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Eco-friendly packaging is good for your bottom line, your customers and the Earth.
Whether you’re running a brick-and-mortar business or managing a fulfillment center, the impact of your product packaging choices can’t be overstated. By opting for green innovation in the form of eco-friendly processes and materials, you can reduce your business’s carbon footprint, potentially minimize overhead costs and make a lasting positive impression on consumers eager to support businesses that champion transparency and sustainability.
Of course, the most apparent benefit of eco-friendly packaging is reducing waste and cutting costs by minimizing the amount of packaging materials used to ship goods. We’ll look at ways a brand can commit to eco-friendly packaging without breaking the bank — ultimately yielding long-term savings.
Thoughtful businesses can help the environment by using eco-friendly packaging without sacrificing consumer satisfaction — or the bottom line. Consider the following six strategies that can make using sustainable packaging a win-win for your business and customers.
The lighter the packaging, the less it costs to ship your products — not to mention that it produces less waste on the receiving end. With this in mind, materials like molded pulp, jute and biodegradable plastic films have become industry favorites.
Evan Kuterbach, co-founder of Canyon Pickleball, which uses eco-friendly packaging, says a commitment to sustainability can earn high marks with your target audience, helping you earn repeat business and customer loyalty. “Customers love supporting brands that care,” Kuterbach stressed. “In our experience, the small amount we pay extra for our eco-packaging is easily covered when you factor in the customer loyalty we receive for sustainable packaging.”
Opting for green packaging — especially lightweight options that reduce material waste — can set your company apart as trustworthy and respectable in the eyes of consumers. Additionally, streamlined packaging made with recycled materials can help you provide a great customer experience by generating less waste and addressing personal environmental concerns.
Some businesses use traditional packaging methods out of concern for product protection. After all, the materials used to ship your products must be durable enough to protect the contents along the sometimes tumultuous journey from the warehouse to the customer’s doorstep.
For example, an electronics company may use 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials packaging. However, if the packaging isn’t strong enough to protect the customer’s smart TV or gaming console, the company will be faced with the (ultimately avoidable) costs associated with handling the return as well as potentially losing a valuable customer who received a damaged product.
Fortunately, many eco-friendly packaging options are robust and effective — and excessive packaging materials are often not needed for protection. “Embracing minimalism in the packaging design process can also help reduce excess packaging materials that aren’t needed to get a product to a consumer safely,” noted Matthew Wright, CEO and founder of Specright.
If you use your own trucks to transport your products to wholesalers, warehouses, retailers or direct-to-consumer destinations, smaller packages can increase your shipping efficiency. With reduced packaging materials, you can fit more packages in each vehicle, cutting down on the number of trips needed and reducing costs for drivers and fuel.
Wright pointed out that businesses can also increase logistical efficiency by focusing on local materials for packaging. “Companies can prioritize materials that are sustainable and found locally, minimizing transportation costs and emissions,” Wright explained.
A business can save even more money by reusing packaging materials for future shipments — an excellent way to implement environmentally responsible packaging. For example, if you receive a shipment with packing paper or recyclable filler from a vendor and it’s in good shape, use it to cushion a shipment to a customer. In this scenario, your packaging filler is essentially free and you minimize waste by avoiding disposal or recycling.
Implementing reusable packaging in your business is an effective way to increase the perceived value of your products. By delivering your products in versatile, reusable packaging, customers can repurpose them for storing items, packing gifts and more.
There are three primary types of reusable packaging: refillable, returnable and repurposable. Here are a few examples of each:
Return rates for e-commerce sales are consistently higher than for brick-and-mortar stores. Those returns add up, making it even more crucial to design smart, reusable packaging that eliminates waste and simplifies the reverse logistics process for retailers.
For example, more companies now include a return package with product shipments. This can help make the returns process easier for customers. However, this approach can increase costs for your company and negatively impact the environment. Instead of providing extra materials, consider a return mailing label and use packaging that can be used to deliver the product and handle any returns.
To be considered eco-friendly, product packaging should include one or more of the following characteristics:
For example, milk in a glass bottle is considered eco-friendly but not milk in a plastic container. Glass meets the definition of eco-friendly packaging because it is recyclable and reusable.
If you’re ready to start using eco-friendly packaging, here are some of the most popular materials to consider:
Above all, e-commerce packaging trends reflect a desire to accommodate changing consumer online purchasing habits and attitudes. Understanding what customers expect in their packaging while staying on top of eco-friendly practices can help you stay ahead of the curve.