How to Boost Plastic Packaging Sustainability
As consumers’ environmental consciousness rises, sustainable plastic packaging has become a top priority for many manufacturers and brand owners. Yet addressing sustainability requirements while meeting high output demands and performance needs can prove challenging. Follow these simple tips to improve plastic packaging sustainability:
Reduce Plastic Packaging Material Use
One way to improve plastic packaging sustainability is to decrease the amount of material used when manufacturing. For example, consider the amount of film needed to ensure a proper package seal in certain applications. Reducing its width or thickness can prove effective in using less material.
Another aspect to consider is a minimalist package design, which focuses on simplicity. These types of packages are seeing increased popularity among millennials especially.
By reducing material use, you’ll be able to:
- Decrease waste production
- Use less energy to manufacture
- Require less fuel to transport packages
Increase Use of Recycled Plastic Content
In addition to increasing consumer awareness about recycling plastic, it’s a good idea to use recycled plastic materials in your plastic packaging. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) offers a sustainable plastic packaging solution. Stable, inert and energy efficient, it can be repeatedly reused and recycled into various food, beverage and personal care products.
For more information on how PET can help your packaging meet sustainability needs, visit petresin.org.
Eliminate Single-Use Packaging When Possible
The volume of single-use plastic packaging waste is a high concern for many consumers. To address this, consider reusable plastic packaging when application. In addition to reducing environmental impact, reusable plastic packaging can:
- Improve efficiencies throughout supply chain
- Increase product protection
- Reduce overall costs
In turn, you’re able to decrease carbon emissions, waste and natural resource consumption, increasing plastic packaging sustainability.
Implement Bio-Based Plastics
Bio-based materials are another way to improve your plastic, sustainable packaging. Slated to reach $3900 million by 2023, they are made from whole or partially from renewable biological resources, such as sugar cane. While they function like traditional plastics, these bio-based packaging materials are able to either degrade in open air or at an industrial composting facility.
Use Sustainable Adhesives
Often, adhesives and other items, such as inks or coatings, get overlooked when considering sustainable packaging. This is because they represent a small portion of the overall packaging material. However, they play a significant role in determining a packaging’s ability to be recycled, reused or composted.
Ensure you use a sustainable packaging adhesive designed for a recyclable, reusable or compostable package’s end of life.
--
Check out this helpful content to for more sustainable packaging tips and insight: