How Businesses Can Use Packaging to Support a More Sustainable Future
The packaging on nearly all products consumers purchase impacts how goods are protected as they move around the world. However, poorly designed or manufactured packaging may have negative impacts on our environment.
Custom boxes used by many businesses today can be one way these problems begin to be solved. The intent of this research is to identify ways in which better packaging decisions will lead toward a greener future.
Why Packaging Choices Matter
Every product produced by companies has some type of impact on the environment. All of the products we use or dispose of have materials that can either be biodegradable (break down easily) or non-biodegradable (remain in landfills for decades).
The sustainable packaging market will grow. In 2023, according to a recent report from Grand View Research, the global sustainable packaging market was estimated at $272.93 billion. By 2030, that number is expected to increase to over $448.53 billion.
Custom Packaging Boxes and Material Choices
Custom packaging enables businesses to select environmentally friendly materials. Increasingly, many businesses are choosing recycled paper or cardboard rather than plastic for their custom packaging boxes because these materials degrade faster and produce less negative environmental impact.
In addition to using environmentally friendly materials in your custom boxes, you should consider selecting a custom box that will provide an ideal fit for your products. When a custom box is selected based upon its ability to fit your product ideally, it reduces the amount of total material used in the creation of the custom box.
A smaller-sized box that provides a proper fit for your product also creates less waste during transportation. By reducing the amount of space within your boxes, you also reduce the need for additional fillers, which can greatly reduce your overall cost associated with shipping as well as create less environmental degradation from the shipping process.
What Research Says About Consumer Habits
Today, consumers are concerned with their impact on the Earth a lot more than they were previously. According to a survey conducted by Shorr Packaging, ninety percent of all shoppers prefer to have products packaged with an environmentally friendly (eco) packaging material.
This same study also found that fifty-four percent of all individuals surveyed selected products with “green” packaging within the last six months. As such, it is clear that when purchasing a product, the way a consumer views packaging will make up a large portion of the decision-making process.
Therefore, companies that provide custom packaging boxes made from sustainable materials could attract new business. Many consumers find value in supporting and trusting those organizations that demonstrate a genuine interest in taking care of the earth. By doing so, these organizations create long-term relationships with their customers.
The Role of Big Brands in Change
Larger corporations are also changing their packaging. L’Oreal has already changed its packaging to contain either recycled or plant-based materials in 32% of all packaging. The same can be said about Estee Lauder, as they report 71% of their products use sustainable packaging.
In addition to larger corporations transitioning from non-sustainable materials, smaller businesses can also transition to using customized packaging boxes which utilize recyclable packaging designs. Smaller businesses can affect change by utilizing custom-designed packaging.
How Packaging Affects the Environment
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has researched how much better our packaging systems could be. According to their study, using reusable and circular packaging systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in as many as 85 percent of cases. That is an extremely high percentage. So, there are multiple ways through which packaging design can assist with slowing climate change.
Companies supporting the idea of reusing materials or designing products whose packaging can be refilled will also aid in accomplishing this objective. For example, custom-designed boxes for the purpose of being reused (as opposed to being used once) could decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from packaging in a big way. Therefore, it’s one of those easy yet effective ways companies can do their part for the environment.
Cost and Practical Challenges
The adoption of sustainable packaging isn’t always easy. According to an article from Global Growth Insights, eco-friendly packaging can be up to thirty percent higher in price than traditional plastic packaging. For small business owners, it could be difficult to fund this cost increase. Many experts believe that once there is enough demand, the prices associated with eco-friendly packaging will decrease.
Business owners may want to begin with one area of their current packaging at a time. A good place to start would be by replacing their use of plastic with recycled paper when it comes to creating custom boxes. The process of making small changes can eventually add up to big changes down the road.
Why This Matters for the Future
Packaging’s significance to a successful business is expected to remain at a high level due to the increasing number of governmental regulations that are being implemented across the globe regarding waste and recycling. In addition to government agencies implementing these regulations, organizations like the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), also track waste generated by packaging with precision.
As a result, it would be in the best interest of companies to develop plans that take into consideration this growing trend now, rather than after it has become an issue. Companies can customize their present packaging so that they use environmentally friendly packaging products or products that are recyclable. This could help businesses avoid potential problems associated with packaging in the future.
These types of custom packaging boxes provide a mutually supportive environment for business objectives and environmental objectives. This dual benefit is becoming increasingly important each year.