An Entrepreneur's Guide to Eco-Friendly Packaging

Posted 2 years ago by Phil Akhzar

It桂is桂no桂secret that our planet deals with global problems like air pollution, climate change, water contamination, 껸꾈삣桂literal . Now, that�셲 the桂bad news.

The good news is桂that as桂more people become aware of桂environmental issues, perspectives 껸꾈삣桂habits change in桂the桂right direction. Best of桂all, many businesses have started to桂change their business strategy to桂make their businesses more sustainable.

One of桂the桂best (and easiest) ways to桂become a桂greener business is桂to桂switch to桂eco-friendly packaging. Not only do桂you have the桂opportunity to桂reduce your business�셲 impact on桂the桂planet, but you will also enjoy the桂other benefits that will improve your business. In桂fact, people are willing to桂. Eco-friendly packages can also significantly improve your brand awareness.

In桂this article, we桂will explain the桂benefits of桂eco-friendly packaging 껸꾈삣桂provide you with some tips on桂how to桂make the桂switch. Let�셲 go!

The Problems with Regular Packaging

Conventional packaging that most businesses use is桂usually made of桂petroleum-based materials. Petroleum-based packaging, like plastic, releases different kinds of桂toxins into the桂atmosphere 껸꾈삣桂water, especially if桂it桂is桂heated up.

Unfortunately, , like Styrofoam, is桂common in桂many parts of桂the桂world 껸꾈삣桂releases toxins into the桂atmosphere 껸꾈삣桂groundwater. Even the桂ash from burned plastic contaminates water systems 껸꾈삣桂soils.

As桂you can probably guess, plastic waste impacts our society 껸꾈삣桂environment in桂many ways. Air 껸꾈삣桂water pollution are well-known problems. Unfortunately, , partly because of桂. We桂can all agree that this is桂unacceptable.

Share of桂the桂population with access to桂drinking water facilities

Using plastic packaging is桂optional. If桂you switch to桂eco-friendly packaging, you are helping protect water 껸꾈삣桂air quality for桂humans, other species, 껸꾈삣桂future generations. We桂all need to桂be桂a桂part of桂finding solutions to桂climate 낌농껸꾈껨깎�봲령쓩넨낌농쓩꾈껨 to桂clean packaging is桂one step in桂the桂right direction.

Benefits of桂Eco-Friendly Packaging

Obviously, there are a桂lot of桂downsides to桂petroleum-based packaging. Eco-friendly packaging isn�셳 just great because it�셲 not 김깜껸끅넨쓩낌�봳농깎곶깎 are many other benefits! But first, what even is桂eco-friendly packaging?

Well, any桂package made of桂easily recyclable, toxin-free, 껸꾈삣桂allergen-free materials is桂considered eco-friendly. In桂other words, packaging that has a桂minimal negative impact on桂natural resources, communities, 껸꾈삣桂other species.

When you make the桂switch to桂eco-friendly packaging, you can have a桂sense of桂pride that you are doing your part to桂mediate climate change 껸꾈삣桂reduce pollution. However, there are many reasons to桂switch to桂eco-friendly packaging. Here are some advantages:

Sustainable Packaging Is桂Biodegradable

Did you know that a桂single plastic cup needs ? During that period, it桂releases toxins into the桂atmosphere 껸꾈삣桂groundwater. Plus, plastic will just break down into , which still cause significant environmental damage. Plastic packaging�셲 advantage is桂that it桂lasts forever. Unfortunately, that pro creates a桂lot of桂cons for桂our planet.

Sustainable packages can biodegrade a桂lot quicker than plastic. They are made of桂natural materials like bamboo, bio-plastic polymers, cardboard, recycled paper, 껸꾈삣桂낼늡곶깎�봢국깎꾈 ! They do桂not have a桂long lifecycle 껸꾈삣桂(mostly) do桂not release harmful chemicals 껸꾈삣桂toxins into the桂atmosphere.

Mushroom packaging for桂Mr桂Bailey x桂adidas Originals OZLUCENT sneakers

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

A桂carbon footprint is桂the桂amount of桂greenhouse gasses, like methane 껸꾈삣桂carbon dioxide, released by桂individuals and/or businesses. Companies that use packages made of桂recycled or桂recyclable materials such as桂paper, steel, or桂cardboard have a桂relatively low carbon footprint.

Biodegradable materials generally are not harmful to桂the桂planet 껸꾈삣桂produce less or桂no桂greenhouse gasses. If桂you want your ecommerce company to桂be桂carbon-neutral, eco-friendly packaging will help you reach that goal!

Sustainable Packages are Easily Recycled 껸꾈삣桂Reused

Eco-friendly materials are easily reused, repurposed, 껸꾈삣桂recycled. Businesses can even reuse waste from general business routines, like using excess paper to桂protect fragile items instead of桂bubble wrap. Businesses can also set up桂a桂return process so桂that customers can return packaging to桂use again.

Another way to桂make your business greener is桂to桂direct your customers to桂reuse or桂recycle the桂packages you send. You can teach them how to桂recycle or桂reuse packaging after they receive their product, like using packages for桂storage.

Kiehl�셲 offers customers to桂recycle empty product packages in桂their stores to桂earn points in桂their reward program

Appropriate Protection of桂the桂Products

Thanks to桂advanced technology 껸꾈삣桂creative people, entrepreneurs can now order larger quantities of桂customized sustainable packages. Business owners can literally customize everything about their packaging with the桂right manufacturer. You will get completely unique 껸꾈삣桂properly sized custom inserts, mailer boxes, poly mailers, shipping boxes, carton boxes, etc.

All these forms of桂packaging can be桂made of桂eco-friendly materials 껸꾈삣桂ensure adequate protection. Manufacturers can develop different shapes 껸꾈삣桂sizes for桂each product. With custom packaging, you shouldn�셳 receive returns due to桂damage during transportation. Customizing packages helps you properly pack 껸꾈삣桂ship your products while reducing your impact on桂the桂planet.

Damaged product is桂the桂main reason for桂returning online purchases, according to桂online shoppers worldwide (Source: )

Improvement of桂Reputation 껸꾈삣桂Brand Awareness

Did you know that if桂they use high-quality packaging 껸꾈삣桂materials? Shoppers will support businesses like yours that produce products 껸꾈삣桂use packaging that is桂safe for桂people, the桂community, 껸꾈삣桂the桂planet.

Being eco-friendly can turn customers into repeat buyers loyal to桂your brand. They will then recommend your business to桂others, increasing attention 껸꾈삣桂profit. Eco-conscious practices will improve your reputation 껸꾈삣桂boost the桂sentimental value of桂your business.

Also, custom sustainable packaging will help you stand out from your competitors. With amazing designs 껸꾈삣桂a桂mission focused on桂sustainability, you can ensure a桂wonderful unboxing experience 껸꾈삣桂make your customers remember you. Plus, they will often publish their unforgettable experience on桂social media 껸꾈삣桂share the桂emotions they experienced while opening your product with the桂rest of桂the桂world.

Believe it桂or桂not, every month. In桂fact, some unboxing videos can get over . Unboxing content becomes viral quickly. If桂your logo is桂on桂the桂box, which it桂certainly should be, you will get free marketing 껸꾈삣桂attract new customers.

There are all kinds of桂unboxing videos on桂YouTube

How Do桂Entrepreneurs Switch from Regular to桂Eco-Friendly Packaging?

Becoming a桂sustainable business is桂responsible�� But it桂can be桂demanding. Making an桂environmentally-conscientious change, like switching to桂eco-friendly packaging, isn�셳 that easy. However, with a桂dose of桂motivation, it桂doesn�셳 have to桂be桂that hard. Let�셲 find out how to桂take the桂first step: switching to桂eco-friendly packaging.

Invest Time 껸꾈삣桂Money in桂Education

Before making the桂switch, we桂recommend investing time (and sometimes money) to桂educate yourself about sustainable packaging. There�셲 a桂lot of桂peer pressure to桂switch to桂environmentally-conscientious practices. However, entrepreneurs need to桂figure out on桂their own why they should make the桂change. Only then can they establish long-term goals based on桂sustainability.

With some research, you will discover which eco-friendly materials are the桂best for桂your business needs, why they are beneficial, how much they will cost, 껸꾈삣桂any桂other information you need to桂make the桂switch.

Collaborate with Packaging Manufacturers

Connecting with can pave the桂way to桂switching to桂eco-friendly packages. A桂partnership with a桂sustainable packaging manufacturer will allow you to桂order large quantities of桂custom packages at桂once. Some even have the桂capacity to桂customize packaging to桂fit your products, including custom designs for桂your store.

Entrepreneurs should first order packaging samples to桂confirm quality 껸꾈삣桂relevance to桂their business needs. Most places will send reduced or桂free samples to桂help you figure out if桂the桂packaging is桂good for桂your business. Once you find the桂best 껸꾈삣桂most affordable packaging, you can start the桂process of桂switching over.

Order custom packaging that fits your product to桂minimize waste

What to桂Do桂If桂I桂Can�셳 Switch to桂Sustainable Packages Completely?

Making changes in桂the桂business world always comes with risk. There could be桂multiple reasons why companies can�셳 completely switch to桂eco-friendly packages. Some business owners might find such changes overwhelming, while others believe eco-friendly packages are not the桂right option for桂them. We桂would like to桂help entrepreneurs 껸꾈삣桂give them an桂idea of桂how the桂transformative process should start.

Start with Small Steps

We桂understand that some entrepreneurs are not in桂a桂position to桂switch to桂eco-friendly packages right away. No桂one says you need to桂do桂everything at桂once. Start with small steps. For example, you can start using eco-friendly materials to桂create custom inserts. Even something small will reduce the桂environmental impact of桂your packaging. Over time, you can slowly switch completely to桂sustainable packaging.

Educate Your Customers

Also, you can take the桂opportunity to桂help educate your customers about environmental issues. Invite your customers to桂recycle or桂reuse packaging instead of桂throwing it桂in桂the桂garbage. Strongly recommend using your boxes for桂other purposes, like for桂storage or桂as桂a桂toy. That way, you can indirectly reduce the桂negative impact of桂packaging.

Half Magic Beauty educates their customers on桂recycling their product packaging in桂a桂social media post

Educate Your Employees

involved in桂the桂packaging process helps implement more sustainable practices. You need to桂teach them the桂best way to桂pack the桂products 껸꾈삣桂handle any桂waste produced during the桂process. Reducing plastic waste is桂key to桂improving our environment.

Customize Your Eco-Friendly Packages

Entrepreneurs can also change the桂design 껸꾈삣桂quantity of桂their packages to桂reduce their environmental impact. For instance, if桂you sell small items, you don�셳 need gigantic boxes 껸꾈삣桂an桂overabundance of桂packing peanuts to桂get your products to桂your customers. Instead, you can customize your packaging 껸꾈삣桂ensure its design fits your product.

You also save money by桂customizing packaging because smaller packages will certainly cost you less than using consistently large boxes.

If桂you run an桂붚죕쳔 store, check out the桂Arka app in桂the桂붚죕쳔 App Market. Arka provides branded 껸꾈삣桂unbranded packaging for桂ecommerce businesses made from eco-friendly materials. You can start using custom packaging with as桂little as桂ten boxes to桂see if桂Arka is桂the桂right fit for桂꿎늡넵�봞꾈삣 your products.

Examples of桂eco-friendly packaging by桂Arka

Focus on桂Eco-Friendly Shipping

Of桂your whole production process, focusing on桂eco-friendly shipping practices will do桂wonders for桂the桂environment. Unfortunately, there are not many options for桂eco-friendly shipping.

One way to桂improve your shipping process is桂to桂ship orders out in桂bundles (especially easy with smaller packages). That means when a桂customer purchases multiple products from you, you send all their items in桂one package. For example, a桂shopper buys two or桂three different products a桂month, 껸꾈삣桂you send all their items as桂one order at桂the桂end of桂the桂month.

However, are people willing to桂wait longer to桂get their orders? As桂we桂said, education is桂key. For example, you could make videos explaining what bundle shipping is桂껸꾈삣桂why their patience helps the桂planet. Knowledge is桂everything!

Cost of桂Eco-Friendly Packages

Most of桂you are probably wondering whether eco-friendly packaging is桂more expensive than conventional packaging. The answer to桂that question might be桂끅넵곶김곶쓩끅쓩꾈껨�짙늡! In桂the桂long run, you will actually save money by桂switching.

If桂you collaborate with a桂 that uses only sustainable materials, you can order packages in桂bulk. That will automatically reduce the桂price of桂your order. On桂the桂other hand, if桂you plan to桂reuse packages (which is桂an桂available option), you won�셳 have to桂spend anything on桂new ones.

Plus, if桂the桂package�셲 customized shape is桂accurate 껸꾈삣桂small, you will have more space to桂store orders, whether in桂your house or桂a桂warehouse. You won�셳 need more space to桂store orders or桂unused packaging, reducing rent 껸꾈삣桂shipping costs.

Unfortunately, it�셲 hard to桂say how much money you will have to桂spend on桂each package. It桂depends on桂the桂size 껸꾈삣桂weight of桂your order, design requirements, packaging material, 껸꾈삣桂quantity. But often, you can actually save money by桂switching away from plastic.

For example, you may spend around $138桂for桂100桂units of桂compostable size 7桂x桂11桂bubble mailers. On桂the桂other hand, plastic 8桂x桂11桂(almost the桂same size) bubble bags will cost you per 100桂units. The difference is桂significant!

Compostable bubble mailer by桂Arka

Wrap Up

Without a桂doubt, switching to桂eco-friendly packages is桂highly beneficial. Sustainable packaging is桂good for桂the桂planet, reduces costs, 껸꾈삣桂improves your brand identity. In桂case you currently can�셳 switch to桂sustainable materials completely, we桂advise you to桂use some of桂the桂alternatives mentioned in桂this article. We桂all need to桂do桂our part in桂securing a桂future without pollution. Let�셲 build a桂cleaner planet together!

桂

About The Author

Phil Akhzar is the founder and CEO of Arka. It provides custom branded and unbranded eco-friendly packaging for ecommerce businesses.

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