Jan 11 2010
2010 Packaging Trends #2 Green Is No Longer On The Fringe
Packaging accounts for 30-35% of the waste stream and consumers are concerned what to do about it. They are demanding less packaging and that serves a secondary purpose or can be recycled or reused.
Many even want to just leave it at the store and retailers such as Tesco are accommodating them with bins at the front of the store. The growth of eco friendly or green packaging is outstripping conventional materials. A recent study says that growth for sustainable packaging will double. It seems that every company is seeking a “greener” packaging alternative and new products and new ideas are surfacing everyday.
Consider the 6/R’s in environmentally friendly package design in future package development.
Refill: Have a container that can be easily refilled with products using a lot less packaging material.
eco refill® Up to 85% less plastic*!!…Sounds unbelievable right?
Reduce: That is use less packaging where possible.
Via PopSop.com
From Glass To This Flexible Pouch Saving 97%. Further conversion to a secondary product like this example below.
Recycle: Partner with a company that will turn used packaging into something else.
Example: Teracycle
Reuse: By products in packaging that can be used over and over again.
Example: Refillable water bottles.
Eliminating any type of packaging from the waste stream. That is until the bottle breaks
Renew: Consider using packaging from the renewal natural resources.
Example Cargo Plant Love (plantable container)
Paper impregnated with seeds that you plant.
Repurpose: Design the packaging with another purpose in mind after it has been consumed.
Example: Packaging that turns into other useful products.
This entire unit is self contained within the packaging.
Whatever option you choose ensure your packaging aligns with your core eco message. Because of increashed “greenwashing” scrutiny be prepared to validate your green packaging claim.
Packaging Phrases To Watch For In 2010:
- Recyclable
- Compostable
- Sustainable
- Biodegradable
- Bioplastics
- Bioresins
- Greenwashing
- Repurposed
- Precycling
- Eco-friendly
- Extended Producer Responsibility
3 responses so far
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Online retailers are already rising to the challenge and meeting this increasing demand by consumers. Abel & Cole, for example, is just one of the biggest online food retailers to have swapped polystyrene insulated packaging for the sustainable, biodegradable and recyclable alternative, Woolcool, made from 100% British sheeps wool. Not only is Woolcool saving tonnes of polystyrene packaging being used that would ultimately go to landfill but it’s also supplied flat packed, making bulk ordering more practical to keep transport miles down.
Nice. I guess my notion of reuse is what is here defined as repurposing.
Looking forward to many more such ideas as the hangerpak to also share in complement, and with compliments, on Junkk.com
[...] Green Is No Longer On The Fringe and using renewable resources is just one way to be more eco-friendly with your packaging [...]