How important is sustainable packaging?
Sustainable Packaging
How important is this to today is consumers?
Looking at a recent report by Coleman Parkes Research, which was undertaken on behalf of the packaging industry body Pro Carton, it’s evident that there is still a growing demand for sustainable packaging. The survey asked more than 7000 shoppers, from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Turkey, what their views were on topics from on-pack recycling information to tax breaks for packaging manufactures directly related to the recycled content in their products.
The survey highlights how much consumers will consider the product packaging before buying and how this could influence their actual purchasing decisions. As a nation, we are calling out for more transparency in relation to the sustainability of product packaging and we are switching brands if the product packaging does not appear sufficiently environmentally friendly or recyclable.
What UK consumers want from their packaging
88% of UK’s consumers want on-pack information relating to packaging sustainability 9 out of 10 shoppers in the UK want all packaging to be classed as recyclable 8 out of 10 Britons think there should be a tax on packaging manufacturers who use less than 30% recycled content in their products. 68% of UK consumers say the environmental impact of a product’s packaging will affect their purchasing choice. This rises to 77% amongst German consumers and 81% for Spanish consumers 92% of Europeans would choose the plastic free option for a product when offered a choice between cardboard based or plastic-based packaging for the same item.
With these stats in mind, updating your product packaging has never been more important and without doubt this will have an impact on product purchases now and in the future.
We have seen many bold moves from larger corporations paving the way for more plastic free packaging. There are many cardboard packaging options already available, making it easy for all businesses, regardless of size to become invested.
In 2018 Sainsbury’s developed a sustainable and airtight cardboard container for some of their food packaging. This claimed to reduce plastic content by 85% compared with other widely used alternatives. It was created for meat and poultry distribution, the carton facilitates the removal of oxygen from inside the pack, thereby extending the product shelf life and maintaining food freshness. It does still contain a laminated film which is applied to the cardboard, but significantly reduces the amount of plastic material used. It can also go straight into the recycling after use.
How can you update your packaging?
There are many ways in which you can update your packaging, the most obvious and visible to the consumer is removing any plastic and opting for cardboard instead. With so many cardboard materials and strengths available today, cardboard packaging is more versatile than ever. Cardboard can be used to house almost any product and is used as a container for distribution as well as for primary retail packaging.
Complex and innovative designs can produce strong, long lasting packaging solutions that can hold their own in many different markets. Cardboard packaging can be minimal and raw in its appearance or, with the advancements of water-based inks and vegetable-based ink pigments, can be printed upon to produce a different look and feel, whilst keeping all of the recycling credentials intact.
Many general packaging consumables can also be swapped for a more environmentally sound product. Paper nuts in place of polystyrene packing peanuts, Kraft food trays in place of plastic takeaway packaging containers, Bio-plastics, cardboard food trays etc. . . the list is extensive.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your new recyclable packaging solution and receive a no obligation re-design and quotation.
