Consumer concerns around sustainability and protecting the environment have been increasing, leading to closer scrutiny of companies&#; actions in those areas.
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Nearly half (44%) of consumers said their interest in shopping sustainably has risen since the start of the pandemic, according to the Consumer Sustainability Survey from Blue Yonder.
Much of the focus on sustainable business practices has revolved around packaging &#; 55% of consumers in a McKinsey survey reported that they were extremely or very concerned about the environmental impact of product packaging. Consumers were also concerned about packaging as it relates to food waste, citing an interest in attributes such as hygiene and safety, shelf life, and durability.
Questions for your packaging supplier
Amid the growing consumer interest in eco-friendly business practices, food companies need to ensure that they are following through on their claims when it comes to sustainable packaging. Any misrepresentation of your sustainable business activities could be perceived as &#;greenwashing&#; and put your brand in a negative light.
In addition, the Federal Trade Commission oversees marketing claims around sustainability, and offers resources for companies on this topic in its Green Guides.
Sustainability is a complicated subject matter, however, especially when it comes to packaging. Materials that appear to be compostable, for example, might actually be compostable only in certain facilities, and the same goes for recyclables. It&#;s important to discuss these matters with your packaging supplier to ensure that, first, you are minimizing your environmental impact, and second, you are communicating honestly with your customers.
Following are some questions to ask your packaging supplier, and why they are important:
&#; Is the packaging compostable or recyclable, and if so, how does the end user dispose of it?
Whether or not any piece of packaging can be accepted for composting or recycling often has as much to do with the facility where it is being taken as it does with the materials from which it is made, said Viktoria Pakhnyuk, Ph.D., engineering project manager at Kwik Lok, the maker of packaging closure systems, labels, and machinery.
Materials that are certified as compostable are lab-tested to ensure that they do actually break down according to specific parameters. However, composting facilities may not accept all types of organics including food waste, fiber packaging, and compostable plastics, in addition to yard waste. It is up to the consumer to learn what types of compostable packaging the facilities in their area accept. GreenBlue.org offers a guide to composting facilities in the U.S.
Compostable items may be certified by standards as either &#;home compostable,&#; which is meant to simulate a backyard compost pile, or &#;industrially compostable,&#; which requires elevated temperatures to adequately degrade materials.
The certifications for home compostable materials include:
&#; EN in Europe
&#; AS in Australia
&#; None in the U.S.
The certifications for industrially compostable materials include:
&#; EN variant in Europe
&#; AS in Australia
&#; ASTM in the U.S.
In addition, the term &#;biodegradable&#; is being phased out, Pakhnyuk said.
&#;Anything is biodegradable if you give it enough time,&#; she said.
When it comes to recycling, she suggested that companies look to the Association of Plastic Recyclers for more information. Plastics are not recycled equally &#; the type of polymer used, as well as the container shape and size, is important to consider for its likelihood of being recycled.
Because of the variations among recycling systems and their management, clear labeling such as that described in the How2Recycle guide is key to helping standardize and communicate proper disposal to consumers, Pakhnyuk said.
Using packaging that is made from recycled materials is another option for companies seeking to make sustainability claims. That can be more complicated, however, Pakhnyuk said, citing the need for certification during several steps of the process by which the packaging is manufactured. The Recycled Materials Standard offers this guide to five global recycled materials standards.
In addition, some recycled materials may be FDA-approved food grade, while others are not.
Definitions and parameters around composting and recycling also vary by region around the world, said Ron Cardey, senior VP of customer engagement at Kwik Lok.
&#;Companies need to sit down with their suppliers and have a conversation about their objectives, and the prevailing regulations in the part of the world they are in,&#; he said. &#;That's very important because what's happening in Europe is different than what's happening in the United States today.&#;
&#; How can the true impact of a product be considered?
Food companies need to take a holistic look at the process by which their packaging is made, including the environmental impact of each of the raw materials that go into the manufacture of the packaging, said Cardey.
He suggested discussing the entire packaging supply chain, beginning with whether or not the raw materials are sourced from renewable resources. Organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council provide certifications for the responsible sourcing of wood-based materials, for example. The USDA also certifies bio-based products with the BioPreferred Program.
In addition, the packaging-manufacturing process itself needs to be considered in light of the water and energy needed to produce the final product.
&#; How do you ensure that your suppliers are producing materials ethically and sustainably?
Cardey said Kwik Lok has seen increased interest from its customers around how it ensures that its suppliers are sourcing their materials and producing their products in an ethical manner.
&#;We have a supplier code of conduct that every supplier we have has to sign on to,&#; he said. &#;It's around ethics and fair labor practices and ethical sourcing. We do audits, and depending on the product, we may ask our supplier to get FSC certified.&#;
Conducting a lifecycle analysis (LCA) of product sustainability is becoming more common, he said, and companies should consider asking their packaging suppliers if they have done this end-to-end evaluation of their products&#; environmental impact. An LCA gives a fuller understanding of the tradeoffs between different choices by quantifying effects rather than being driven by perceptions.
&#; How durable is this packaging?
Food manufacturers should also determine if switching to sustainable packaging impacts its durability.
&#;It&#;s a very valid question because compostable materials are meant to break down,&#; said Pakhnyuk. &#;They are not meant to be durable.&#;
Manufacturers need to consider the expected life of the product, and thus how long they need the packaging to function. The goal, she said, should be to minimize the impact on the end consumer in terms of providing the level of quality and functionality they expect.
&#; Is this product compatible with my current operations? If not, what changes will I need to make? Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom Sustainable Biodegradable Bags. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Manufacturers need to ensure that the specifications of the packaging they choose meet the demands of their processes. Packaging that slows the manufacturing process or generates excess waste might negate the beneficial impact that sustainable packaging would otherwise provide.
Kwik Lok, for example, offers multiple packaging options for different manufacturers to ensure that their processes are optimized.
&#; Do you have the expertise that is required for today&#;s demands around sustainability?
Packaging suppliers should have a high level of knowledge when it comes to the nuances around sustainability issues and the environment. They should also be aware of regional regulatory variations around recycling and composting.
As a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and the global Plastics Pact Network, Look for suppliers such as Kwik Lok that are involved in the leadership of industry networks and that have strong credentials when it comes to using packaging materials responsibly.
&#;Being sustainable is very much a large team effort,&#; said Pakhnyuk. &#;It can't just be a manufacturer. It can't just be a producer. It has to be the entire stream. It's very collaborative.&#;
&#;You can&#;t stand alone, and we want our customers to feel like they have people they can lean on,&#; said Pakhnyuk.
In addition to its sustainability expertise, Kwik Lok also supplies products companies can use to help them minimize their environmental impact, such as Eco-Lok bag closures. Made from NuPlastiQ®, a plant-based resin that requires less fossil fuel to manufacture and is completely interchangeable with Kwik Lok&#;s previous closures.
For more information about how to ensure that your packaging meets your sustainability goals, and those of your customers, visit Kwik Lok today.
We know the search for the packaging to ship your online orders can be daunting. EcoEnclose offers dozens of different packaging solutions, each in many sizes. If you're not sure what kind of packaging is best for your products, it can be difficult to know where to start.
This blog post is for any individual or business that is just starting on the packaging journey or is taking time at the beginning of to redesign packaging to better meet brand, sustainability, and/or budget goals.
The following graphic visualizes the 10 different steps for businesses to consider.
Below the graphic, find some basic guidance on how to execute each decision point, and links to more detailed resources.
Decision 1: Choose between a box or a mailer
A mailer wins on almost every operational, cost and sustainability dimension - so if you can effectively use one for your products, we typically recommend it over a box. However, a shipping box typically offers a higher-end customer experience, a differential that can tip the balance in favor of boxes for some brands.
Read more: Choosing Between a Shipping Box and a Mailer.
Decision 2: If you're going with a box, choose your box style
Presentation style boxes (tab locking or literature mailer) deliver a premium, engaging experience. "Glued" boxes like RSCs are a bit more standard and are great for a variety of shipments. The OPF (one-panel fold) box is excellent for flat, thin shipments.
Read more: What Type of Shipping Box Should I Use?
Decision 3: Once you've chosen your box style, decide on your fluting
Tab Locking and Literature Mailers - for small to mid-sized boxes, opt for E flute where possible. This fluting leads to tight, sleek boxes that are sure to wow your customers. B flute is great if you are concerned at all about crushing or are using larger boxes.
RSC and FPF boxes - choose C flute! 32C works for most shipments, but if you are shipping over 30 lbs, go with 44C.
OPF - B flute works for most shipments, but heavier shipments or ones that need to avoid any crushing should use C flute.
Read more: What Are Flutes and What Corrugated Material Should I Use?
Decision 4: Determine if you need protective packaging and what type is best
Protective packaging serves different purposes:
Individual product protection (wrapping each product to protect them from breaking) - GreenWrap, Flexi-Hex, Corrugated Bubble, and Packaging Paper
Void fill (filing air in boxes to protect items from movement) - Packaging Paper and Corrugated Bubble
Cushioning and Edge Protection - Ornament Shred, Corrugated Pads, Corrugated Bubble and Packaging Paper
Scuff and Dust Protection, Decoration - Tissue Paper, Ornament Shred
Read more: Eco-Friendly Protective Packaging Options, Definitive Guide to Protective Packaging and Void Fill
Decision 5: Choose your packaging tape
Pressure- sensitive tape adheres to your boxes with pressure, while water-activated tape is wetted to bond to your boxes. Where possible, we recommend the water-activated tape as it is more effectively cost-efficient, eco-friendly. However, WAT generally requires the upfront investment in a manual or electric dispenser.
Read more: Find the Most Eco-Friendly Packaging Tape
Decision 6: If you're going with a mailer, choose your mailer type
For apparel and soft goods, choose between poly mailers, apparel mailers, Kraft mailers, and EcoX mailers. An important question many customers face in choosing between these four options is to decide between 100% ecycled plastic or 100% recycled paper mailers.
For accessories, essential oils, and similarly sized items, choose padded or bubble mailers.
For prints and other art pieces, choose rigid mailers.
Read more: Paper vs Poly Mailers: Which Is Better For The Planet?, Review of Recycled Mailers, Choosing Between Paper Mailers, Compostable versus Recyclable Mailers, Guide to Cushioned Mailers
Decision 7: Determine if you need inner packaging and what kind is best
Inner packaging is important for companies that need to ship their products to third-party fulfillment partners. Some companies that fulfill their orders also find inner packaging critical to separate and protect their goods in storage, until those items ship. Options include 100% Recycled Poly Bags (full coverage, weather proof protection made with thin-film), glassine bags (full coverage, paper-based bag), and EcoBands (partial coverage, paper roll wrap).
Read more: Review of Eco-Friendly Inner Packaging Options
Decision 8: Right-size your packaging
Measure the length, width, and height of an imaginary boundary around your product(s).
For boxes, add 0.125" to 0.25" to each dimension and build your box to those dimensions. For mailers, expand the dimensions to ensure your chosen mailer is at least a bit larger than these dimensions, recognizing that if your product is thick, your mailer needs to be large enough to expand to accommodate that height.
Read more: How to Right-Size Your Packaging
Decision 9: Decide whether or not to custom brand your packaging
A whopping 83% of consumers would share an image of a delivery via social media if it arrived in unique, branded packaging. Custom branding your packaging is a great way to showcase your brand, build customer loyalty, inform your customers about your sustainable packaging choices and so much more. But we know the cost and minimums aren't for everyone. If the minimums (100 for boxes, 500 for mailers) and additional setup and unit cost of the custom packaging works for your brand, we encourage you to pursue branded packaging.
Read more: Guide to Custom Branded Packaging
Decision 10: Ensure your packaging strategy is eco-friendly and aligns with your sustainability goals
No matter what packaging you chose across the above steps, you can ensure your final choices are eco-friendly and support a more circular future. Look for recycled content (with maximum and verified levels of post-consumer waste), recyclable, reusable when it makes ecological sense, ethical and transparent supply chains, and eco-friendly inks. Avoid compostable bioplastic packaging and companies that use vague sustainability terms to describe their options.
Read more: Our Sustainable Packaging Framework and Vision, Our Glossary of Sustainability Terms, Our Bill of Materials
Even if you've followed these steps to a "T", you likely still have a few different options you are considering. Maybe you're debating between two types of mailers, or a few different sizes/dimensions, or trying to determine which packaging paper weight is best for you.
That's why we offer free samples, so you can feel and test our packaging before you place your order.
For more Custom Renewable Biodegradable Bagsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.