Food packaging in its current form serves many essential functions, from protecting and preserving products to providing information and promoting brand awareness. But the way we package our products can have a significant environmental impact, which is a growing concern among consumers. Unsustainable packaging practices can lead to a wide range of negative impacts, from pollution and resource depletion to human health and social issues. With this, it’s clear why sustainable packaging is becoming increasingly critical in today’s world.
What is Sustainable Packaging?
Sustainable packaging alludes to the use of materials, manufacturing, and transportation methods that reduce the negative impact packaging use and production can have on the environment. It aims to balance the need for product protection, marketing, and convenience with the need to reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect human health. Sustainable packaging can take many forms, from the use of biodegradable materials to reusable containers, from reduced packaging to innovative designs that reduce the overall environmental impact.
The Importance of Sustainable Packaging
There are many reasons why making packaging more sustainable is becoming increasingly important in today’s world. Here are some of the top reasons sustainable packaging should be on the minds of companies and consumers:
Reducing Waste
A very significant and obvious advantage of shifting to sustainable packaging is that it can reduce waste both from manufacturing and the consumer end. Retail packaging accounts for a significant portion of packaging waste generated worldwide, and much of it ends up in landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to break down. Sustainable packaging can reduce waste by using materials that are biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable, along with reducing the size, increasing transportability, and volume of packaging per shipment by using a flexible packaging solution, and designing products and packaging that require less material overall.
Conserving Resources
Another critical benefit of sustainable packaging is that it helps conserve resources. The production of packaging materials requires significant amounts of energy, water, and raw materials, and unsustainable practices can lead to resource depletion and environmental degradation. Sustainable packaging can reduce this impact by using materials that are renewable, recycled, or responsibly sourced, and by minimizing the use of energy and water in the production process.
Making The Shift to Sustainable Packaging
In current retail environments, most packaging does not have a focus on sustainability, leading to pollution, increased waste, and the depletion of natural resources, all of which have significant environmental impacts. Sustainable packaging can help reduce these impacts by utilizing materials and manufacturing practices that have a minimal impact on the environment. At Revere Flexpak, a couple of ways we do this are to reduce energy consumption and waste product during manufacturing by using equipment and machinery with the highest level of efficiency and by having a selection of materials that are either recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable for our customers.
Examples of Sustainable Packaging
There are many examples of different kinds of sustainable packaging, from biodegradable materials to reusable packaging. Here are some of the most common types of sustainable packaging:
Biodegradable Packaging
Biodegradable packaging is made from materials that can break down naturally over time, such as plant-based plastics, paper, and cardboard. These materials can be composted or recycled, reducing waste and environmental impacts.
Recyclable Packaging
Recyclable packaging is made from materials that can be reused or recycled, such as glass, metal, and some plastics. These materials can be processed and turned into new products, reducing the need for virgin materials and conserving resources.
Reusable Packaging
Reusable packaging is designed to be used multiple times, reducing waste and environmental impact. Examples include refillable containers, bulk packaging, and cloth bags.
Minimal Packaging
Minimal packaging is designed to reduce the overall volume of packaging, reduce waste, and conserve resources throughout manufacturing. Examples include bulk packaging, the use of lightweight materials, and innovative packaging designs that reduce the need for excess materials. This is increasingly seen in retail flexible packaging.
Revere Flexpak is ready to solve your sustainable packaging needs! Learn more about our efforts toward sustainability by visiting revereflexpak.com/sustainability.
