Introduction
Sustainable packaging has been one of the talking points over the past decade. Yet, the sustainable packaging industry started slow due to various factors. Fortunately, the development of the industry has made some breakthroughs recently.Sustainable packaging industry: the new era
According to consumer trends, consumers are willing to pay more for green, but they will also buy more sustainably packaged products if there are more available and better-labeled products. Particularly with the presence of a Circular Economy. The sustainable packaging industry has met the new era. As a result, many programs and organizations jump up and spread the idea. Companies pay more attention to the environmental impacts of their businesses. Various brands introduce sustainable packaging to enhance their brand value. To find sustainable solutions, it is essential that we first design our packaging products for recycling. Designing with the end-user in mind and ensuring an available system or programs will be key factors when determining if a specific product can actually benefit from these features. Here, we are going to talk about the sustainable packaging industry today.Why we need sustainable packaging NOW?
Less environmental impact by the sustainable packaging industry
The issue of plastic pollution has been a long-standing controversy. Recently, it seems that we’re finally starting to make some progress on this global problem thanks in part to awareness generated by media attention and concern for our oceans’ health. The abandoned waste is still present at landfills around the world with nearly five billion tons produced annually–and these statistics don’t include all types or sizes of items discarded in them! Also, plastic packaging cast a great impact on climate change. A report by CIEL (the Center for International Environmental Law) has shared the data.By 2050, the cumulation of these greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach over 56 gigatons—10–13 percent of the entire remaining carbon budget. For plastic packaging, which represents 40 percent of plastic demand, global emissions from incineration of this particular type of plastic waste totaled 16 million metric tons of CO2e in 2015. (source: https://www.ciel.org/project-update/plastic-climate-the-hidden-costs-of-a-plastic-planet/)Moreover, CIEL said the number does not include 32% of plastic packaging waste. Because the waste remains too difficult to calculate after disposal. However, it is not easy to completely destroy existing plastic packaging. Because it costs even more than starting a new production. And improper ways to dispose of plastics also lead to huge environmental impacts. Therefore, it’s more crucial than ever to develop a sustainable packaging industry. The environmental impact of plastic packaging has drawn the attention of a number of governments worldwide. A few regions even publish policies to support sustainable industries like this one.
Government policies support the sustainable packaging industry
In the UK, for example,Unite to achieve the goal of 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging in the UK by 2025. (source:UK Plastics Convention)This aims to propel the sustainable packaging industry in the UK. Sustainability has become more urgent than ever in the UK today. Especially under the national spreading recycling crisis currently. And the UK Packaging Convention will deliver the 100% target. The UK Packaging Convention is a long-standing organization that has been vital to the reduction of environmental impacts from consumer packaging in Great Britain since 1993. As an industry leader, PrimePac strives for sustainable solutions and best efforts when it comes to its business operations. On the other hand, the BBC reported that the UK government implemented new controls on single-use plastic products in April 2020. Also, a plastic packaging tax came into effect in the country in April 2022.
Raise brand value by sustainable packaging
More and more consumers tend to buy from companies with sustainable packaging. A study by Unilever revealed that 21% of consumers choose brands with sustainability marks on their packaging.The study asked 20,000 adults from five countries. This represents a potential untapped opportunity of €966 billion out of a €2.5 trillion total market for sustainable goods. (source: https://www.unilever.com/news/Press-releases/2017/report-shows-a-third-of-consumers-prefer-sustainable-brands.html)The environment is a major concern for many people, and environmentally friendly companies have seen an increase in profits due to their efforts. The result of this global survey released by Tandberg shows that 53% prefer buying from these brands over others with less polluted environments because they care about what goes into our bodies as well! Seek help from a UK company in the sustainable packaging industry.
What makes sustainable packaging?
The definition of sustainable packaging
Sustainable packaging is the development and use of packaging which results in improved sustainability. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_packaging)In other words, it means packaging with zero/less impact on the environment. Typically, recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging.