We’re facing multiple issues with Covid and the environment being just two of them. Online shopping due to lockdowns is growing and so is the concern for the amount of packaging needed.
The trend towards eco-friendly packaging is growing! Campaigns to ban single use plastics have continued gaining momentum – both consumers and local government are beginning to hold retailers and brands accountable for their impact on the environment.
Every year, more products are sold via ecommerce. Consumers are turning their critical eye to wasteful packaging, and with good reason. Packaging represents almost two thirds of all trash in the U.S. As ecommerce becomes more popular this amount will only continue to grow.
The first step to more eco-friendly packaging is to reduce. The most eco-friendly packaging is no packaging at all. But sometimes it’s not possible to eliminate product packaging entirely. Choosing the most appropriate eco-friendly packaging for your product is crucial. How much packaging does your product need? How will it be used? Where will it end up? These are all important questions that will help you choose the most eco-friendly solution for your brand.
Recycled materials reduce the consumption of resources, however many materials can only be recycled a limited number of times. Compostable packaging is designed to break down into compost. This can then be used to enrich the soil, or even to grow new resources. Your packaging is the first experience your customer will have with your product – eco-friendly labels & packaging lets your customers know that your brand is authentic in its commitment to sustainability.
Eco-friendly packaging design is not only about the materials used in production, but also the quantity of materials used. Packaging can be made more sustainable in a number of ways: folding boxes that require no glue, flexible pouches that take up less space in transit, single materials for easier disposal, designs requiring less raw material.
Eco-Friendly packaging avoids using mixed materials where possible, and this includes labels! Mixed materials and standard adhesive labels used on otherwise compostable packaging can ruin efforts to recycle or compost by damaging machinery and contaminating the process.
Using compostable, recycled, or recyclable packaging and labels can have a significant impact – it diverts waste away from landfills and encourages your customers to be more mindful of the waste that they produce.
Want to make the switch to eco-friendly labelling? We understand that it can be difficult to know where to begin. Our friendly account managers are here to answer questions and help you on your sustainability journey.
