No matter the type of product that you sell, you should look for ways to make it more environmentally friendly. This will help your company minimize your impact on the planet and also improve your appeal to customers. More customers than ever before are eco-conscious when making purchasing decisions. By creating greener packaging, it can help you draw in new clients and keep your current ones.
But, how do you go about making your packaging greener? The following steps will get you on the right track.
Reduce the Packaging Materials Used
One of the simplest ways to make your packaging greener is to reduce the number of materials that you use. In all but a few cases, you should be able to minimize material usage at least somewhat. Start this step by looking at the size of the packaging compared to your product. If the packaging has a great deal of space, you can likely reduce its size. That reduction in volume should translate into a decrease in surface area, resulting in fewer materials used.
You can also take a look at whether you overpackage your product. For example, if you sell medicine or vitamins and place them in a bottle then a box, you could probably get rid of the outer container. Then you would sell the medicine in a bottle and not even need the cardboard from the box. You could likely fit the relevant information from the box on a fold-out paper on the bottle. This will dramatically reduce your material usage.
Opt for Green Materials
The next step is to examine the materials you currently use for your product packaging and see if greener alternatives are available. Whenever possible, swap your current materials out for recyclable and recycled options. At the very least, make sure that the materials you use in packaging are biodegradable so they will not sit in a landfill forever.
In today’s world, it is easier than ever before to find recyclable and recycled materials, so this should not be a challenge. Whether you use cardboard, plastic, or glass, there should be numerous options available. If you are unsure what recyclable alternatives are available, consult your packaging manufacturer.
Make the Packaging Reusable Whenever Possible
Your final step should be to plan your packaging in a way that makes it reusable. This will decrease the chances of it ending up in a landfill. There are many ways that you can make your packaging reusable by incorporating some creativity. If your product comes in a jar or tin, then encourage people to clean it out and use it to store other items. The classic example of this is the cookie tin that holds a sewing kit.
You can also get creative and add elements to your packaging that make it reusable. For example, consider including seed and developing packaging that is biodegradable – or could even break down to provide a plant with some essential nutrients. Then encourage customers to plant the packaging to generate new growth on the planet.
