6 Questions to Drive Conversations Around Sustainable Packaging Design (part 1 of 2)

News

2021/01/15 6 Questions to Drive Conversations Around Sustainable Packaging Design (part 1 of 2)

6 Questions to Drive Conversations Around Sustainable Packaging Design

source from: 6 Questions to Drive Conversations Around Sustainable Packaging Design | 2021-01-08 | Flexible Packaging (flexpackmag.com)

Sustainable packaging design must be handled on a case by case basis. From paper to plastic to foil, at the outset of every project, it’s critically important to take enough time to answer the right questions as they will help lay the groundwork for an effective design process. For example, here are a few to tackle right off the bat:

Are there any preferred or unacceptable materials that need to be taken into consideration?
What sustainability goals are you looking to hit related to corporate sustainability initiatives?
Is the package intended (or have the opportunity) to be reused for alternative purposes?

As your brand establishes sustainability initiatives, does packaging design have an opportunity to play a larger role? To answer that question confidently, you’ll need to go to the source. The next time you connect with your packaging supplier, I encourage you to keep this list of questions within reach.

Can we use less?

It’s a big, broad question. It’s also a solid conversation starter for those brands in pursuit of more sustainable packaging design. Remember that using less doesn’t have to mean you’re compromising a package’s integrity or the end user’s experience. For example, as Amazon places an emphasis on its ship-in-own-container (SIOC) initiative, the e-commerce giant’s packaging design principles remain realistic:

Design to reduce waste
Use 100% recyclable materials
Provide protection against damage
Be easy to open

Can we improve the perception of sustainability by incorporating other materials?

Whether online or on the shelf, your package plays a leading role in the perception of sustainability. If you were to put plastic packaging up against a brown kraft paperboard container, to the common consumer eye, the kraft paperboard will generally be perceived as being more environmentally friendly.

If perception is an issue for your products, incorporating a new material into the overall packaging design may help as long as that mix of materials can continue together in the recycling stream.

Can we mix materials to create a smaller packaging footprint?

It might sound counterintuitive, but mixing materials can sometimes help decrease the total weight of a package. Again, the recycling stream has limitations as to what you can do and what materials you can combine.

When we consider a mix of materials, we’re also making sure that mix isn’t going to create a sustainability problem down the road after the package is used — e.g., gluing plastic or foam to a piece of paper and then suddenly it can't be recycled because there's no way to separate the two in the recycling stream.

Fast Link

TOP