How to Create Eco-Friendly Packaging for your Brand?

Significance of Eco-Friendly Packaging

We are living in the era, where ‘green’ has become a new black. Today, more and more companies and businesses are turning to ecological packaging in order to reduce the ecological footprint of packaging. According to the report, the average American generates over 4.4 pounds of trash every day. Packaging alone contributes to the 30% of the total number. In this digital world, people have started to gravitate more towards online shopping. Customers find it convenient, but they are not aware that how much shipping boxes are contributing to the packaging waste and damage to the planet. This upsurge in the e-commerce translates to more packages. 

However, customers are becoming more conscious and aware of the packaging waste and their packaging decision. Not only customers, but manufacturers and brands have started to incorporate more green packaging solutions, and going plastic-free is definitely a one good approach of doing so. In fact, eco-friendly packaging has become a trend that we all were waiting for. Eco-friendly product packaging is created from recycled materials mostly, and the overall production involves environmentally friendly processes and techniques. You must be wondering that why your business require this packaging solution. What will your business gain by switching to green packaging? Most importantly, how can you create eco-friendly packaging? If you want to all these answers, then be sure to check out this article till the end!

According to Fortune Business Insights™, The global plastic market is projected to grow from $439.28 billion in 2021 to $616.82 billion in 2028, at a CAGR of 5.0% in the forecast period, 2021-2028

Why You Should Use Eco-Friendly Product Packaging?

Before diving into how to create green packaging, let’s learn about why you should use it. Here are a few compelling reasons to use it:

• As a business, it is your responsibility to reduce your carbon footprint. For this, you need to be well aware of how your company and product packaging is impacting the environment around you. Since this approach is spreading everywhere, the more you adopt sustainable practices, the longer you will stay in the business.
• Consumers are more conscious about environment and prefer to make a purchase from brand that offer sustainable product packaging. So, to make an impression of brand that care about the environment, you should create sustainable packaging.
• Over 86% of Americans want businesses to be socially and environmentally conscious. Moreover, 53% of customers are willing to pay for premium for green products and brands.
• Green and eco-friendly product packaging option is cheaper as compared to other type of packaging options.

 How to Create Eco-Friendly Packaging?

If you are a business owner and want to become a sustainable company, then you need to do more. You need to create sustainable packaging. Here is how you can create it!

1. Use Biodegradable or Recyclable Materials

When it comes to creating eco-friendly boxes for packing your products, the first thing is to choose the right packaging material. Typically, kraft paper and cardboard is the most common packaging material that goes into making green packaging. These material not only help reduce the packaging waste, but also allow any type of printing and designing technique to go on smoothly. Most companies are today going plastic-free and leaning more towards green packaging materials. In addition to cardboard and paper, other green packaging alternatives include biodegradable packaging peanuts, corrugated bubble wrap, air pillows, cornstarch packaging, mushroom packaging, seaweed packaging, and eco-friendly plastic and recycled plastics. Out of all these materials, be sure that you are picking up the right one.

2. Reduce the Packaging Size

Being a brand owner, you must be aware of the fact that packaging manufacturing process requires fuel and other energy sources. The heavier the packaging, the more fuel and energy it will use. Therefore, choose the size of the packaging that is perfect to fit the product in, the size should not be too small or too big. The best way to do this is to customize your packaging as you’ll get to choose the size. Secondly, you can choose lightweight materials that will save you on energy and fuel. Lastly, consider investing in tech systems. These will help you in choosing the size of the boxes according to product requirement.

3. Offer Reusable Materials

You can also offer reusable packaging to your customers.  For this, you can pack your products in bottles or jars that can be reused by consumers. For example, you might have seen mostly jams, peanut butter, honey, and stuff like that come in glass jars that are intended to be used even after the product inside is finished. If you are not using glass and want to use wood, cardboard, or paperboard, then be sure you are making as high-quality as possible. However, it is important to know that cardboard and paper offer enough sturdiness that they guarantee the protection of products packed inside.

4. Match Your Brand

Last but not least, whatever type of packaging you are selecting, the ultimate goal is to represent and promote your brand. Therefore, it is extremely significant that your packaging is reflecting your brand in it. Taking both sustainability and packaging design may seem a little daunting task, however, it can help you stand out amongst your competitors. But you have to keep in mind that your packaging must match your brand. Going green is probably the best decision that you will ever make. In recent years, more and more brands have started to embrace the trend of green packaging. The good news is that it not only contributes to reducing packaging waste, but also help in making your business grow by attracting customers. If you want to create sustainable packaging, then we hope this article has proven to be helpful for you.