In recent years, climate change has become more and more serious. Therefore, the use of sustainable packaging in business has also become a key issue and is of more concern than ever. As a business that regularly transports goods, choosing to incorporate sustainable packaging into the supply chain helps them build an eco-friendly brand. Besides, it shows that they are trying their best to minimize their impact on the environment.
In this article, we will explore sustainable packaging—what is the trend of the future, and what advantages does it have for the environment?
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING?
Sustainable packaging is packaging designed with the aim of minimizing environmental impact. It can also be referred to as green packaging or eco-friendly packaging.
This is packaging made with raw or recycled materials. Some of the most popular types of sustainable packaging today are paper packaging, plant-based packaging, etc. As a result, carbon emissions are reduced in the production process, a streamlined supply chain, and recyclable or reusable packaging.
The broad goals of sustainable packaging are:
- Functional – product protection, safety, regulatory compliance, etc.
- Cost effective – if it is too expensive, it is unlikely to be used.
- Support long-term human and ecological health.
8 CRITERIA TO BE SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) has come up with 8 criteria that packaging needs to meet in order to be considered sustainable:
- Beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle.
- Meets market criteria for performance and cost.
- Sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy.
- Otimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials.
- Manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices.
- Made from materials healthy throughout the life cycle.
- Physically designed to optimize materials and energy.
- Effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial closed-loop cycles.
When successfully addressing these criteria. Packaging can be transformed into a closed-loop flow of packaging materials in a system that is economically robust. Not only that, but it also provides benefits throughout its life cycle-a sustainable packaging system.
BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
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Reduce carbon emissions
A growing trend is that customers often check the carbon footprint of any goods they buy. Carbon emissions can occur at any point in the manufacturing or packaging process. As a result, the company can reduce its negative impact on the environment through its carbon footprint.
We can contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions by reducing the amount of finished packaging or using recyclable or renewable items.
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Biodegradable
Eco-friendly packaging not only reduces carbon footprint, but it also benefits later in making an impact even after its life cycle is over. That is, it can biodegrade into CO2, H2O, and biomass in just a short time.
Because they are biodegradable, sustainable packaging is both safe for health and good for the environment. Contributing to reducing the amount of waste that is constantly increasing in garbage dumps, sitting rivers, canals, etc.
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Recyclable or reusable
An important benefit of sustainable packaging is that it is recyclable or reusable. If the packaging is of good enough quality. It can be reused for things such as packaging, preservation, and even handicrafts.
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Enhance brande image
Customers’ demand for eco-friendly packaging is continuously increasing. People are always looking for ways to positively impact the environment without making drastic changes to their lifestyle. When businesses use sustainable resources, customers will trust and see that the company is responsible for the environment.
The brand’s image has since improved. Accordingly, a recent study found that 78% of customers aged 18–72 feel positive about a product whose packaging is made from recycled materials.
Through the above article, we can see that sustainable packaging will to help keep our environment clean and healthy.
Are you ready to make the switch to more eco-friendly product packaging? Starprint can help. Learn more about our paper packaging and find out how we can help you to make the switch here.