Why choose eco-friendly packaging?
eco-responsible tips
From potato starch to seaweed, mycelium fungi, algae, production waste, and even plantable materials, sustainable packaging is here to stay because it is the way forward.
Is sustainable packaging the latest trend?
The answer is, simply put, no.
Then why are more and more brands switching towards a more sustainable path? Why is everybody moving from opulent, thick, glossy, sparkly packaging to ink-free, lighter, uncoated, recycled boxes? From potato starch to seaweed, mycelium fungi, algae, production waste, and even plantable materials, sustainable packaging is here to stay because it is the way forward. Consumers demand products that help them support a more eco-friendly lifestyle, and brands are challenged to provide them with the delight that only luxury packaging can provide.
So why it’s important to choose eco-friendly packaging over polluting options? Here are the five reasons you were waiting for:
1 - Reduce your Carbon Footprint
Eco-friendly packaging helps both your business and your audience reduce drastically your carbon footprint. As over 80% of the environmental impacts of packaging are determined in the design phase, brands should pay attention to designing for recyclability. Besides that, recycled materials reduce the consumption of raw materials, which means lowering your brand’s environmental impact.
2 - Attract your dream customers & increase your sales
Your packaging is the first most tangible thing your audience will experience, and a sustainable packaging positively impacts your brand perception. When you create a thoughtful, knowledgeable eco-friendly unboxing experience, you show your commitment towards sustainability and your brand’s authenticity. This is an effective way to communicate your message and attract your ideal clients.
3 - Reduce costs, increase storage space
Sustainable packaging design is more than simply considering the materials involved, it also considers the amount used. A lighter, more efficient packaging means lower shipping fees! You can make a significant impact from the manufacturer to your customers by saving CO2 and $ by switching to a conscious, minimalistic option. Evaluate your current packaging. Can you reduce the amount of material in your containers? Can the boxes be made more sustainably by going glueless and with gentler printing finishes? Can you use a mono-material for easy recycling and reduction of contamination? Can you swap material to something lighter?
And are those extra printed collaterals necessary to include with each shipping? Say bye to the boring thank you cards and printed booklet, and swap them with a digital QR code printed on your box instead. This will save you storage space, printing and shipping costs. Win-win!
4 - Happy retailers, happy consumers
More and more retailers expect the brands they carry to have high standards when it comes to sustainability, simply because the customers demand so. Disposing of non-recycling products can be a burden, and most consumers rather buy something else instead of dealing with that.
Ensure your packaging is easily recyclable, ethically produced, sourced by sustainably managed forests (FSC-Certified), and beautifully designed, and retailers will be proud to have you in their shop.
5 - Toxic-free packaging
Nobody wants to buy something wrapped in unrecyclable toxins. Especially if your brand is conscious and ethical, your audience will surely appreciate an option that is free of toxins and allergens. Consumers’ awareness of what products are made of is increasing, and ensuring your packaging is free from nasty chemicals makes your brand even more irresistible.
Mycelium packaging created by Ecovative Design for Hudson Hemp’s Treaty CBD
Photo: Courtesy of Daniel Dorsa
Eco-friendly packaging adds value to your brand and respects the environment, which is priceless.
Kevin.Murphy is the first beauty brand to utilise 100% Ocean Waste Plastic.
Photo: Courtesy of Kevin.Murphy
Let’s look at the numbers
60%
of US consumers rank glass, paperboard, and paper as extremely or very sustainable.
Research by McKinsey
82%
of UK survey respondants believed companies use too much or excessive packaging.
The Chartered Institute of Marketing
42%
of US and UK consumers look for products that are recyclable or that use sustainable materials when making day-to-day purchases.
GlobalWebIndex
55%
of US survey respondents report that they are very concerned about the environmental impact of packaging.
Research by McKinsey
Medik8 bottles are made of glass, 40% of which is recycled. While plastic-based containers bottles comprise post-consumer recycled plastic.
Photo: Courtesy of Medik8
Is sustainable packaging more expensive?
Each case is so unique, so it depends. But because polluting options are so cheap, everything else seems expensive when compared to them. Sustainable packaging isn’t more expensive if we consider the bigger picture and we look at it in a holistic way. Sustainable alternatives are more cost-effective than they seem, and they are an investment that will benefit your business on several levels. It’s not only about costs, it’s also about staying true to your brand values and taking action for the environment. Consumers believe brands should be responsible and take the lead, investing more to improve the environment.
Everist's shampoo and conditioner formulations are waterless, contained in infinitely-recyclable aluminium tubes. Plastic caps can be sent back for free, for recycling.
Created by Public Office - Photo: Courtesy of Everist
Is sustainable packaging boring?
Absolutely not! Let's debunk the myth. Sustainable packaging doesn't mean plain, boring and with a tree-hugging vibe. You can get really creative and use this as an opportunity to show off your branding. Think of beautiful uncoated paper boxes, custom tissue paper with your brand's pattern or custom illustration, compostable stickers with your logo, and custom paper tape to secure your shipping boxes. Branded eco-friendly packaging can become a powerful marketing tool: the brand becomes irresistible when the unboxing experience is memorable.
Take a look at how these brands are brilliantly embarking on the sustainability journey, and get inspired! You'll see that eco-friendly packaging is far from boring.
Is sustainable packaging worth it?
Totally. A design studio that follows sustainable design principles can help you lower your business's carbon footprint, and increase the profit. You can improve your brand’s sustainability and offer your audience a thoughtful brand experience by preventing waste, using every inch of paper to optimize consumption, choosing the right materials and printing finishes, and developing products for better recyclability and accessibility.
LIV Botanics’ primary packaging is made with elephant grass fibres grown close to the production site and is totally glueless and effortlessly recyclable.
View the full project here.
Sustainable packaging benefits your business, your consumers, the economy and, in the long term, the planet's health and ability to be resilient in the face of a continually changing climate.
To wrap it up
Flowers need time to bloom, and so does switching to sustainable packaging. But it’s definitely something to introduce as soon as possible. Investing in sustainable packaging can make a big impact, and brands shouldn’t have to compromise sustainability for beautiful, high-end, refined packaging and vice versa. Swapping to eco-friendly packaging can be effortless and fun, and at GT Studio, we aim to make that accessible for any ambitious brand.
Now that the seed has been planted, you are probably eager to discover more about alternative options for your shipping. If that is the case, you may want to read the article 5 Alternatives for a more Sustainable Packaging.
Head over this article if you want to go back a bit and know why being a sustainable business is important.
I’d love to know more about your sustainability journey! If you’re looking for a partner-in-good-design and would like to bring to life your earth-friendly packaging, get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you!
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