Ecological Friendly Packaging

Ecological Friendly Packaging 

The deterioration of the environment caused by synthetic materials has reached critical levels, resulting in a proven negative impact on ecosystems and potentially on human health.In parallel with these environmental concerns, consumer demand for environmentally friendly packaging has increased.

Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious and are scrutinizing companies and their packaging standards. This new consumer awareness is driving brands to innovate and adopt new green packaging strategies without necessarily incurring additional costs.

More than half of consumers today say that the recyclability, durability and biodegradability of packaging are important factors in their purchasing decisions.Switching to eco-friendly packaging is no longer an option for brands, it's a necessity.

Through this article, you will discover:

·         The definition of eco-packaging and some examples

·         How brands can not only create a positive impact on the environment but also on their turnover

·         What are the big companies leading the eco-packaging movement

·         Ecological materials used in biodegradable packaging

·         Our advice for adopting an ecological packaging solution

By adopting eco-packaging, brands not only have a competitive advantage to gain, which naturally means more sales, but also the opportunity to leverage their influence to change consumer behavior, from win-win to Earth, consumers, and businesses.

Definition of Eco-Packaging

Green packaging is no longer just about recycling. True or false, the biodegradability of packaging is frequently examined and used as a measure of a company's overall eco-consciousness. However, what about the pollution that could be generated by the trucks involved in the recycling cycle? What about the water and energy needed to process these materials?

Take for example a jar of glass yoghurt. It can be reused indefinitely as long as it does not fall apart, and can easily be recycled in most countries. However, to make this glass, it is necessary to collect silica present in the sand, which in passing faces a global shortage, and transport it by truck to a factory.

The truck uses gasoline and emits carbon dioxide, a "greenhouse gas" that contributes to climate change. Then, to heat the furnace used in the transformation of silica into glass, it takes electricity and other fuels ...

Whenever someone re-uses this pot, this whole process is avoided. And every time a person recycles a glass bottle, energy could still be consumed in the transportation, cleaning and processing of that bottle. But at least sand is not used, and relatively less energy is required.

Eco-packaging is a full player in sustainable development. The latter refers to growth that meets the needs of the present, without depriving future generations of the raw materials or the quality of the environment they will need to meet their own needs.

In short, a perfectly ecological packaging:

·         Is beneficial, safe and healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle

·         Meets current performance and cost criteria

·         Is extracted, manufactured, transported and recycled using renewable energies

·         Is manufactured using clean production technologies, according to best practices

·         Is made from materials that stay healthy throughout their life cycle

·         Is physically designed to optimize the use of matter and energy

·         Can be recovered efficiently, and used in closed biological and / or industrial cycles

If you are a company and you are thinking of switching to an eco-friendly packaging option, it's important to do your own research, as a packaging that seems environmentally friendly at first might not be in reality.

Since the definitions are not always black or white, it is useful to ask the right questions to your packaging manufacturer .

Examples of Ecological Packaging:

Reducing the environmental footprint and building brand loyalty among eco-conscious consumers is an important initiative for businesses. Here are some examples of brands that have adopted an eco-friendly packaging solution for all or part of their products.

Eco-Friendly Packaging - PCB

PCB is a US brand that sells belts, socks and other accessories made from eco-friendly materials. Reducing plastic waste is an important part of this brand's mission. Naturally, their packaging must also correspond to this philosophy.

 Eco-friendly Packaging - Monday's Child

Monday's Child, a British brand of toys, has designed an original carton that not only serves as a parcel post, but is also a toy on its own.

By adopting a reusable packaging with an extended lifespan, Monday's Child offers outstanding value for its customers and the environment.

Eco cardboard from The Dream Ball Project turns into a soccer ball

Eco-Friendly Packaging - The Dream Ball Project

Designed by the Korean studio, these cardboard tubes are transformed into footballs for children from underdeveloped countries.

These children play most of the time with homemade balls that break and / or hurt their feet. Instead, they can now use these eco-friendly cardboard balls.

UAU Project ecological package box designed by Packhelp - eco-friendly packaging

Ecological Packaging - UAU Project

UAU Project is a brand specialized in 3D printed art. The boxes used to ship these works of art across Europe also serve as a stage for exposing these works.

These large parcel boxes have a dual purpose: the transport of art as well as its exposure. Creativity in eco-packaging definitely has no limits!

Featured Product: Eco Cardboard Box

Eco-packaging can have a positive impact on the environment and your turnover

As Unilever reports in an international study, "one-third of consumers today choose to buy from brands that act in a social or environmental interest". According to a study published by Tandberg , this ratio could even be more than half of the consumers in the world.

The sensitivity of the general public to climate change and other environmental challenges influences purchasing habits and consumer choices.

Among the multitude of factors, packaging is now a major decision factor. Nowadays, using eco-friendly packaging is no longer just an eco-conscious way of selling a product, but a way to share the values ​​and ethics of a company.

Smithers Pira, a global supply chain authority for the packaging, paper and printing industry, conducted a survey of key players in the packaging market. 79% of companies indicated that increased consumer exposure to environmental problems is a major driver of growth for them .

To stand out today in e-commerce as well as on the shelves, it takes an effort that goes beyond a simple attractive visual design. Brands that connect with the consumer, using their values, lifestyle, or beliefs, are the brands that lead the journey of customer acquisition and retention today.

"79% of companies said that increased consumer exposure to environmental problems is an important driver of growth for them."

Eco-friendly packaging - Companies that lead the eco-packaging movement

Forty-year-olds remember how long McDonald's used plastic-based foam containers for their Big Macs. McDonald's was one of the first major companies to adopt paper packaging for take-out orders.

Ecological Paper Packaging by Mcdonald's

Today, McDonald's is still a leader in takeout and is publicly committed to 100% green packaging by 2025.

Even luxury brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton promote their eco-friendly packaging. Nike claims to have saved more than 3 billion plastic bottles since 2010 , thanks to the use of recycled polyester in the making of some of its clothing. Each uniform of the United States National Football Team consists of at least 16 plastic bottles.

With all this attention to ecology and the environment, it is easy to understand why large companies are reinventing their manufacturing processes and packaging to reduce their impact on the environment.

Nestlé recyclable plastic water bottle

Nestlé, one of the largest consumer products companies in the world, has also embraced this trend. The company plans to use 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025.

To encourage people to recycle, H & M offers their customers 10% off coupons when they return a box or unused clothes.

Ecological Packaging

As for Philips, the company is committed to carbon neutrality of all its activities by 2020. Philips also aims to recycle 90% of its own waste.

"At Philips, we fully support sustainability because of its benefits to the world, and because we believe it is a driver of economic growth, which is why we have integrated sustainable development into our corporate strategy. . "

Frans van Houten, CEO of Philips.

The CEO of Philips said it well, sustainable development and eco-packaging not only have a positive impact on the planet, but also on the growth of your business. No reason not to ride this wave.

Philips eco-friendly packaging for the OneBlade razor

Ecological materials used in packaging

Many people consider the modest cardboard box we all know as one of the most environmentally friendly packaging solutions. And they are right.

Packhelp ecological cardboard composition

One of the most advantageous assets of the cardboard is its robustness.

Once assembled correctly, the double and triple-walled cardboard boxes can support a substantial weight of merchandise and keep it safe throughout the shipment.

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

Aside from eco-cardboard, there are several other materials used in eco-packaging including:

Corn starch

Corn starch packaging is biodegradable and is ideal for use in limited-use products such as take-away. Corn starch is a good option for all types of food packaging and can also protect the container during shipping.

Biodegradable plastic

Increasingly used, biodegradable plastic starts to decompose when exposed to daylight and is a good alternative to traditional plastics.

Traditional plastic is the third most widely used petroleum derivative in the world. Each year, 200 million tons of plastic are consumed on the planet. It comes from a non-renewable source (petroleum), it is contaminant and not biodegradable.

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

Bagasse (sugar cane pulp)

Bagasse is a fibrous material of natural ivory color. When the sugar cane is crushed to extract the juice, only the bagasse remains. Bagasse is used to make insulated containers that are disposable, replacing non-ecological materials such as polystyrene foam.

Reed fiber - a Japanese innovation

The reeds grow fast. They can be composted and returned to the farming cycle. In addition, cultivated on banks or rivers, reeds do not compete with food crops, unlike plants grown for biodiesel.

The difference between a biodegradable packaging and a compostable packaging

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050.

By definition, biodegradable materials are composed of wastes from living organisms. For example, products made of paper, banana leaves, bamboo, vegetable fiber and food residues are examples of elements that can be biodegradable, which means that they break down in a landfill.

Biodegradable compostable ecological straws

While compostable products are always biodegradable, the opposite is not always true. Compostable packaging can be broken down into an industrial compost cycle, but will enrich the soil and provide a fertile ground for the growth of other plants. The enrichment of soil quality is important because it significantly affects our food production, a necessity because of the increase in the world population,

As a brand, it is important to carefully consider the packaging format to be used and make an informed decision based on the reality of your country's waste management infrastructure. What is described as " compostable " does not mean that it will decompose quietly on the side of the road.

Ensuring that products are not just recyclable but "designed for recycling" is essential if we want to recover more of our resources.

Our tips for starting today to adopt eco-friendly packaging

If you are a brand considering the transition to eco-packaging, here are some tips to better ensure this transition:

1 - Do not change everything at the same time

Whether you are selling one or thousands of products, it is best not to engage fully in green packaging before you have tested the concept.

2 - Order packaging samples

As mentioned, it is risky to engage in a new packaging solution before testing it. Remember to order a bundle of samples to check yourself the quality of the packaging. Once convinced that it is a practical option, order larger quantities.

3 - Consider a redesign of your visual identity

Adopting a new style of packaging at the same time as rebuilding your brand can be a great opportunity to generate a big impact on all fronts.

A new logo, new colors and new patterns can be pleasantly complemented by eco-friendly packaging.

The visual redesign of the Mailchimp brand

4 - Adjust your prices

The price is obviously a factor to take into account. You may be surprised to know that packaging made from 80% recycled material is available from 0.26 euro per piece.

Once you have opted for an environmentally friendly packaging option, it is important to calculate whether you can absorb the cost of this package or if you need to increase your prices accordingly.

5 - Order in small volumes

To test how your customers are responding to your new packaging, you must proceed gradually. With Packhelp, for example, you can order cartons and other eco-friendly packaging from just 30 pieces. When you see that your customers' response is favorable, increase the size of your orders.

6 - Integrate your ecological values ​​into your marketing campaigns

Make sure people know that you are involved in protecting the environment. Your customers want to hear about it, be sure to communicate well. You will take a considerable step ahead of your competitors.

Ecological packaging suppliers

As a young packaging company, Packhelp is firmly committed to sustainable development and respect for the environment, while helping its customers to do the same.

Ecological packaging personalized for the brand Deer my dear

As a new disruptive brand in the old-fashioned packaging industry, we have learned a lot. Among these things, one of the most important is that most small and medium-sized businesses want to sell their products in packaging that does not harm the environment.

That's why every cardboard product in our range is made from a minimum of 80% recycled cardboard. This means that when you order personalized packaging from us, you receive a product that was in another life a school book, a cereal box or an EDF bill.

If you want to get started with eco-packaging, check out Packhelp's range of custom packaging or contact us so that we can assist you in designing your eco-friendly packaging.