10 tips for sustainable packaging

Sustainable packaging is not only better for the environment, but also for selling your products. More and more consumers find it important that products are in sustainable packaging. Read our tips for sustainable packaging!

1. Prevent waste of your product

When it comes to sustainable packaging, many people immediately think of the material of the packaging. But sustainable packaging also means preventing waste. Waste, especially food, has a significant impact on the environment. So when designing the packaging for your product, always take into account the possible waste you want to prevent. A well-designed package does not leave too much residue from a product.

2. Make your packaging recyclable

Make sure your packaging is recyclable. Paper, cardboard and aluminium are 100% recyclable. Certain types of plastic can also be recycled. For example, PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) is easily recyclable. It is a lightweight material that is often used for plastic bottles. In addition, HDPE - high-density polyethylene - is a plastic that can be recycled easily. HDPE is a very strong, lightweight material that is often found in shampoo bottles and fruit juice bottles.

As much as possible, avoid materials that are difficult or impossible to recycle, such as styrofoam. And note: glass is 100% recyclable, but the production of glass does cause higher CO2 emissions. So this is not always the best solution for environmentally friendly packaging.

3. Opt for a sustainable label

Sustainable labels help you choose environmentally friendly material for your packaging.

This is how it gives FSC label you can be sure that the raw material for paper and paper products, such as a cardboard box, comes from responsibly managed forests worldwide.

PEFC guarantees that wood and paper products such as cardboard come from a sustainably managed forest and that the forest is maintained.

For paper and cardboard with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel at least 70% of the fibers used come from sustainable forestry and/or recycling.

4. Go for monomaterials

Monomaterials mean that only one material is used to package your products. Packaging that consists of a single recyclable material is more sustainable because it is much easier to recycle than packaging made of different materials.

For example, a bottle made entirely of PET can be disposed of with plastic waste. But certain plastic packaging cannot reach the plastic because they are made of multiple types of plastic.

5. Use recycled material

If you want to make your packaging more sustainable, using recycled material is a smart one move. More recycled material in packaging contributes to less use of new raw materials. And high-quality packaging can certainly be made with recycled material. By the way, when it comes to recycled packaging materials, think not only of recycled cardboard or paper, but also of aluminum.

6. Reduce ink usage

The printing ink on packaging can have a significant impact on the environment. Conventional inks contain harmful substances. Printing ink also has an influence on the recyclability of products. For example, printed paper and cardboard must be separated during recycling deinked become. The residual stream that remains after removing the ink contains harmful substances. And this must be disposed of again as chemical waste. In the case of plastic, the ink is washed off the packaging. The residual stream that remains after washing also contains harmful substances.

So reduce the use of ink on your packaging. For example, make sure that your packaging is on the right place will be printed.

💡 There is printing ink on the market that partly biocompatible is. Biocompatible means that materials and chemicals are safe for human or animal tissue. It is therefore not the same as biodegradable. However, biocompatible printing ink can help with a less harmful residual stream after de-inking or washing. Unfortunately, there is no complete biocompatible ink yet. This is because most pigment raw materials are not renewable and non-degradable.

7. Hooray for reuse

Go for packaging that your customers can continue to use. Think of glass jars, reusable bags, bottles or storage cans. When customers can store, wash and refill your packaging, this makes a huge difference in waste. You can also create an extra wow experience with reusable packaging, for example with tips on how to transform a cardboard box into something useful or fun for your home.

8. Avoid overpackaging

A nice bow around a box can give customers that nice gift feeling. But at the same time, it is overpackaging that usually disappears in the trash. And the printing ink that is often used to create that experience is also an additional burden on the environment. Try to avoid decorative overpackaging and give your customer that wow feeling in other ways.

9. Make your customers aware

Of course, when you make sustainable packaging, you also want your customers to recycle it properly. Give them a hand with recycling by putting recycling information on your packaging. This way, they know which 'bin' your packaging can go in. For example, use a clear recycle icon. ♻️ Or just put a short text on the packaging. One I can go in the paper bin a cardboard box can do just fine.

There are still many misunderstandings among consumers about sustainable packaging. For example, consumers often think that glass is always more sustainable than plastic. But glass production involves high CO2 emissions. Recyclable plastic packaging can be a more sustainable solution for your product, for example because this material is lighter than glass and reduces emissions. Vacuum or plastic packaging can also prevent waste, because products stay fresh longer. It is important to properly inform your customers about the reason for your choice.

10. Don't use biodegradable as a panacea

You may have heard of it before: biodegradable plastic. Biodegradable plastics are made from renewable plant materials, such as sugar cane or vegetable starch. They can be a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.

But biodegradable plastics don't just disappear when they end up in nature either. Even though there is now a new technology that dissolves biodegradable plastic in lukewarm water.

So don't use biodegradable plastics as the panacea for environmentally friendly packaging. For example, the RIVM calls for less use of plastic in products, recycling and more research into these types of plastics. And finally. Yep, we know, the world of sustainable packaging can be complex. But don't worry! We are happy to help you with (making) your packaging more sustainable 🦸 So feel free to contact on.