Environmental issue has become an endless problem nowadays. Air and water pollution, climate change, deforestation, global warming, and so on. Ironically, most of it is caused by plastic. We cannot resist the fact that we cannot live without plastic on a daily basis. We use it to carry things, pack the goods, although knowing the fact that it is not good for the environment.
We all agree that reusing and recycling will at least reduce our waste on the environment. As sustainability becomes a new trend lately in many industries such as fashion, furniture, decoration, home furnishing, and many more, many businesses are now developing new ways of planning and manufacturing their products, striving to lessen their carbon and environmental footprint, while simultaneously saving on costs.
Packaging materials and accessories become the biggest dilemma for businesses. Plastic wrap and Styrofoam are the most common packaging material used by the manufacturers to keep the products safe, however, on the other hand, these two materials are very harsh for the environment. According to WWF (World Wide Foundation), the plastic bag needs at least 20 years to be degraded.
What businesses should do?
According to a new study conducted by IBM and the National Retail Federation polled about 19,000 customers from 28 countries, ranging from Gen Z to baby boomers (ages 18-73), nearly 70% of consumers in the U.S. and Canada think it is important that a brand is sustainable or eco-friendly. Globally, more than a third (40%) of respondents are purpose-driven consumers who select brands based on how well they align with their personal beliefs. Consumers are increasingly choosing products that are eco-friendly, transparent, and in line with their values.
The concept of “cradle-to-cradle” — the commitment to take responsibility for a product’s impact from the very beginning to its ultimate disposal — is also becoming increasingly popular.
This concept needs to take into account the shipping of a product from the producer, through the retailer, and onto the consumer—a process that often involves significant quantities of expensive packaging materials. This has led to a wave of innovative new eco-friendly alternatives to traditional packaging materials. From recyclable plastics to biodegradable containers, there is seemingly no end to the options available to the environmentally-conscious business.
If your business is considering upgrading the packaging, this can be a good reference:
- Paper-based cartons
- Biodegradable packaging peanuts
- Plastic films made from renewable, compostable materials
- Recycled cardboard and paper
- Eco-friendly plastic and recycled plastics
Many studies stated that consumers are willing to pay more for an eco-friendly product. This can be a plus value for your business by conducting an eco-friendly process of manufacturing and packaging.
To conduct a pre-shipment inspection can be a solution for you to ensure not only the quality of your product but also the packaging appearance and specifications (printing, marking labels, dimensions, weight, thickness, etc.).