Sustainable Packaging – An Expert Guide To Converting Packaging
In this day and age, sustainable packaging is something to be proud of. This is because consumers are now all about going “green.”
The word “green” has a very positive connotation in today’s society. When used, it implies that something is eco-friendly or good for the environment, and this is precisely what going “green” is all about. So, the more a business or company strives to be environmentally friendly, the more that they will gain in their favor from their community. This, of course, can lead to increased sales.
Understanding What Sustainable Packaging is
Sustainable packaging refers to packages that are healthy for the environment. These packages can come in many forms, such as containers and bottles, to name a couple. Sustainable packaging can also refer to the materials used to create these packages, such as RPET, the second most used plastic in the world, and corrugated cardboard, a very common material for its strength.
What qualifies as sustainable packaging?
If you have ever visited your local store, then you might have noticed some labels stating that they have gone “green.” Although it doesn’t take much to meet some country’s standard on sustainable packaging to have this stamp of approval. In the U.S., for example, the Federal Trade Commission's standard is quite simple. But for some people, like Diana Fryc, there are many more steps to becoming someone that truly cares for the environment.
Diana Fryc, who is the Director of Operation of Retail Voodoo, said that using compostable packaging, which is an item that can be disposed of in your compost bin and will eventually decay over time, is just one step towards going green. She further explains that there are other criteria beyond the FTC standard that should be met. Some of these are degradable, non-toxic, recyclable, and ozone-safe. In addition, packaging that is made using recyclable and renewable materials is a perfect example of what going “green” really looks like.
What are these criteria?
Because the standard from the FTC is fairly low, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, which is the leading voice on sustainable packaging, came up with its own version that favors the circular economy. For them, sustainable packaging meets these eight criteria:
· It is safe and beneficial throughout its life cycle.
· It meets the market needs in regards to performance and cost.
· It is produced and transported from renewable energy.
· It is made from recycled and renewable materials.
· It is manufactured with clean technologies.
· Its materials are healthy for people.
· It is designed to maximize energy, as well as materials.
· It can be recovered, then utilized in biological closed-loop cycles.
According to the EPA or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there are over 80 million tons worth of packaging products that are generated each year globally. So you can only imagine how much this can negatively affect the environment and the planet itself.
With materials and products meeting the Sustainable Packaging Coalition criteria, this number can be significantly lowered. Having sustainable packaging and adopting environmentally-friendly practices can certainly sway the vote of many pro “green” consumers.
Moving From “Green” to Sustainable
There are surprisingly a lot of benefits from sustainable packaging. This is partly due to the fact that the majority of the consumers today care about their environment. So when they hear the word “green,” or anything eco-friendly related, they have a higher chance of going with that product or business.
From a survey that was conducted in 2019, the packaging industry was expected to be worth over 900 million dollars by the end of 2020. This was simply because consumers reward companies with cutting-edge technology, which is essential to producing sustainable packaging.
Consumers like a good story
Another important factor that consumers like is a good and interesting “behind the scenes” story. In previous years, many brands would only focus on one aspect of product packaging, which may have been sufficient then. Nowadays, many people want to hear the manufacturing process, as well as the specific materials that are used.
So in hindsight, going green is no longer enough. Instead, companies will need to reach full sustainability if they are to win over the crowd. This is one of the primary reasons businesses are beginning to turn to local RPET for sustainable packaging, as most are 100% recyclable.
So there it is…
This guide to converting packaging into sustainable packaging will definitely give you an understanding of what it means to be sustainable. By switching your perspective to the outside, you can learn how to improve the inside. As a result, you will not only naturally help promote a good environment, but also become appealing to many more consumers in your market.