In light of climate change and environmental degradation, online merchants are gradually adopting eco-friendlypackagingsolutions. Commonly known as green or sustainable packaging, eco-friendly packaging helps reduce carbon emissions and generate lesser packaging pollution. It plays a vital role in keeping the planet healthy
In this blog, we shall take a closer look at what eco-friendly packaging is, its benefits, and types.
What Is Eco-Friendly Packaging?
Eco-friendly packaging is easy to recycle and safer for the environment. It is made of a process that has minimal impact on natural resources. Also known as green or sustainable packaging, eco-friendly packaging aims for the following:
- Safer product packaging material
- Lessen product packaging waste
- Made of renewable/reusable material
- Safe for the environment
- Minimize packaging-related expense
- Provide options for sustainable packaging
Benefits of Eco-Friendly Packaging
Eco-friendly packaging is beneficial for the environment as well as your business and customers. In fact, sustainable packaging is cost-efficient as well. Here's a list of the benefits of eco-friendly packaging:
- Sustainable packaging is easy to reuse or dispose of. It is recyclable, biodegradable, and is one of the safest product packaging options.
- The production of material used for eco-friendly packaging is easy on the environment, which means little or no waste.
- Most of the raw materials used to produce eco-friendly packaging are organic or natural.
- As most of the material used for production is natural, the packaging is safer for everyone. Less to no synthetic chemicals are used, making the packaging safe for the environment.
- Using eco-friendly packaging can boost your brand's image in the market and among the customers. As more and more customers are becoming environment-conscious, your brand can get a competitive advantage by offering green packaging.
- Regular packaging costs more than green packaging. Thus, it saves money.
- Sustainable packaging is versatile and can be used for a variety of products.
- Eco-friendly packaging is not just sustainable and cost-effective but sturdier as well.
Best Type of Eco-Friendly Packaging
If you decide to adopt sustainable packaging for your business, you must know the options available for the same. So, let us explore some of the best eco-friendly packaging options for your brand.
Recycled and Reusable Packaging Material
Recycled and reusable cardboard and wrapping sheets are available in the market. Tonnes of cardboard or corrugated boxes are thrown every year. They contribute so much to the pollution. For the benefit of our environment, you can use recycled cardboard. They will lessen the load on the environment, and the packaging will be decomposed easily, keeping our planet healthy.
Recycled Plastic
It's challenging to choose packaging material that requires extra support. While plastic is environmentally-degrading, it has been one of the best packaging options for long. But now, the good news is that you can use recycled plastic packaging solutions. This option is eco-friendly and sturdy as well.
Eco-Friendly Fillers
Biodegradable packaging inserts like packing peanuts are available, which can be used in place of Styrofoam peanuts. They are better than the regular ones and are safe for the environment as well. Similarly, bubble wraps are not good for the environment as they can't be decomposed. Thus, you can choose eco-friendly fillers in place of non-biodegradable fillers.
One of the best options that you can use for your business is a wrap made of corrugated sheets. It serves the same purpose as bubble wrap.
Organic Material
Cornstarch is obtained from corn grains, which have plastic-like qualities. It can be used as a great option for sustainable packaging material. Mushroom packaging is also a great packaging option. It is obtained from agricultural waste – mushroom roots and makes for a good organic packing option. As mushroom packaging is made from organic waste, it is a biodegradable as well. Another such option is seaweed.
Organic Fabric
Brands use plastic bags for packing their products. However, it is harmful to the environment. Instead, organic fabrics can be a good option that you can consider. You can use recycled cotton, palm leaves, hemp, tapioca, and more organic fabrics. All these fabrics are environmentally friendly.
Sustainable Packaging Ideas
Here are several eco-friendly packaging ideas that you can consider:
Eco-Friendly Labels
A package is incomplete without a label. But this tiny little label can add to a lot of pollution and waste. Whatever you attach the label to, from a courier bag or corrugated box, it needs to be recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable.
Eco Box Packaging
Whether you are using a recyclable cardboard box or corrugated box, make sure it 100% eco-friendly. If you are using corrugated boxes from Shiprocket, you are using 100% recyclable and reusable packaging.
Eco Pouch Packaging
Plastic pouches are another widely used packaging material. Be it shampoo or coffee beans; they are used in different industries for different products. You must look for a more environment-friendly pouch as an alternative. There are eco-friendly pouches available that are made from renewable wood pulp starch. These packaging solutions can turn into a compostable material in just 85 days. So, they indeed are a good substitute for plastic pouches.
Canvas Tote Bags
Tote bags make for a good eco-friendly solution if you wish to minimize the use of plastic bags as a packaging solution. Hessian bags are a good option in place of plastic or polyethene bags. Jute plant skin and vegetable fibers are woven to make hessian bags. They are sturdy and durable and can be used to carry heavy items. Many business owners are already using them.
You can also choose to custom-made the hessian bags with your brand name, logo, contact information, and other such details.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Designing
Eco-friendly packaging is alone not enough to attract your customers. An attractive design is also imperative. An effective packaging designing will help your products stand out from others.
Packaging design is crucial for a product's success as it helps shape the customer's perspective about the brand and product. Take a look at how an attractive design on your eco-friendly packaging can lead your brand towards success:
Customer Attraction
An impressive packaging design entices the customers to pick the product and add it to their cart. It attracts customers and makes them curious about the brand. Notably, the design also tells a lot about the product and its quality.
Branding
Branding and packaging always go together. An appropriate logo, colour palette, and design in product packaging make the brand identity tangible. The fonts, colours, and trademarks make a bold statement and help in branding. Use the same packaging design throughout your products and branding channels to help your audience recognize your product conveniently.
Utility
Well-thought packing material must also serve its primary purpose and function. It must protect the products and aid in shipping and storing of products. If the packaging is utilitarian as well, it becomes equally valuable for the customers.
Information
Product packaging is a means of communication between you and your customers. It talks about your product and company. It carries all the information and helps the customers know about the product before buying it.
Final Say
With the change in climate and more and more trash piling up, adopting sustainable packaging habits is the only way of protecting the earth. We don't have a planet B, and thus, investing in eco-friendly packaging is the bottom line to save the earth.