability is like a conversation a seller has with consumers. For any business, securing a loyal and long-term customer base is more important than attracting many one-time buyers. Go beyond simply making affordable, easy-to-use products and actively communicate that your brand is working toward something more meaningful. And keep showing customers what those efforts are achieving and how they can take part. Just like people build relationships with each other, brands and consumers can form human connections too.
3. The Plastic Waste Problem
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The impact of plastic waste on the environment has been discussed consistently for decades and is now widely recognized. Still, it is worth noting that about 40% of all plastic produced worldwide is used for packaging. Plastic used for packaging is especially problematic because it is often used just once and then discarded. For this reason, eco-friendly packaging usually replaces plastic with other materials, and reducing plastic use directly can help prevent problems such as soil and water pollution.
4. Examples of Successful Eco-Friendly Packaging
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- UK meal-kit brand Gousto uses recyclable corrugated insulation boxes called “Eco Chill” instead of plastic. Because these corrugated boxes act as insulation, they keep the contents fresh during delivery.
- The well-known laundry detergent brand Tide boldly gave up its existing plastic detergent containers and began selling detergent in corrugated boxes called “Tide Eco-Box.” As a result, the amount of plastic and water used in packaging was reduced by 60% and 30%, respectively.
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- The packaging materials used by IKEA, the famous furniture brand, are made from 100% biodegradable mushrooms. Unlike polystyrene, which can take thousands of years to fully break down, this material biodegrades in just a few weeks.
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- American pizza brand Pizza Round uses 100% plant-based pizza containers. The material is made from 80% sugarcane and 20% bamboo, and it is compostable.
Types of Packaging Materials for Eco-Friendly Packaging
1. Corrugated Boxes
One of the most practical alternatives for eco-friendly packaging is corrugated board. Since it is already a familiar material all around us, it can be used without much burden. In particular, corrugated boxes are sturdy enough, depending on the type, to replace many plastic packaging options, making them useful for “reuse” before disposal. In fact, they are a good packaging material with a recycling rate as high as 96.5%.
2. Paper Boxes / Paperboard Boxes
Paper boxes and paperboard boxes are widely used for a variety of packaging applications because they are highly versatile. The actual recycling rate for discarded paper and paperboard boxes is also quite high at about 80.9%. Among paper boxes, options such as G-type boxes, which can secure the opening without separate adhesive or tape, can be even more eco-friendly.
3. Naturepack
Naturepack is one type of eco-friendly packaging material: an antibacterial paper made from bamboo pulp. Bamboo pulp grows faster than regular wood and also absorbs more greenhouse gases, making it more environmentally friendly. White Naturepack is made from more than 65% bamboo pulp, while the beige color is made from 100% bamboo pulp, and it becomes even stronger when heat is applied. Because it is food-certified material, it is also suitable for food containers, and you can choose between a natural texture and a smooth texture depending on the application.
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Other Steps for Eco-Friendly Packaging
1. Work with an Eco-Friendly Box Manufacturer
Once you actually start package production, you will run into more obstacles than you might expect. Even eco-friendly boxes come with many choices, and simply making a paper box does not always mean it is truly helpful for the environment. In cases like this, working with a specialized company that handles packaging production based on eco-friendly options can be the easiest, fastest, and most reliable solution. From design to printing and production, try creating everything with Packative and eco-friendly Naturepack.
2. Set Sustainable Packaging Goals
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What are your brand’s values and identity? What do you want consumers to gain by buying your products, and how do you hope the world will change? Before selling products and meeting buyers, it is important to set these specific goals. If you simply promote “eco-friendly packaging,” the goal may be too abstract to achieve. Set more specific, practical targets and show customers how you are achieving them.
Where Can You Make Eco-Friendly Packaging?
Just because packaging is eco-friendly doesn’t mean you can give up on design. The same goes for safety and durability. Creating packaging with eco-friendly materials that is stylish and still sufficiently protects the product can be challenging. At Packative, you can easily create packaging that meets all of these requirements with the help of packaging experts.