Trying to find your way through the sea of eco-friendly packaging, but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone. It’s a complicated topic, with a lot to consider. Keep reading to learn about eco-friendly packaging advantages and disadvantages and the importance of eco-friendly packaging.
So, what makes eco-friendly packaging sustainable? That’s not super simple, but The Sustainable Packaging Coalition has a list of criteria to help. It’s definitely closer to Legalese than plain English, but that’s why you’re in the right place!
Like most ethics-based codes, the first thing to consider is people and society. Sustainable packaging uses thoughtful design to help us manage waste. This helps us protect ourselves and each other from the negative impact of waste.
The next thing you want to keep in mind is the economy. As our markets work to keep up with the demand for goods, sustainable packaging needs to be front and center. (re: accessible and profitable)
If we’re recycling, all that stuff has to go somewhere, right? A great part of sustainable packaging is making use of all those recycled materials. Better yet, you can invest in renewable options, like sugarcane packaging.
Why It’s Important To Have Eco-Friendly Packaging
Did you know:
- Less than 14 percent of the 86 million tons of plastic packaging produced each year is recycled.
- 3 billion trees are pulped every year to produce 241 million tons of packaging.
- Roughly 22.44 million pounds of Amazon’s plastic packaging ended up in the world’s freshwater and marine ecosystems in 2019.
At the end of the day, businesses can have a huge impact on the environment, but consumers are the driving force. In fact, 75% of consumers are willing to pay extra for sustainable packaging.
If you want to understand the importance of eco-friendly packaging, the first thing you need to know is that it’s important to your customers.
Want more juicy statistics about sustainability in ecommerce?
See what the data from our survey of 10K global consumers reveals. 👇
3 Ways Eco-Friendly Packaging Benefits Your Business
There are three key ways eco-friendly packaging benefits a business. The following are the most noticeable benefits:
1 Save Money
One huge way eco-friendly packaging benefits companies is by helping them save money. Surprising, right? After all, doesn’t sustainability cost more?
Yes and no!
Getting your sustainable practices started can be a hassle and an expensive experiment along the way. But, once you find the right solutions for your business, it’s worth it!
But you’re not here for a pep talk. Let’s get down to brass tacks.
Lower Shipping Costs With Right-Size Packaging
Ever heard of the Amazon Effect? If you’re an online retailer, it has a massive impact on your shipping costs. Why?
Because in 2015, shipping companies like UPS and FedEx raised their retail shipping rates to combat huge, wasteful boxes taking up space in their trucks. Since then, packages are priced based on size as well as other factors, like weight.
So, just to be clear, you can be more sustainable and lower shipping costs by finding the right size boxes for your products. Ready to save some money?
Reduce Costs By Using Less But Better Materials
And right-sized boxes do more than drop your shipping fees. Once you have the right size packages for your products, you’re going to see a quick drop in costs for another area: packing materials.
Thoughtful, eco-friendly packaging materials can be simple or innovative, and bring your costs down by meeting your products’ unique shipping needs. A company selling tiny ceramic animal sculptures might focus on using compostable cling wrap or reusable fabrics to protect their craft. On the other hand, a cosmetics company might use recycled packing paper. The sky is the limit!
2. Create A Better Work Environment
Remember when we were talking about putting people first? This is a great example of that. The quality of your packing materials has an impact on everyone who encounters them. But, more than anyone, eco-friendly packaging benefits your employees.
Less Toxins and Allergens
This one might come as a surprise, but a lot of packaging and packing materials on the market aren’t actually that safe. They can contain toxins like BPAs and phthalates, both of which a review in 2015 found can cause allergic reactions.
Eco-friendly packaging has to be made from materials that are safe and healthy throughout their lifecycle, from production to recycling.
Gain More Storage Space
Let’s be real; storage is a nightmare. But, space doesn’t need to be part of the problem.
Right-size packaging doesn’t just lower your shipping costs. It makes storing your packing materials easier because everything is perfect for your items. You won’t need the same space for oversized boxes and endless filler materials.
Eco-friendly packaging is made to make the best use of both energy and materials. When you find the right ones for your brand, they’ll do the same for you.
3. Increase Sales
Sustainable and eco-friendly practices can be pricey, but that’s not the only way they can impact your bottom line. Keep reading to learn more about how eco-friendly packaging can improve your sales!
Improve Your Brand’s Image
Presenting a positive image is more important than ever, but it’s even more complicated.
One of the best things about eco-friendly packaging is that it’s a powerhouse. When you use eco-friendly packaging, you’re not just doing one good thing. Because having sustainable packaging shows that your brand cares on a fundamental level.
And your consumers care. Recent studies found that more than half of consumers under age 44 consider sustainable packaging when they’re shopping. By investing in eco-friendly packaging, you’re showing that you support healthy communities, individuals, and the environment with one move.
Ready to rebrand as an environmental ally?
Attract Eco-Conscious Consumers
If you want to up your brand appeal, moving to eco-friendly packaging can take you far. Did you know that more than 75% of Millennials consider sustainability when they’re shopping? And plastic packaging is a big concern for consumers.
To be considered eco-friendly, packaging has to have a recovery plan. This could mean working with recyclable materials or creating materials that can return safely to nature. Cool, right?
Consumers want to know that their purchases are helping to make the world a better place. Whether you get eco-friendly packaging because every step of production uses best practices or it’s made with clean technology, you’ll have their attention.
Create Brand Loyalty
It doesn’t matter what you’re selling these days, you’ll always have competition. So, how can you keep customers coming back? Stand out from the crowd by showing that you care.
Consumers have options, and shopping with their values in mind is a greater possibility than ever. By aligning your brand with relatable values, like environmentalism, you’re encouraging brand loyalty. Don’t believe it works? Customers spend over 40% more money on brands their loyal to!
Sustainable packaging goes through its entire lifecycle, from sourcing to recycling, powered by renewable energy. That’s one less thing your customers have to worry about as they try to navigate today’s market.
Conclusion
Like everything, eco-friendly packaging has advantages and disadvantages. It can take time and money to find the right packaging for your brand, but it makes all the difference to your customers. At the end of the day, switching to eco-friendly packaging for small businesses is a huge step.
Take one more step to make your shipping more sustainable – find out how to easily add a carbon-neutral shipping option with EcoCart.