9 January 2023
Sustainable materials for packaging are appearing everywhere. Not just as shipping containers but also as primary packaging and secondary packaging. The focus on sustainable options came to a tipping point during the COVID pandemic when consumers realized first hand the impact their choices have on the environment around them, this coupled with international news on the extremes facing the world has created a retail space where companies must begin to address their materials and practices. But is it just a fad?
There is always the danger with consumer trends that it will be just that – a trend. But the sustainable movement seems here to stay, with the sector gaining traction and increasing in revenue every year. So how can you become part of the movement without greenwashing your customers?
Here are the top 3 things you need to know:
Lie Detector
The first thing is you need to be honest, even if it looks less pretty and inviting than you want for your customers. If anything that can be the motivation to make the behind-the-scenes of your brand more green. Watchdogs, government bodies and consumers are becoming more and more careful about what actually is and isn’t sustainable in the consumer circulation. All legislation in America and Europe relating to sustainability in consumerism demands that companies are honest about their credentials, their certifications and manufacturing.
Material World
Just because you say a material is sustainable because it has below 10% of recycled content in it…doesn’t make the whole thing sustainable. Lots of materials claim to be sustainable and ethical, but they need to have enough recycled/biodegradable content in them for your brand to be able to put on the product that the packaging is sustainable. If you want to find out more about the difference between materials which are sustainable versus ones which claim to be, check out this article on bioplastics and synthetic plastics or the article on the BPAK website about non-sustainable materials currently available and their sustainable alternatives.
Production Line
The production line of your material is just as important as the actual material. It will help to add to your certifications and credentials if the manufacturing is as ethical as the end product.
Want more information on sustainable materials? Take a look at all of our sustainable articles available on the BPAK blog.
