Why the Packaging Change is a Necessity
Packaging is a necessary thing and crucial for most products that focus on the consumer market directly. However many companies are making changes to their packaging to address environmental impacts as more and more consumers become aware of its impact on the earth and eco-system. But, this transition happening at a very minimal pace.
The first company we'll look at is called H&M, which has eliminated the plastic outer box on its clothing and has a sticker on top of each item that tells you how to recycle it. Also, they are utilizing recycled materials in their packaging like paperboard, soy ink, and coffee grounds for packing material.
The other company that has made a big effort to reduce its environmental footprint by using less packaging is Apple Inc., They are packing all of their products with recyclable materials and reusable containers like corrugated boxes, fabric bags, and even old newspapers!
The Rise of Sustainable Packaging
The rise of sustainable packaging is good news for the environment and of course for us as dependents. It's also great for companies because it lets them be innovative and different while effectively addressing customer concerns.
For a company to use more sustainable packaging, they have to think about what type of package would work best for them considering both the environment and the consumers.
This involves a really lot of research and development, but it'll offer you a huge advantage over the competition because you are using new technologies that other companies will want to follow.
What Innovative Materials are being used in Place of Plastic and Cardboard?
Environmentally-packaging is always changing. Companies are using less packaging to save on costs, and so they can be more environmentally friendly.
On the other hand, companies are also finding ways to use eco-friendly materials like recycled paperboard, soy ink for their printing, and more.
More and more companies are trying to hide or eliminate packaging altogether. This is in part due to the rise in e-commerce, especially stores like Amazon, stores like Walmart that ship items directly to customers' homes, and other similar businesses.
"I think this is definitely a growing trend," said Matt Carberry, Principal of Product Development at Bold360, a firm that specializes in 3D printed packaging.
"Customers are expecting more transparency and authenticity from brands, and the idea of 'less is more' is catching on."
One specific company that has taken this technique to the heart is Tushies Baby Wipes. They found that customers spent 30 seconds opening their plastic packages and only 5 seconds "using" their product. So, they changed the packaging to a little sticker on top of the box so it could be recycled.
Conclusion
Packaging is always changing as has to. It's a trend that will never be short of new ideas and innovations like which materials to use in place of plastic, cardboard, or other traditional packaging materials.
One company found success with an easy-to-open sticker on the top of their product for recycling purposes instead of using a regular poly package. On the other hand, quite a few companies are going too further to eliminate all the retail packaging by selling online exclusively.
However, it is important to stay up-to-date on these trends, because there might be something you can learn and incorporate into your business's current practices.
If you want to learn more about how eco-friendly packaging can help boost your sales at a brick-and-mortar or e-commerce store, we'd be happy to help!