Sustainable packaging provides many benefits, so more businesses should leverage it. Once they understand how they can redesign what they currently use, they can begin making the transition.
Does Sustainability Have Business Benefits?
Sustainability has tremendous business benefits, especially regarding packaging. A product’s container is one of the few forms of marketing every customer engaging with the brand will see. Making it environmentally friendly could immediately improve brand credibility, perception and awareness. It can also help differentiate companies from their competitors.
Additionally, people often prefer being environmentally conscious when shopping. Over two-thirds of consumers will only buy a product if they feel it is eco-friendly. Many consider a brand’s impact on the planet before purchasing, so a packaging redesign would be ideal since it immediately communicates sustainability.
One of the main benefits of a transition to sustainable packaging is cost reduction and increased savings. Some options can increase a product’s shelf life, resulting in a higher return on investment. Many are also more affordable upfront due to demand growth incentivizing market competition.
Although workplace benefits are more indirect, research shows sustainable packaging improves candidate sourcing and employee retention. In fact, multiple peer-reviewed studies positively correlate it with staff engagement. People enjoy working somewhere environmentally conscious because it reflects their values and expectations.
How Can Businesses Move to Sustainable Packaging?
To move toward sustainable packaging, businesses must choose eco-friendly materials, redesign containers, source locally and involve their supply chain processes. Although it is an involved process, it is straightforward since each step naturally connects.
The packaging and its cushioning should contain environmentally-safe substances like bamboo, cardboard, coconut fiber or thermoplastic. These exist in excess, considering there is an eco-friendly substitute to nearly every traditional material. For example, paper tape is a recyclable alternative to standard packaging adhesive.
Typically, transitioning to sustainable packaging involves a redesign on top of leveraging eco-friendly materials. Making a container fit a product better reduces the chance of it breaking during transit, saves inventory space and allows a company to ship more at once.
Adjusting distribution and transportation processes due to a packaging redesign can be involved, but it is beneficial. For instance, eco-friendly materials are often lightweight and durable, leading to significant greenhouse gas emission reductions and lower delivery expenses.
Steps to Implement Sustainable Packaging
Once an organization knows what approach to take, it must test its design, get stakeholder approval, involve indirect business operations and track its progress.
1. Pilot Design Concepts
Thousands of sustainable packaging choices exist, so businesses should try various materials, suppliers and approaches before settling on something. After the conceptual stage, they can pilot multiple designs to identify which will work best and result in the highest ROI.
2. Involve Stakeholders
Stakeholders are vital to this transition, considering their perception affects brand reputation and revenue. In fact, 83% of younger consumers feel comfortable paying more for products with sustainable packaging. Since their impact is so significant, businesses should collect and leverage their feedback.
3. Implement the Changes
While smaller companies may want to implement changes slowly and scale with time, it is generally better to make the entire transition at once. Although the move toward sustainability can be expensive initially, they will see a much higher ROI with a comprehensive upfront commitment.
4. Overhaul Transportation
Once organizations adjust the size, shape and weight of their packaging, they must overhaul their transportation process. A redesign may necessitate a new shipping approach, considering each palette will likely hold a different amount of products.
5. Monitor Progress
Sustainability is an ongoing approach to create a better planet and engage with stakeholders more thoroughly, so businesses should monitor their progress. Tracking key performance indicators can show them how successful their current approach is and if they can address any further areas of improvement.
Switch to Sustainability
Companies should consider sourcing, production and shipping when transitioning to sustainable packaging. Focusing on each area and overhauling the entire process can ensure the most significant results, helping them achieve the highest ROI possible.
Jane Marsh works as the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co where she covers environmental news and sustainable living tips.
Leave a Reply