Why You Should Make The Swap To Sustainable Packaging

Swapping from single-use plastics to sustainable packaging is a great way to lessen your business’s environmental impact. But beyond that, there are plenty of great benefits to making the swap – some of which may surprise you! Yes, it’s still an investment. There’s no getting around that. But, it’s an investment that comes with plenty of benefits.

So if you’re on the fence about sustainable packaging, this article is for you!

First, What Is Sustainable Packaging?

‘Sustainable’ is a buzzword people like to throw around, even if they don’t really know what it means. When it comes to packaging, ‘sustainability’ means the packaging itself is 1) made through sustainable practices and 2) designed to naturally break down (in landfill or compost) or be recycled.

Three broad categories fit under what we consider sustainable packaging:

• Compostable, items that can be disposed of in the compost and will break down in the right conditions
• Biodegradable, items that will naturally decompose in landfill
• Recyclable, items designed specifically to be recycled and used again

Why Make The Switch To Sustainable Packaging?

There are plenty of reasons why switching to sustainable packaging is a great choice. Let’s explore a few!

Cutting Costs

A huge part of sustainable packaging is taking a minimalist approach to its design that follows the Bauhaus rule of form follows function – also known as less is more. That innovative approach results in purposeful design that typically reduces your costs in three ways:

• Packaging that’s customised to your products has no need for pointless void-fill material in too-big boxes, cutting down on how much material you need to ship your products safely.
• Customised packaging means less wastage during production, leading to lower production costs and minimal waste during assembly.
• Less packaging means less weight, reducing shipping costs, including shipping the packaging in bulk to you and when you ship to your customers.

All up that reduces your costs over time. In a world where operating costs are ever-increasing, those cost reductions are important for your bottom line.

Social Responsibility

Everyone, from the individual at home to the world-spanning mega-corporations, has a responsibility to care for the planet. Don’t underestimate your ability to impact change for the better!

A simple switch in your packaging can make a huge difference. So ignore all the nay-sayers that question how much impact just one person can make. Instead, explore ways you can make the swap to sustainable packaging!

And remember to consider your customers’ attitude towards their own social responsibility…as you’ll read in the next section!

Brand Reputation

In a world where consumers are paying more and more attention to how a business conducts itself, managing your brand reputation is critical. Using sustainable packaging is a great way to show your customers that you are conscious of your environmental impact – and that you’re actively working to minimise it.

And if your business values sustainability, like we do, then you’ve got to practice what you preach.

Sustainable packaging can also be a perfect partner for your brand. Say you’re a nursery that ships products to customers – how great would it be to use compostable packaging that your customers can use in their gardens and compost? Or if you make clothing from recycled fabrics, double down and use recycled packaging to reinforce your message! Those are just two examples of how sustainable packaging can partner with your business.

Better For You, Better For The Environment

Sometimes, the simple answer is the best answer – making the switch to sustainable packaging is better for you, because it’s better for the environment that supports you.

A huge part of the reason why we love talking about our honeycomb cardboard and other sustainable products is because we love where we live, and these products help us (and you!) take care of the planet.

Your customers will notice your efforts too.

Single-Use Plastics Are On The Way Out

Laws have already been passed that ban the use of certain single-use products – plastic bags were one of the first, and cups, straws, and cutlery were the next items on the chopping block. It’s only a matter of time before plastic packaging makes the ban list too.

Get ahead of the crowd. Invest and make the switch to sustainable packaging now, before demand causes surge charging and long production queues.

Wrapping Up

Sustainable packaging is the way of the future, and that future is already here. There are plenty of reasons why you should make the change, and all of those we mentioned today will benefit you personally or your business’s reputation and bottom line!

Switching all your packaging over to a sustainable alternative is a big change, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a difficult one. We’re here to help make the swap simple and easy.

Get in touch with us for a free consultation!