Keeping your products sustainable and eco-friendly can be a daunting task, especially if you’re a small brand with limited budgeting.
Since your product packaging is the first thing that your future customers come in contact with, it’s also a great place to start with your „green“ transformation.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a couple of ways you can make your product packaging more sustainable without having to spend a fortune to do so.
So, without any further ado, let’s get right to the bottom of it!
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1. Ship in smaller packages
The best way to reduce waste is to produce less of it – it’s as simple as that. We understand that you want to attract people’s attention with your packaging, but there are better ways of going about it than making it as large as possible.
Reducing the size of your packaging is not only an environmentally-friendly thing to do, it can help you cut costs and save money you can use to further develop your products or services. Be creative – there are many ways you can do this without changing the quality of your packaging.
Now, if your main goal is to appeal to eco-friendly consumers, simply reducing the size of your packaging probably won’t be enough. It’s a good step forward, but it doesn’t make your company look „green“.
2. Plantable packaging
Even as a relative novelty in the world of sustainable packaging, plantable product wraps are an excellent way to help the environment. They work the best with lightweight products like jewelry and makeup, and they’re not extremely expensive either.
One of the best things about these is that they don’t only prevent waste-related issues, they’re directly helping and impacting the environment by encouraging consumers to plant new vegetation – something that our planet desperately needs.
Besides, they make for a very marketable packaging solution! They can set you apart from the competition, and as far as we know, consumers tend to respond to them extremely positively.
3. Smart packaging
Source: packagingstrategies.com
There are many new packaging technologies you should keep your eye on – one of those is Smart Packaging. If you’re a business owner who’s not afraid of innovation and experimentation with your brand, it’s certainly something to consider.
While the technology is relatively new, it’s still perfectly in line with the current eco-friendly movement and its trends. We advise you to do some research on your own to learn more about what the technology actually entails. There are many detailed guides and articles covering the issue online, so make sure you read those before you decide to use them for your own sustainability needs.
4. Edible packaging
Edible packaging is not for everyone – but it can certainly do wonders for those in the food and beverages industry. Think about it this way – they’re a delicious addition to your already tasty products, and they produce no waste whatsoever!
Again, while this type of packaging is not suitable for all kinds of products, it’s still an incredibly sustainable option that you should consider. You can find many types of edible packaging to suit your specific needs and circumstances, so make sure you do your research beforehand.
Of course, don’t forget to background-check your packaging supplier as well, as edible items are incredibly delicate and require you to take strict quality control measures before they reach the consumer.
5. Finding reliable packaging suppliers
There are many packaging suppliers who have sustainable options in their offer, but not all of them are worth your time or money. Make sure you find someone who’s experienced, skillful, and offers unique solutions to your packaging issues.
As noted by Mitchel Lincoln, one of Canada’s leading packaging companies, choosing a reliable supplier is your responsibility as a brand. Quality and sustainability should be above all else – your customers will certainly notice your efforts, so don’t leave anything to chance.
Again, your packaging is the first thing your customer sees when they approach your products, so it’s your best chance to leave a lasting impression and brand yourself as an eco-friendly business that puts effort into staying sustainable.
6. Recycling is your best friend
Source: waste360.com
The number one way you can lead your company into practicing a sustainable business model is by using recyclable materials for your product and its packaging. There are many plant-based and bio-degradable materials you can use to keep your products environmentally friendly. Again, all you really need to do is find a reliable supplier.
Even if your company is very small, staying sustainable is incredibly important. It’s your way to contribute to saving our beautiful planet and everything it has to offer – an investment that’s certainly worth making! So, make sure all materials used to manufacture your products are recyclable by working with eco-friendly suppliers and choosing your packaging as carefully as you can.
7. Avoid plastic at all costs
There are many reasons to avoid plastic packaging as much as possible. Even if you’re not particularly interested in helping the environment, plastic is still not a good idea. It’s outdated – looks and feels cheap, in most cases at least.
Now, especially since the green movement seems to be growing in size and popularity, and the environmental issues seem to become more serious as time passes, there are simply not many good reasons to use plastic packaging anymore. Technology advances by the day, so plastic alternatives are also becoming cheaper and more accessible to the general public. Even if you have to price your items a bit higher due to the packaging costs, it’s still better than being a company that contributes to the plastic waste issues that pollute our Earth.
The bottom line
There are many ways to make your products more sustainable – the main one being investing in eco-friendly packaging. In this article, we went through what we think are the best options for bettering your shipments. We hope you’ve found our tips to be useful and we wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.
