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eco-friendly packaging

The guide to eco-friendly packaging

by george.e.allen94

Eco-friendly packaging is on everyone’s lips.

Do you have to do it too?

As the environmental degradation caused by synthetic packaging materials has reached critical levels, many of us are beginning to question the use of “traditional” packaging.

Indeed, they often accumulate, are not always recycled, and take a long time to degrade naturally in the environment.

Unlike eco-responsible packaging, conventional packaging has a proven negative impact on ecosystems and potentially on human health.

Moreover, these environmental concerns increasingly affect consumers who are asking for ecological packaging.

More than half of consumers say they consider recyclability, durability, and biodegradability when it comes to purchasing.

Order your eco-responsible packaging from Packhelp and get your eco-badge to communicate your commitment!

This new consumer awareness pushes brands to innovate and adopt new ecological packaging strategies without necessarily incurring additional costs.

For brands, switching to eco-friendly packaging is no longer an option. It is a requirement.

After reading this article, you will understand:

  • The definition of eco-responsible packaging
  • What inspires you in terms of ecological packaging
  • How eco-packaging can positively impact the environment and your bottom line
  • Which major companies are leading the eco-packaging movement
  • The ecological materials used in the biodegradable packaging
  • The steps to adopt an ecological packaging solution

By embracing eco-packaging and becoming eco-responsible businesses, brands have a competitive edge to gain, which means more sales and the opportunity to leverage their influence to change consumer behavior.

In short, a win-win for the planet, consumers, and businesses.

Tip: Britwrap now instantly provides protective packaging foryou with your quote on many high-volume products! Test with our eco-friendly, beautiful, and ecological shipping box!

Without further ado, let’s dive into the heart of the matter.

Contents hide

Definition of eco-responsible packaging

Let’s first see separately what packaging is and then what eco-responsibility is.

Definition of packaging

Packaging is a set of elements that come with a product to present it, store it, and/or transport it. So from a logistical standpoint, it is sometimes called packaging, and in marketing, it is rather under the name of packaging that we talk about it.

It can be cardboard, plastic, glass, paper, aluminum, etc.

Definition of eco-responsible

Eco-responsibility consists of integrating environmental protection measures into its activities and values.

What is eco-friendly packaging?

Therefore, ecological packaging is packaging that limits its impact on the environment by taking its entire life cycle into account. This means it limits the resources and energy required for its manufacture and transport and can be revalued (via reuse or recycling, for example) once used.

That being said, today, eco-friendly packaging is no longer just about recycling.

Why it’s not so simple

However, what about the pollution that the trucks involved in the recycling cycle could generate? What about the water and energy consumed in converting these materials?

Let’s take a glass yogurt pot as an example.

It can be reused indefinitely if it doesn’t fall apart and can easily be recycled in most countries.

However, it is necessary to collect silica present in the sand to make this glass. Stand facing a global shortage must also be transported by truck to a factory.

The truck is equipped with a gasoline engine and emits carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. Then, to heat, the furnace transforms silica into glass, electricity, and other fuels are needed.

Every time someone reuses this jar, this whole process is bypassed.

And when a person recycles a glass bottle, energy is consumed in transporting, cleaning, and processing that bottle. However, no additional sand is used, and less energy is required.

Ecological packaging and sustainable development

Eco-packaging is a fully-fledged player in sustainable development.

The latter refers to growth that meets current needs without depriving future generations of the raw materials or environmental quality required to meet their own.

Packaging is part of an eco-design approach by seeking to minimize its impact on the environment and prioritize its revaluation (composting, recycling, etc.).

But in all this, what is the most ecological packaging?

It is hard to compare all the packaging with numerical indicators by encompassing all the criteria, making it a more ecological packaging. But there is one certainty.

The most ecological packaging is:

  • Throughout its life cycle, beneficial, safe, and healthy for individuals and communities
  • Meets current performance and cost criteria
  • Extracted, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy
  • Physically designed to minimize the use of material and energy
  • Potentially upcycled efficiently and used in closed biological and/or industrial cycles

 

If you’re considering switching to an eco-friendly packaging option, it’s important to do your research, as packaging that looks eco-friendly at first glance might not be.

This is, for example, the case of oxo-degradable plastic bags. An additive is added so that they break down into small particles. However, these do not degrade, scatter easily, and are impossible to collect.

To help you see more clearly, Britwrap has created a list of the different Ecological Characteristics that packaging can have, with their advantages and disadvantages.

And our eco-responsible packaging solutions are there:

Examples of ecological packaging

Reducing an organization’s environmental footprint and cultivating brand loyalty among environmentally conscious consumers is a critical initiative.

The following are some examples of brands that have opted for eco-friendly packaging for all or a portion of their products.

Eco-responsible packaging: Slopes & Town

Slopes & Town is a Dutch brand that sells belts, socks, and other accessories made from eco-friendly materials.

Reducing plastic waste is an important facet of this brand’s mission. So naturally, their packaging must also correspond to this philosophy.

What eco-friendly packaging does Slopes & Town use?

The brand has chosen our two-piece product box with its attractive kraft texture.

Discover the advantages of the two-piece product box

Eco-responsible packaging: Monday’s Child

Monday’s Child, a British toy brand, has designed an original cardboard packaging that not only acts as a postal parcel but is also a toy in itself.

By adopting reusable packaging with an extended lifespan, Monday’s Child offers remarkable added value to its customers and the environment.

What eco-friendly packaging does Monday’s Child use?

The brand chose our four-color shipping box and its radiant colors.

Eco-responsible packaging: UAU Project

UAU project is a 3D printing art brand. The boxes used to transport these works of art across Europe double as a platform for their display.

These large parcel boxes serve a dual purpose: transporting art and exhibiting it. Creativity in eco-packaging has no limits!

Eco-responsible packaging: The Dream Ball Project

Designed by Korean studio Unplug Design, these cardboard tubes turn into soccer balls for children in underdeveloped countries.

These children primarily use homemade balls that fall apart and/or cause pain to their feet. Rather than that, they can now use these environmentally friendly cardboard balls.

Why use eco-friendly packaging

Eco-packaging has a double advantage:

  • Eco-friendly packaging has less impact on the environment (as we have seen before)
  • Your customers increasingly request eco-friendly packaging
  • World leaders already use eco-friendly packaging

According to a global study, “a third of consumers today prefer to purchase from brands with a social or environmental mission.”

According to a Tandberg study, this proportion may exceed half of all global consumers.

Climate change and other environmental challenges impact consumer purchasing habits and consumer choices.

Eco-friendly packaging is popular with your customers.

Among many other factors, packaging has become a significant deciding factor.

Nowadays, using ecological packaging is no longer just an eco-responsible way of selling a product but a full-fledged way of disseminating the values ​​and ethics of a company.

To stand out today in e-commerce and on the shelves, it takes effort that goes beyond just an attractive visual design.

Brands that establish a connection with the consumer by appealing to their values, lifestyle, or beliefs are the brands that today lead the race in acquiring and retaining customers.

“79% of companies indicated that consumers’ increased exposure to environmental issues is an important driver of their growth.”

Green Packaging: Companies Leading the Green Packaging Movement

40-somethings remember the days when McDonald’s used plastic-based foam containers for its Big Mac. Then, McDonald’s was one of the first major companies to adopt paper packaging for takeout orders.

The question of the volume of packaging thrown away because of McDonald’s arises at 115 tonnes per day in France alone. Hence the interest of asking the question of the interest of reusable packaging in such cases. A new law requires fast-food restaurants to serve customers on-site reusable dishes by 2023.

Even luxury labels such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton tout their environmentally friendly packaging.

Nike claims to have saved over 3 billion plastic bottles since 2010, owing to recycled polyester in the production of some of its apparel. For example, each United States National Soccer Team uniform is made from 16 plastic bottles.

Nestlé, a global leader in consumer goods, has also embraced this trend. By 2025, the company intends to use entirely recyclable or reusable packaging.

H&M offers its customers 10% discount coupons when they return a box of unused clothes to encourage people to recycle.

As for Philips, the company had committed to the carbon neutrality of all of its activities by the end of 2022.

The ecological materials used in the packaging

Many people consider the humble cardboard box, which we all know, to be one of the most environmentally friendly packaging solutions. And they are right.

One of the greatest advantages of paperboard is its sturdiness.

When assembled correctly, double and triple wall cardboard boxes can support a considerable weight of merchandise and keep it safe throughout its shipment.

Additionally, it is frequently constructed from recycled materials.

A simple recycled cardboard box is also more than 80% biodegradable.

Biodegradable cardboard also has many other advantages that make it a true ace of eco-responsible packaging. We will tell you more in our article. Why are cardboard boxes ecological?

Apart from eco-cardboard, several other materials are used in environmentally friendly packaging.

Corn starch

Cornstarch packaging is made of biodegradable material and is ideal for limited-use products, such as takeout food. Cornstarch is a good option for eco-friendly food packaging and can also protect the container during shipping.

It’s cornstarch that we use in our biodegradable plastic shipping bags.

Protect your parcels in an eco-responsible way with our bioplastic bag.

Exactly, speaking of biodegradable plastic, let’s see what it is.

Biodegradable plastic

Increasingly used, biodegradable plastic begins to break down when exposed to daylight and is a good alternative to traditional plastic.

Conventional plastic is the world’s third most widely used petroleum derivative. Each year, the world consumes 200 million tonnes of plastic. It is derived from a nonrenewable resource (petroleum). It is a contaminant and a non-biodegradable material.

For example, Coca-Cola designed PlantBottle™, a recyclable PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle made in part from plant material.

If you want to discover more solutions without plastic packaging, take a look at our article on alternatives to plastic packaging.

Bagasse (sugar cane pulp)

Bagasse is a fibrous material with natural ivory color. Only the bagasse remains when the sugar cane is crushed to extract the juice.

Bagasse is used to make disposable insulated containers, replacing non-ecological materials such as polystyrene foam.

Reed fiber: a Japanese innovation

Reeds have the advantage of growing quickly. As a result, they can be composted and used as fertilizers. Also, reeds grown on banks or rivers do not compete with food crops, unlike plants grown for biodiesel.

We hope this little overview of eco-friendly packaging materials has inspired you!

But there may be something that still intrigues you:

  • What is recyclable packaging?
  • What is the difference between compostable and biodegradable packaging?

Let’s come back to these two major questions.

What is recyclable packaging?

Recyclable packaging can be processed and broken down to be used as new material. Recycling avoids the use of virgin resources and thus reduces the pressure on our environment. On the other hand, of course, energy is needed to recycle packaging.

What is the difference between compostable and biodegradable packaging?

Biodegradable: definition

By definition, biodegradable packaging materials are made from the waste of living organisms. Thus, paper products, banana leaves, bamboo, vegetable fibers, and food waste are examples of elements that can be biodegradable.

But what makes a packaging biodegradable is that it decomposes without leaving any harmful trace on the environment.

While compostable products are always biodegradable, the reverse is not always true.

Compostable: definition

Compostable packaging degrades like biodegradable packaging but under certain conditions. It must be placed in an industrial compost infrastructure (most of the time).

Plus, it will enrich the soil by providing a fertile place for other plants to grow. Enhancing soil quality is critical because it has a significant impact on our food production, becoming increasingly necessary as the world’s population grows.

Therefore, compostable packaging is the end of the line in terms of eco-responsible packaging!

The factors that contribute to the packaging being biodegradable or compostable, check out our Green Features:

  • Biodegradable material
  • Industrially compostable

As a brand, it is critical to carefully consider the packaging format and make an informed choice based on the realities of your target countries’ waste management infrastructure (such as municipal/industrial composters or recycling infrastructure, for example).

Because, as previously stated, the term “compostable” does not imply that an item will decompose quietly on the side of the road.

Assuring that packaging is recyclable and “recyclable-designed” is critical if we are to recover more of our resources.

Our advice is to start adopting ecological packaging today

If you’re a brand considering the move to eco-packaging, here are some tips to better support that transition:

Don’t change everything at once, whether you’re selling one or thousands of products. It’s best not to fully commit to eco-friendly packaging until you’ve tested the concept.

Order packaging samples

It is risky to commit to a new packaging solution before testing it. Instead, consider ordering a sample pack to check the quality of the packaging yourself.

Once convinced that this option suits you, order your eco-responsible packaging in larger quantities.

Consider a redesign of your visual identity

Adopting a new packaging style while redesigning your brand can be the perfect opportunity to make a big impact on all fronts.

A new logo, new colors, and new patterns can be nicely complemented by ecological packaging.

We tell you more in our article dedicated to the visual identity to make it a success!

Adjust your prices

Price is a factor to consider.

Once you’ve decided on an eco-packaging option, it’s important to calculate whether you can absorb the cost of that packaging or whether you need to raise your prices accordingly.

Order in small volumes

To test how your customers react to your new packaging, you must proceed gradually.

With Britwrap, for example, you can order cardboard packaging and other personalized ecological packaging from only 30 pieces. Then, when you see that the response from your customers is favorable, increase the size of your orders.

If you start making recurring packing expenses, it is possible to save easily!

Our eco shipping box has it, and the least we can say is that it is super eco-friendly both in fact and in appearance.

Integrate your ecological values ​​into your marketing campaigns

Make sure people know you’re involved in protecting the environment.

Your customers want to hear about it and communicate it well. As a result, you will take a considerable step ahead of your competitors.

Eco-responsible packaging suppliers

As a young packaging supplier, Britwrap actively works in sustainable development and respect for the environment. And, of course, we do everything to help you do the same.

Switch to eco-friendly packaging today

DISCOVER THE PARCEL POUCH

As a new brand looking to disrupt the old-fashioned packaging industry, we’ve learned a lot.

One of the most important is that a good part of the companies wishes to sell their products in packaging that does not harm the environment.

Our cardboard packaging is made of at least 80% recycled cardboard. So when you order a cardboard box from us, it was before a school book, a cereal box, or even an electricity bill.

Most of our packaging is also biodegradable.

But that’s not all!

Discover Britwrap’s commitment to the planet

In short, by ordering from Britwrap, you are taking a step for the planet and your sales. We accompany you to create ecological packaging entirely in your brand’s image.

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