2022: The year of eco-friendly packaging

We are all becoming painfully aware that our planet has reached a crisis point. Environmental concerns are growing and there are pressures on every business and consumer to make changes which can help to halt and reverse the damage that has already been done. Whilst there are big impacts that can be made, there are also small ones too, which can all add up to something quite significant.

One change which can be very important is the one towards eco-friendly packaging, which has steadily been growing in awareness and popularity for some time now.

It is something which many more businesses are investing time, thought and money into, and it is now a driving force in consumer decision making too. That is why many now believe that 2022 is going to be the year when eco-friendly packaging really takes centre stage for both the customer and the supplier.

What is eco-friendly packaging?

When it comes to packaging, we have all been aware of the unnecessary levels of plastic that have been utilised. This is because it is cheap and easy to mold to any shape, offers strength and provides solid protection for the items it contains, but it is very difficult to recycle, and the processes involved in making it can be extremely damaging to the environment. Whilst this was nothing more than a nuisance at one point in time, it has quickly become the focus of many environmental concerns and businesses are now moving to address this.

Eco-friendly packaging can take a number of different forms and producers must now pay close attention to where their materials come from. Making sure that everything they use is sustainably sourced ensures that they minimise the effect that it has on the environment. Production techniques must also be looked at to avoid adding pollutants to the atmosphere or water sources and reducing the use of fossil fuels. Packaging which is lightweight and easy to store means that the amount of transportation required is also cut down, and the environment benefits once again.

Adele Thomas, Owner of Distinctive Confectionery, specialists in corporate confectionery added, "Using sustainable materials is important, but the packaging that is developed should then also be recyclable or reusable. This can take a number of different forms, whether it is a bag that can be used multiple times or a cardboard box that can easily be recycled."

There are also many more brands moving towards the use of compostable or biodegradable packaging which can break down in a domestic compost bin. There are also options to add wildflower seeds to the packaging which means that it can decompose in the garden and leave behind beautiful plants which can then help sustain wildlife in the area.

Whilst there is the feeling that plastic is an unnecessary evil, it does still do a terrific job, and there are times when nothing else will do. That is why there are more and more tests being done on ways to produce a more ethical plastic. Mushrooms and pressed hay are forming the base for many traditional forms of packaging to ensure that its primary purpose can still be maintained.

It is important to remember that whilst eco-friendly packaging might reduce the carbon footprint of your business and your customers, it still needs to be fit for purpose. It needs to ensure that the product within is still adequately protected and makes it easy to transport, otherwise it will lead to customers going elsewhere.

The benefits of eco-friendly packaging

Putting together eco-friendly packaging will obviously boost your green credentials, but it has a whole host of other benefits too. There is a common misconception that environmentally friendly packaging might look cheap, but there is now no reason why you cannot offer luxury at the same time as being green. Some of the world’s biggest designer brands are now embracing bamboo and stone paper as well as organic cotton labels to offer the very best for their customers and their reputation. This can make a massive difference to how your brand is viewed, as it successfully embraces the best of both worlds.

Making big changes to your packaging might sound costly but this is not always the case. Renewable sources such as organic fabric and bamboo can actually help to keep costs low in the long term which benefits the bottom line of both your business and the consumer’s pocket. Customers will still want good value for money, and whilst some might be happy to absorb slight cost increases in the search for ethics, not everyone will. Taking time to find the most cost-effective packaging ensures your products remain competitive in the market place.

Reputation is important for any brand. You need to be conscious of how your brand and products are viewed by your customers and making authentic moves towards reducing your carbon footprint whilst not compromising on quality can do a lot for how people think about you. It can be a great tool in building trust with your customers and aligning yourself with their values. By failing to make this move, there is a danger that you can be left behind and your business could then stand out for all of the wrong reasons.

With more and more customers making ethical choices when purchasing as well as financial ones, businesses who make the move towards eco-friendly packaging open themselves up to wider markets. Whilst you will appeal to those who want sustainable packaging, you will not turn off other customers who don't worry about such things. This means that instead of narrowing your potential market, you are actually making it as wide as possible.

For a customer, buying one or two items per week which have eco-friendly packaging might seem like a drop in the ocean, when more and more suppliers switch all of their packaging to sustainable options, it can make a huge difference. As the idea gathers momentum, it is likely that 2022 will be the year that we all take a long, hard look at what surrounds the things that we buy and make choices that favour those who have embraced the change.