How to provide value in and out of the box with sustainable packaging solutions?
Sustainability is currently the hottest talk of the town, among religiously eco-conscious buyers worldwide. The consumer's preference for products sourced, manufactured, and packaged sustainably is prominent. This resulted in a remarkable 2.7 times faster growth for sustainable products than traditional goods. This growth persists despite the price premium associated with them compared to their conventional counterparts.
Recently, a new report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) revealed that the public concern for conserving nature has increased by 16% globally over the past five years. The impact is evident with the heightened digital activism and increased internet searches for sustainable goods, which have risen 71% since 2016.
The notion of minimalism in packaging has contagiously captured minds in recent years. Minimalism emphasises the use of simple, reusable materials and sustainable packaging ideas. It allows brands to convey transparency, appeal to informed consumers, and set themselves apart in a competitive market.
Many big players are joining the league of sustainable packaging. For instance, Procter & Gamble (P&G) has set ambitious sustainability goals, including using 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2030. Such initiatives add to P&G's reputation and customer loyalty.
The company's Tide Eco-Box is a suitable example of sustainable packaging innovation that reduces plastic use and shipping costs.
18 Innovative Sustainable Solutions for 2024
To illustrate how packaging can be made eco-friendly, we present a list of sustainable packaging solutions across the market. A survey taken by McKinsey & Co. concluded that 75% of millennial participants and 66% of all participants preferred sustainability more while making a purchase. Several companies have already begun leveraging innovative sustainable packaging ideas in the global market to maximise their reach, impact, and profits.
Zero-Waste Packaging Design:
Zero-waste strategy is the new unsung hero of the sustainability industry as it minimises or eliminates waste throughout a product's packaging lifecycle. It focuses on reutilising the resource to ensure the reuse of all materials and products, leading to zero waste. It ensures the packaging is recycled, reused, or composted rather than ending up in landfills, reducing environmental impact. Subsequently, this method also helps companies curtail waste removal costs such as renting dumpsters, landfill costs or additional charges. In a report by Future Market Insights, the Zero-waste market, valued at $1.72 million in 2021, is projected to reach $3.59 million by 2030.
Upcycled Material Packaging for Reutilising Waste:
Since upcycling existed, the waste in landfills is barely considered waste. FMCG product sales increased on incorporating more environmentally friendly packaging, as per one in three (31%) marketing professionals surveyed by Pro Carton. Necessity is the mother of invention! Hence, brands are motivated to repurpose waste materials into new and improved packaging solutions, diverting items from landfills and giving them a new life. For instance, companies repurpose materials like cardboard, fabric scraps, or plastic bottles to create unique and eco-friendly packaging for their products. Upcycled materials, such as boxes and padding, reduce traditional packaging waste and cater to shipping solutions. In contrast, upcycled materials, like newspapers or discarded fabric, are creatively used for environment-friendly gift-wrapping alternatives. Businesses also showcase their commitment to sustainability by incorporating upcycled elements into promotional items and marketing materials.
Plant-Based Plastics or Bio-Plastics:
Bio-plastic is the most wanted twin of plastic since paper can't withhold everything. As seen in brands like Coca-Cola's PlantBottle, plant-based plastics are a compostable and durable option for commercial use. Unlike traditional plastics from fossil fuels, bioplastics are derived from sources like corn or sugarcane growing in the fields as a readily available renewable resource, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Reusable Packaging to Cut Single-use Waste:
Out of the total consumer goods sales, brands committed to eco-friendliness generated 65% of sales of these items, measured globally by Neilson in 2014. As exemplified by Loop, reusable packaging contributes to a circular economy by reducing overall waste. This sustainable approach involves recreating containers and materials for multiple uses while reducing single-use waste. These containers are used repeatedly before reaching the end of their lifecycle. Reusable packaging finds its way to various industries, including consumer goods, eCommerce, shipping and logistics, retail, and transportation.
Eco-Friendly Textile Packaging:
The trending reels and campaigns about carrying ecological organic fabric bags for grocery shopping flooded the channels simultaneously. This initiative aimed to cut the use of plastic bags and promote the use of fabrics that decompose easily compared to plastic, which takes 10,000 years to decompose. These reusable bags are a perfect example of packaging created using organic fabrics like recycled cotton, linen, bamboo, and hemp. A study conducted by Gustav Sandin claims that textile reuse and recycling reduce environmental impact compared to landfilling and incineration. This proves that reuse is more beneficial than recycling.
Recycled Ocean Plastic:
The treasure hunt in this sustainability era involves collecting plastic waste from oceans and other water bodies and repurposing it. This is done by processing and transforming it into packaging materials like eco-friendly bottles, containers, bags, and more. Adidas is making strides by incorporating recycled ocean plastics into their packaging. This sustainable packaging solution provides a dual benefit of reducing water pollution and creating revenue growth.
Edible Packaging:
Perishables like food usually stay in plastic wraps or single-use boxes in a grocery store. Edible packaging can change the face of this segment to make it environment-friendly, producing zero-waste. Edible wraps or coatings emanate from consumable materials, such as seaweed, starch, or fruit peels. The consumable nature of edible packaging eliminates the need for opening and disposal. Moreover, It minimises waste, curtails microbiological growth, and prevents unwanted chemical reactions, ensuring heightened food quality, safety, and extended shelf life. Imagine eating the cup after drinking the coffee in it! That's what edible packaging looks like and brands like KFC have introduced in the sustainable market.
Mushroom Packaging for Sustainable Mouldable Packaging:
Who knew that the roots of mushrooms, called mycelium, are an antidote to conventional packaging? Mushroom packaging is a sustainable solution made from mycelium by cultivating it on agricultural waste to create a biodegradable material. This material unapologetically takes various shapes for packaging with its mouldable attributes, benefitting businesses in the sustainability race.
The furniture and home goods giant IKEA has incorporated mushroom packaging into its efforts to reduce environmental impact.
Renewable Seaweed-Based Packaging:
Extracting packaging material from seaweed gives companies an edge as it's a renewable resource that offers a biodegradable alternative to stubborn plastics. Its versatility makes it a good fit for food packaging, agricultural applications, single-use items like cutlery, straws, disposable containers, and more.
Companies like Evoware are pioneering the development of seaweed-based packaging solutions to combat the climate change crisis.
Palm Leaf Packaging:
Companies are also switching to palm leaf packaging, like VerTerra, to obtain a natural and compostable solution. This biodegradable packaging is made from pressed palm leaves and is particularly suitable for disposable tableware. As per Neilson's report, Sales of consumer goods from brands consistently committed to sustainability have grown over 4% globally, while others grew less than 1%.
Algae-Based Sustainable Packaging:
Algae-based packaging, explored by companies like Algix, is a green packaging solution. It is manufactured by extracting a gelatinous substance called agar, a renewable resource found in algae. This decompostable packaging has many uses across single-use products and agricultural applications, such as mulching films or seed coatings, cosmetics packaging, etc.
Paper Foam Eco-Friendly Packaging:
Unlike conventional packaging like styrofoam, paper foam reduces packaging weight by 40%. Paper foam is a lightweight, insulating foam created with recycled paper. Its uses span various sectors, including electronics, fragile items, and food packaging. Additionally, its biodegradability, recyclability, shock-absorbing properties and versatility make it a popular choice for firms aiming to reduce their environmental footprint.
Beeswax Wraps and Coatings:
Beeswax wrap consists of cotton fabric coated with beeswax, tree resin, and jojoba oil.This makes for a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic wrap. Its versatility allows it to cover and preserve food items like fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and sandwiches. At the same time, its natural adhesive properties make it ideal for sealing containers and wrapping food directly, substituting disposable plastic. These washable beeswax wraps can last a year or more with proper care, bringing a sustainable solution to reduce single-use plastic on kitchen shelves. The Better India company provides Beeswax cling wrap to meet eco-conscious customers seeking an alternative to plastic cling wrap.
Digital Watermarks for Easy Recycling:
The accuracy of sorting materials in recycling is in dire need of improvisation. Digital watermarks are being integrated into packaging materials to enhance the accuracy of sorting materials, reduce contamination, and improve the recycling system. These watermarks carry essential information about the packaging, such as its composition and recycling instructions. The specialised scanners can easily read these digital watermarks during recycling. This technical advancement allows automated sorting and streamlining of the recycling workflow.
In a recent study, Nielsen unveiled that almost 66% of buyers are willing to pay more for products or services from firms committed to creating positive social and environmental impact.
Pineapple Fibre Packaging or Piñatex:
The sustainable packaging industry is leveraging the sturdy pineapple peel for green alternatives. Piñatex is derived from the fibres of discarded pineapple leaves and is known for its strength, flexibility, and unique texture. The biodegradable nature of piñatex reduces environmental impact and encourages circular economy practices. It's an alternative companies like Hugo Boss use for packaging and accessories.
Environment-Friendly Recyclable Paper Bottles:
Sometimes, it's hard to replace plastic bottles carrying shampoos, beverages or other liquids that need sturdy packaging to avoid leaking. Innovators have developed recyclable paper bottles as an eco-friendly alternative to replace plastic bottles, and many companies have welcomed the initiative. The responsibly sourced paper used in these bottles enables them to go through standard recycling processes while contributing to a circular economy. Significant players like Carlsberg are exploring recyclable paper bottles as a sustainable alternative to traditional beverage containers.
Innovative Printing Techniques for Sustainability:
As embraced by companies like HP, using water-based and vegetable-based inks, UV-curing processes, and digital printing technologies reduces the environmental impact of printed materials. They are used in various industries for packaging and as labels, promotional materials, etc. This is a greener alternative to traditional printing methods.
Corrugated Cardboard Boxes with Recycled Content:
The use of corrugated boxes is highly prevalent in the packaging industry. These boxes use a lightweight layered structure of corrugated paperboard for their construction, offering durability and versatility in packaging. Manufacturing corrugated boxes with a high percentage of recycled cardboard reduces the demand for new raw materials and packaging waste. The global eCommerce giant Amazon extensively uses corrugated boxes for shipping, leveraging their strength and cost-effectiveness to ensure safe and secure product delivery.
Conclusion
There is a scope for sustainability in almost every inch of packaging today. It only takes consistent efforts and a bit of investment to implement sustainable packaging solutions that will positively impact a company's revenue growth, brand image, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory compliance. With more and more people turning to sustainable choices, these sustainable packaging solutions highlight how industries are stepping up to lessen their carbon footprint. The innovative, sustainable solutions cut production and distribution costs through ingenious processes while perfectly meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly practices. This also showcases a brand's steadfast dedication to a cleaner and greener future.
FAQs
1: How can businesses make their packaging sustainable and eco-friendly?
A: There are several sustainable packaging strategies for adopting green alternatives. Some of these include, using;
- recycled packaging materials
- upcycled waste to repurpose single-use packaging
- biodegradable plastics
- plant-based or edible packaging
- byproduct synergy (selling your scrap to companies at discounted rates for reuse)
2: What are the best sustainable packaging solutions?
A: Within many sustainable packaging solutions, there is no one-size-fits-all, as different solutions cater to varying industries. For instance, edible films are most suitable for food and beverage packaging.
3: Is sustainable packaging cost-effective for businesses?
A: Although the initial costs may vary, many sustainable packaging solutions provide long-term benefits. These include reducing carbon footprint and boosting brand reputation, which can, in turn, increase company revenue over time.
