7 Best Practices for Eco-Friendly Packaging
FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
Flexible packaging is the fastest-growing trend in the industry. Convenience, affordability, functionality and sustainability are what make it so popular. Its ability to extend the shelf life of many products also plays a pivotal role in helping reduce food spoilage. The durability and lightweight features of flexible stand-up pouches make them easier and cheaper to ship, and help reduce the carbon footprint that results from the shipping process. Flexible packaging also boasts minimal raw materials, making it a top contender in the hunt for options that can replace its rigid counterparts.
CORRUGATED
Corrugated packaging is the material of choice when it comes to sustainable options. Lightweight and easily recyclable, corrugated fiberboards are also reusable and manufactured from 70 percent to 100 percent renewable resources. The uses of corrugated packaging are many. They can be employed in interior or exterior packaging to offer superior protection, and come in variable flute profiles that cushion products and prevent compression. For these reasons, corrugated materials are a popular favorite among consumers.
UPCYCLING
Packaging that can be converted into second-life products offers consumers greater value, which is why an increasing number of brands are implementing this strategy. Whether it’s an attractive box that can be reused for storage, or a zip pouch that can turn into a toiletry bag, upcycling is a method that leverages consumers’ thriftiness and desire to reuse. From packaging that converts into plant pots, lanterns, ice buckets, pet houses and more, the ideas are inexhaustible, and when manufacturers work to design fun and innovative concepts, consumers take notice.
DIGITAL PRINTING
Using a digital printing process for product packaging is far more sustainable than offset printing since it uses much less ink and doesn’t require the use of plates. This allows for short-run and customized printing that eliminates waste and increases efficiency.