What Is Eco-Friendly Packaging?

With our increased awareness of global warming, climate change and plastic pollution, many aspects of our lives are steadily becoming more environmentally friendly in our efforts to tackle these issues. Packaging is no exception.

The expansion of the online economy, especially in B2C transactions, has fueled an increase in the consumption of all types of packaging from cardboard boxes to polythene mailing bags. As a result, more and more businesses, companies and industries are moving towards eco-friendly packaging in order to play their part.

Furthermore, certain groups are pushing for more eco-friendly solutions. As we collectively learn more about and become more aware of the damage we are doing to our planet, the younger generations, such as Millennials and Generation Z, are calling for businesses to be more eco-conscious; and they’re putting their money where their mouths are, often shopping with a company’s environmental approach in mind, including what materials they use for their packaging.

Add to this the UK Government’s targets to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, plus the fact that plastic production is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, and the world of packaging seems to be only heading in one direction; eco-friendly packaging.

You may be wondering what exactly eco-friendly packaging is. Well, you’re in luck! Some questions this article will answer are:

• What is eco-friendly packaging?
• Why is eco-friendly packaging important?
• What are the benefits of eco-friendly packaging to businesses?
• What are some environmentally friendly packaging materials?

So, first up...

What is Eco-Friendly Packaging?

Eco-friendly packaging, also known as sustainable or green packaging, is packaging that is more friendly to the environment than the harmful alternatives.

Eco-friendly packaging uses materials and manufacturing practices that have a small/non-existent impact on natural resources and energy consumption, including being made from recycled or plant-based materials.

It’s also often easy to recycle or easily dispose of in a non-harmful way (such as by being biodegradable), unlike many plastics that can’t be recycled and end up in landfills or an incinerator, producing damaging substances in the process.

The way packaging is designed can even make it somewhat eco-friendly. A lot of sustainable packaging is designed to require minimal packaging for the product being packaged, using smart layouts to decrease the amount of packaging required, and then reducing the amount of packaging used.

Why is Eco-Friendly Packaging Important?

Eco-friendly packaging is vital in the fight against plastic pollution and climate change. The majority of packaging is made from non-eco-friendly plastic, and plastic is a major contributor to greenhouse gas production, both in its production and its disposal.

It is estimated that five million tonnes of plastic is used every year in the UK, nearly half of which is packaging. In 2019, less than half (46.2%)  of UK plastic waste was recycled. These stark facts highlight the need to reduce our use of plastic, and increase our use of recyclable plastics.

For these reasons, sustainable packaging is hugely important as an alternative to harmful plastic, reducing the demand for non-eco-friendly plastic and, eventually, helping to eliminate the need for it entirely.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Packaging

There are many great benefits of eco-friendly packaging that contribute to its positive environmental impact and its ease of use:

1) It Reduces Your Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint (the amount of greenhouse gases generated) of product packaging made from recycled materials will be much smaller than product packaging made from raw materials. This is due to the high amount of energy required to produce the raw materials, whereas recycling material into new packaging requires far less energy. Similarly, by making the packaging out of natural materials such as sugarcane or bamboo, then the photosynthesis of that natural material makes the product carbon-neutral, with it capturing carbon (CO2) from the atmosphere and producing oxygen. Eco-friendly packaging is a sure-fire way to reduce your carbon footprint.

2) Biodegradable

Another advantage of eco-friendly packaging produced from natural materials is that it is biodegradable. The harmful plastic normally used in packaging takes a very long time to break down, releasing harmful chemicals and filling up landfills. Biodegradable packaging doesn’t have this problem, with some even being compostable.

3) Easy Disposal

Due to most eco-friendly packaging being recyclable, it’s disposal is far easier, plus it’s easier on your conscience. The recycling bins and centres are far more readily available nowadays, making it simple to get rid of the packaging.

4) No Harmful Chemicals

Non-sustainable petrochemical resources are used to make most plastics, and they are extremely harmful to the environment at all stages of the process: extraction, refinement, distribution, use and disposal. Eco-friendly packaging doesn’t run into these problems. From its production using recycled or natural materials requiring far less energy, to its disposal, via recycling, reusing or biodegrading, not producing the harmful chemicals that other plastics produce.

5) Reusability

Eco-friendly packaging is often designed to be reusable. By reusing the packaging, its lifespan is extended, delaying or eliminating the need for new materials to be produced, (which would require a high amount of energy) reducing the carbon footprint of the packaging. Furthermore, if the eco-friendly packaging is made well and is durable, it can be reused for a range of uses, not just its original intended one, such as storage, further increasing its lifespan and reducing the need for new materials to be produced.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Packaging for Businesses

While the primary focus of eco-friendly efforts should be on the environment, there are of course other benefits that come from being an eco-friendly business:

1) Versatility

Thanks to advances in technology, there’s a huge range of eco-friendly packaging suited to various requirements and industries. Sustainable packaging can be made waterproof for food and electronics packaging, durable for more heavy duty requirements, see through for displaying products, plus many more uses. You no longer need to rely on non-eco-friendly packaging, as there will be an eco-friendly packaging variation that meets your needs.

2) Brand Image

With the increased awareness of climate change, more and more people are becoming passionate about the cause. Being known as a business that is environmentally friendly and makes efforts in this area can create trust and build a relationship with your customers as you have a shared passion. It paints your business in a positive light and as a company that cares.

However, just saying you’re ‘eco-friendly’ or throwing a recycling logo onto something to look good isn’t enough. Consumers are wise to it and they do their research. Ensure you do what you say you’re doing, and are not just doing it for the PR. If you’re caught not reaping what you sow, it could end up instead having a negative impact on your brand.

3) Customers and Consumers

Similarly, not only will eco-friendly packaging help in the efforts to tackle climate change, it will also make your business and products more desirable to consumers. In a 2021 survey, 34% of UK shoppers chose brands that have environmentally sustainable practices/values, while 28% stopped purchasing certain brand or products due to ethical/sustainability concerns. Your company using eco-friendly packaging could increase your sales and customers. Furthermore, 33% of UK consumers are willing to pay more for a service or product if they know it’s sustainable, further increasing the likelihood a customer will come to you for what they’re looking for.

Environmentally-friendly Packaging Materials

There are a wide range of packaging materials that are eco-friendly and offer environmentally-friendly solutions.

Plant-based materials

Packaging made from plant-based materials can often decompose back into the earth (compostable). Some examples of plant-based materials that are used to make packaging are:

• Sugarcane (such as Polyflex’s IP Plant bio-based material)
• Cornstarch
• Mushrooms (mycelium)
• Algae
• Fermented plant starch
• Green cell foam (made from corn)
• Cellulose packing (made from hemp, wood, cotton)

Recycled Packaging

Packaging that is manufactured from other packaging that has served its purpose, such as post-consumer recycled plastics (plastic made from post-consumer waste). Also, packaging that is reused or repurposed, reducing waste, energy required to create new packaging, and harmful collection of raw materials.

Corrugated Packaging

Cardboard-like box fibres created primarily from trees and corrugated containers. Recyclable and very durable, thus increasing reusability.

Items That Can Be Recycled

Packaging made from materials that can be recycled is certainly better for the environment than packaging that can’t be recycled at all and ends up in landfill. However, the manufacturing process for these materials can still be damaging to the environment due to the high amount of energy required in their production. Some examples of packaging material that can be recycled are:

• Paper
• Cardboard
• Some plastics such as polythene

The Complete Package

Hopefully you’re now more clued up about eco-friendly packaging and its many great benefits.

Want to know more about eco-friendly and sustainable packaging for your business from an expert? Get in touch with Polyflex.