Eco-friendly packaging is becoming an important selling point for a going number of customers, thus more and more companies are opting for more sustainable packaging solutions. In a 2018 report by Nielsen, they found that bath products’ sales growth increased by 1% whereas bath products that marketed claims to sustainability increased by 14% in the same year. Whether it’s corporate social responsibility or your bottom line driving the decision to package sustainably, you’ll need to consider your overall design, materials, and product afterlife.
Minimal Design
When designing the packaging for your product, consider the minimum amount needed to house the product. Does it need an extra retail box, or can it do just fine in its container? Are there any unnecessary labels, padding, or wrappings that you can consolidate or completely do away with? By reducing the amount of packaging material, there is less bulk and less weight, typically making it more efficient for assembly, warehousing, and shipping. Not to mention, you don’t have to pay for those unnecessary materials and your entire manufacturing and packaging process is streamlined (think $$$ back into your budget).
Eco-Friendly Materials
After considering which parts of the packaging you can completely cut out, be particular about what materials you’re using for the rest of it. Can you use recycled, renewable, compostable, or biodegradable materials? Today there are many options for more sustainable packing materials like dye-free paper, post-consumer recycled fiber, and natural inks. A particularly interesting one is packaging material made from post-consumer materials embedded with seeds; instead of tossing it into the trash, customers can plant the packaging to grow flowers or herbs! Also, take into account the manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping materials. Use eco-friendly packing materials like plant-based packing peanuts and work with a company that reuses or recycles cardboard.
Product Afterlife
Think about the lifecycle of your product’s packaging. Is it reusable? Is it easily recyclable? A glass jar (for example) may be a better choice than plastics. The consumer can clean it out and use it for something else or easily recycle it in many areas. A biodegradable material is a great choice if the packaging tends to get tossed in a regular trash bin. When it comes to the afterlife of a product, customer knowledge is key. Does your target market actively make an effort to reduce, reuse, and recycle? Educating your customers about recycling or reusing can even open up a whole category in your content marketing strategy. Check out Oui by Yoplait’s nifty Pinterest board dedicated to crafts reusing their yogurt jars.
In today’s market, it’s important to design and manufacture your packaging more sustainably. Perhaps your company puts an emphasis on being environmentally conscious or maybe there is a push to cut back on packaging material costs and increase overall efficiency; either way, environmentally friendly packaging is the way of the future. Nothing sums it up better than this quote from Nielsen, “No matter what, sustainability is no longer a niche play: your bottom-line and brand growth depend on it.
Is your company interested in more sustainable cosmetic packaging? We can source sustainable packaging solutions as well as execute the manufacturing and packaging process. Contact us today to get started. info@kleen-concepts.com (480) 515-5576