Feature Photo: iamnotpaper.com
From food and drinks to medicines and cosmetics, packaging is everywhere, as it plays a crucial role in protecting and preserving various products during transportation and storage. Different types of packaging is used to ensure that products are shipped, stored and protected effectively. However, as we all become more concerned about the environmental impact of packaging, manufacturers, brands and individuals alike are seeking to address the issue by promoting and adopting sustainable packaging options. It is clear that while we need packaging, we must also prioritise its sustainability.
The Impact of Packaging
The world has become increasingly aware of the pressing issue of plastic waste and its adverse environmental effects. Shockingly, 40% of plastic produced is used for packaging, and almost half of that is used only once before being discarded, becoming a serious environmental hazard. Single-use plastic accounts for a significant portion of the nine million tons of plastic that flows into our oceans every year, especially from developing countries that lack the infrastructure to handle it. This issue is bound to worsen as more people turn to convenient meal deals, grocery deliveries, and take-away food, generating significant amounts of packaging that end up in our landfills and oceans.
Packaging waste management
Packaging waste management faces two unresolved challenges, namely packaging recyclability and packaging recycling and leakage. In most recycling facilities, multi-material packaging remains a significant challenge, leading to massive amounts of plastic that cannot be recycled. Even in countries where waste is well-managed, recovery rates for packaging and food-service plastics are only around 28%, while developing regions face enormous pressure due to the rising demand for packaging and the lack of waste collection facilities. An estimated 19% of all plastic materials worldwide are poorly managed, and only 16% of plastic waste is processed to create new products, with the majority ending up in landfills or incineration, which is, of course, a significant loss of resources.
The Benefits of Sustainable Packaging
Product packaging can have significant environmental and societal impacts, making sustainable packaging crucial for both brands and individuals. Here are some reasons why it is essential to prioritise a more sustainable approach when it comes to packaging:
- Environmental Impact: Traditional product packaging often involves the use of non-biodegradable materials like plastic, which contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution. Sustainable packaging, on the other hand, is designed to minimise these negative environmental effects by using eco-friendly materials and reducing waste.
- Resource Depletion: Conventional packaging relies heavily on finite resources such as fossil fuels used to produce plastic. Sustainable packaging solutions use renewable and biodegradable materials, reducing the strain on natural resources and minimising the environmental footprint.
- Energy Consumption: The production of conventional packaging materials often requires significant energy consumption, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. By opting for sustainable packaging, which can be made from recycled materials or requires less energy-intensive manufacturing processes, brands and individuals can help mitigate climate change.
- Waste Generation: As mentioned above, excessive packaging and single-use materials contribute to the generation of waste. Sustainable packaging aims to reduce unnecessary packaging, promote recyclability, and encourage the use of reusable or compostable materials. This approach can lead to a significant reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfills.
THE ADDED BENEFITS OF USING SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
For brands and businesses selling any type of product, there are even more added benefits when it comes to switching to sustainable materials for their packaging:
- Brand Image and Reputation: Consumers are increasingly environmentally conscious and actively seeking out products from brands that prioritise sustainability. Using sustainable packaging can improve a brand’s image and reputation, appealing to environmentally aware consumers and potentially increasing market share.
- Regulatory Compliance: As governments and regulatory bodies focus more on environmental issues, there may be stricter regulations imposed on product packaging. Embracing sustainable packaging practices early on can help brands stay ahead of potential regulatory changes and avoid penalties or additional compliance costs.
- Cost Savings: Although there may be an initial investment required to transition to sustainable packaging, it can lead to cost savings in the long run. Sustainable packaging materials, like recycled paper or cardboard, can often be more cost-effective than traditional alternatives. Additionally, reducing the amount of packaging used can lead to lower shipping and transportation costs.
- Consumer Preference: Studies have shown that consumers are more likely to choose products with sustainable packaging. By aligning with consumer preferences, brands can increase customer loyalty and attract a broader customer base.
- Circular Economy: Sustainable packaging is often designed with the principles of the circular economy in mind, where materials are reused, recycled, or composted rather than discarded. This approach helps to create a more sustainable and efficient system for managing resources and waste.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, sustainable packaging is essential for reducing environmental harm, conserving resources, and meeting the expectations of environmentally conscious consumers. By adopting these practices, both brands and individuals can contribute to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future.
Natural Alternative Packaging
Many companies are working on fully compostable (and in some cases edible!) packaging. Here are some examples already on the market, but are only being used currently on a smaller scale commercially.
Mushroom packaging: A combination of agricultural waste and mycelium (mushroom) root, this home compostable product is “grown” on a hemp-flour mixture, and then dried to halt the growth process. It’s most commonly used to replace Styrofoam packaging.
Seaweed-based packaging: This comes in both edible and biodegradable grades.
Pressed hay: This is being used as egg cartons in Poland.
Banana Leaves: In Thailand, where the plastic problem has reached crisis point, one supermarket has opted to go plastic-free in favour of banana leaf-and-bamboo packaging. And while banana leaves may only be practical where they’re readily available, this does reinforce the idea of using locally available, compostable materials.
BRAND RECOMMENDATIONS for INDIVIDUALS
Plenty of brands and companies are now adopting a more sustainable approach when it comes to packaging. This week, I wanted to highlight a few of these brands, so that you know what to expect the next time you shop online with them (and most of all, you know what to do with the packaging!).
Stripe & Stare
Stripe & Stare’s underwear products are made from Tencel, a natural fabric derived from Beechwood trees in Austria, which is three times softer than cotton and uses 95% less water during production. Moreover, their underwear is entirely compostable, promoting environmental responsibility.
To align their packaging with their sustainability values, the brand opted for eco-friendly mailer boxes. But they took it one step further. They minimised the number of packaging products used by utilising thinner boxes instead of void fillers, thus reducing empty space and raw material usage.
Flissie
Flissie is a UK based brand of women’s boxers that was inspired by female community and sustainability. In addition to their use of sustainable fabric, (Flissie use Tanboocel™ bamboo viscose,) their packaging is made out of corn starch PLA. PLA is made out of renewable plant-based resources and is therefore sustainable, plus it’s also biodegradable and compostable. Corn starch PLA is manufactured with a lower environmental impact than traditional petroleum-based plastics, and it doesn’t release harmful toxins when it’s disposed.
Sunad
Sunad, a Spanish fashion brand renowned for its use of natural fibres, has recently introduced a sustainable packaging solution. The brand sought to create a design that complemented the colours and tones of its garments while remaining eco-friendly.
They opted for expandable kraft mailers, which are recyclable and compostable sealing paper envelopes with an expandable base and sides, that are a unique and eco-friendly form of clothing packaging. By using these mailer bags, Sunad was able to showcase the natural kraft texture of paper pulp while minimising material usage as well. This innovative and sustainable packaging solution is a testament to the brand’s commitment to eco-friendliness.
” BY DESIGNING GARMENTS WITH 100% NATURAL FABRICS, OUR PACKAGING HAD TO MATCH THESE VALUES. AND LUCKILY, PACKHELP IS A EUROPEAN COMPANY, HELPING US REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE”.
SUNAD.COM
Hemp Juice
Hemp Juice is a Polish company that offers a range of six types of CBD oils and cosmetics, along with products for pets. To minimise their environmental impact, the company has implemented an eco-friendly packaging strategy. They use recycled and recyclable cardboard for their packaging and utilise two different packaging designs with distinct colours to differentiate their products – the prints on their boxes are also made using ecological paints, and the filler is biodegradable.
Origin x Performance
Origin x Performance, a UK-based sportswear brand that is committed to integrating sustainability into every aspect of its business – from the design process to packaging. Instead of using conventional bags, they use fully sustainable, biodegradable materials to ship each garment.
These bags are called Bio Poly Mailers and are made from a natural resin, and are just as sturdy as traditional plastics and their alternatives, but as they are biodegradable, and of course plastic-free, they can be composted rather than sent to landfills. This allows them to wrap up their lifecycle the way it began – as bio-waste, CO2, and water. They are also weatherproof and tear-proof, therefore perfect for shipping clothing.
The Little Eco Company
The Little Eco Company produce mailer bags made from corn starch which are a perfect solution for sending all your personal mail. The mail bags come in a variety of sizes from small envelopes to small parcels what’s great about them is that they maintain the same strong anti-tear and weatherproof performance like plastic but without the negative environmental impact.
To dispose of corn starch packaging, you can put it in the normal rubbish bin, not the recycling bin. Alternatively, as it is 100% biodegradable and compostable it will break down within 45 days in an ideal compost environment, or if you have a home composter, it will degrade to water and carbon dioxide within 3 – 6 months.
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS for BRANDS
If you’re a brand and are thinking about making the switch to sustainable packaging, I’ve also put together my personal recommendations to help make the transition as smooth as possible, plus a few company names to start your journey with.
- Take it one step at a time: It’s risky to commit to an entirely new packaging solution before testing it. Begin by sampling packaging options and gradually introducing changes.
- Adjust your pricing: Calculate the cost of packaging and decide whether you can absorb it or whether you need to adjust your prices accordingly.
- Flaunt your eco-friendly packaging: Use your brand’s commitment to sustainability as a marketing tool to stand out from the competition.
- Take further steps into your sustainability: Even though you might switch to a more sustainable packaging, the carbon emissions of all the travel involved within your business still exist, so opt for purchasing offsets on those emissions too!
Better Packaging Company
Better Packaging Co. is a carbon neutral B Corp founded in 2018. While most sustainable packaging does ‘less bad’, Better Packaging Co. goes further and creates packaging that delivers a whole lot of good instead! Their range includes bamboo packaging made completely from plant fibres and printed with soy-based inks, so that it will safely and relatively quickly biodegrade in a composter; SWOP Reusable Mailers, which reduce the need for single-use packaging, are durable, reusable courier satchels that are almost totally made from natural, renewable materials – FSC paper, organic cotton, soy-based inks and a plant-derived coating; and their POLLAST!C range which is made from Certified Ocean Bound Plastic – plastic pollution that meets the following criteria;
- has been abandoned
- in an area with no formal waste management infrastructure
- is within 50km of the coast
Related – B Corp Brands
THE POLLAST!C™ Range
An estimated 8-12 million tonnes of plastic enters our oceans every year and this is expected to triple by 2040. Over 70% of that plastic enters oceans via land and over 80% of that comes from Asia. That’s why Better Packaging Co. focus their collection efforts in Southeast Asian coastal communities.
After 18 months of R&D, Better Packaging Co. have produced a world first range of mailing satchels, poly garment bags (and more) from recycled Ocean Bound Plastic pollution. Their POLLAST!C™ Range enables them to pay people in developing countries to rescue plastic pollution from their environment, provide them with employment AND prevent the need for new plastic to be made and put out into the world.
” We’ve got enough of this plastic sh!t already in the world, we just need to start valuing it Better”.
better packaging company
The giant poop pictured represents the amount of plastic that enters the ocean every 30 seconds! It’s constructed of recycled waste plastics and secondhand fishing nets. It has a wooden tree structure inside to keep it upright. Better Pacakaging Co. have always found humour and wit to be the best way to get a message across! They believe that packaging doesn’t have to be the villain in the environmental story, but the hero instead, and their POLLAST!C range is a great example of this.
Independent Life Cycle Analysis has shown POLLAST!C mailers to be the lowest carbon form of packaging currently commercially available. They have a CO₂ footprint 75% less than that of a traditional plastic mailer and 30% less even than 100% recycled paper.
Affinity Supply
Affinity Supply’s eco-friendly “cassava bags” are crafted primarily from organic cassava root starch, vegetable oils, and natural resins. They’re completely compostable and biodegradable, breaking down similarly to food. This product is a truly viable substitute for traditional plastic bags and is produced in Indonesia.
Affinity Supply, in particular, is one of the few suppliers offering a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as providing logo-customised orders upon request. The best part is that being made out of natural materials, they’re completely biodegradable and compostable in nature.
"I AM NOT PAPER"
I LOVE this brand not only for their commitment to sustainability, but for their funky branding, as well as their innovation and “infotainment”: communicating in a fun, relaxed way, that makes people smile.
Did you know that so much product from the agricultural farming industry goes to waste? Instead of throwing it away, Australian brand “I AM NOT PAPER” is using this waste to create coffee cups and other customized packaging. Here’s how they do it: The raw materials are mixed and passed through a stripper to remove impurities. The “I AM NOT PAPER” plant pulp material is then dried and stored in large bins. The dried material is pressure-cooked in a digester with water and a blend of herbs and spices until it’s ready to be refined and rolled into a cup.
The result is an eco-friendly coffee cup that’s good for the planet! With no plastic, paper or bleach in these products, it’s no surprise these cups are fully compostable. Even the inks used to print on logos and fully plant-based!
Packhelp
Packhelp are an online marketplace for custom branded packaging with products for everyone from small businesses, with minimal orders, to global corporations. They produce a wide range of packaging solutions – from boxes, envelopes, tubes and fillers to food packaging and stickers.The majority of Packhelp’s products contain recycled materials, the recycled fabric version of their tote bag. Recycled materials are a core element of a circular economy that focusses on reusing materials. Using recycled materials lowers a company’s dependence on virgin materials, as well as the energy used to get them.
Every single cardboard product in Packhelp’s range is made from a minimum of 80% recycled cardboard. This means that when you order custom packaging from them, you’re getting a material that was a book, a cereal box or a bank statement in another life. Their products are locally manufactured in Europe, meaning a lower transportation footprint compared to goods produced and imported from abroad.
If you’re looking to get started with sustainably made packaging, you can check out Packhelp’s range of customised packaging options here.
Eco-Craft
Eco-Craft is a family-owned business, located in Lancashire, UK, that has been producing recycled, recyclable, and compostable products since 1991. They offer a broad selection of eco-friendly packaging options suitable for small businesses. From postal boxes, recyclable paper tape, gift tags and presentation folders. All of these items are made from recycled paper that is sourced within the UK and EU.
Due to their personal concern for the environment, they have made it their company policy to, wherever possible, offer products that aim to keep their ecological and ethical impact on the planet in mind, from production to disposal. Most of the paper and card they supply is 100% recycled and the majority contains a large proportion of post-consumer waste (ie. old brochures, print outs, etc.). The proof of this can be seen in the occasional tiny fleck or speckle which can sometimes be found in the card they stock.
Recycling paper can reduce the energy required in production by up to 50%, with similar effects on pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. Recycling also reduces water usage by up to 50% and involves fewer chemical processes. The recycling paper industry is led by consumer demand so the more we use, the more the mills will produce.
Tiny Box Company
The Tiny Box Company are constantly searching for new and innovative ways to help preserve the planet. In fact, 90% of their stock is made from recycled, recyclable, and compostable materials, with in-house recycling programs too. They even have a cardboard muncher that transforms old boxes into new ones. And for any boxes that cannot be recycled, they are donated to schools for art and craft projects.
They are truly dedicated to making a difference and reducing our environmental footprint – one box at a time. From tissue paper to ribbons, packing accessories, mailers and boxes, they seem to have it all.
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