Packaging should keep products safe until they arrive at their destination. The product shouldn’t be compromised in transit, whether to the supermarket shelf or the home. Another function would be to keep the product looking attractive to buyers, and without the beautiful coverings, products may not look alluring.
Sustainable packaging keeps the products safe while helping the environment we live in to remain intact and reduce our footprint. Manufacturers make these materials of recycled, biodegradable, and naturally occurring substances instead of the plastic containers we are used to finding in-store.
One big concern would be how the natural materials used for sustainable packaging would maintain product safety during the process, which we will be deliberating on here:
1 No Waste When Shipping Large Quantities
Some items are small, which means that many could fit into one box. They can’t rest on top of each other as the bumps of the transport process would damage them. In most cases, manufacturers would individually wrap products over and above their packaging.
Adding more wrapping of sustainable material wouldn’t seem so wasteful when using so much of it to keep products safe. The manufacturer can use sheets of paper cladding made from recycled paper as an additional measure to encase each item before putting them in boxes for shipping.
Anyone interested in seeing sustainable packaging can visit Packaging World and understand the importance of keeping products and the environment safe.
2 Layering Of Products Is Still Possible
As part of eco-friendly packaging efforts, manufacturers sometimes opt to use less material per item, making it slightly more vulnerable. Products can be layered during transport while preventing damage. To help with this, manufacturers use board-like structures that can be likened to egg cartons to maintain a buffer between the individually wrapped items.
Flat boards made from a similar recycled material are placed between the layers to hold each of them secure. Individual products that already have a cradle or other stabilization means are easily packed this way.
3 Biodegradable Options Are Available For Cushioning
Materials like foam pellets or squares or other hazardous forms of cushioning are the norm for many packers wanting to keep items safe from harm. These are no longer needed as there are new options to use. Scrunching or shredding recycled materials like paper or board would perform the same task without harming the product or the environment.
The biodegradable options are generally more sustainable and cheaper than the regular packaging, making it a good reason for companies to switch. Significantly reducing product returns due to insufficient packaging improves the company’s bottom line while also reducing waste.
4 The Product Environment Is Controlled
Anyone who camps regularly would know how valuable newspaper is to keep cold items cool and the heat in when lining a sleeping bag with it inside. Natural fibres like the newspaper regulate temperatures well and are thus perfect for keeping products at their desired degrees while transporting them.
Sustainable packaging keeps items vulnerable to environmental factors like heat or cold safe. Adding more protective layers wrapped around the items for longer hauls is a good option.
The natural materials are also excellent absorbers of moisture and other fluids like chemicals that could potentially damage products. With the items safely tucked away between those layers, their environment is easier to control than other packaging forms.
5 Label Products As Being Fragile
Some biodegradables are more fragile, and other items can easily crush or pierce them. It is imperative to label the shipping containers accordingly. Adding fragile stickers warns everyone handling the packages to be extra cautious.
Although other safety measures are part of the packaging process, the warning label is the final step to ensure that everything remains in good condition. When transporters and customers have explicit instructions on how to handle the products, they will give it more thought.
Labels and instructions act like another layer of protection for sustainable packaging. Without these warnings, manufacturers would ensure that their products remain as safe as possible.
At The End Of The Line
Stores, customers, manufacturers, and the environment benefit from sustainably packaged products. All the qualities that make it sustainable are reason enough for manufacturers to reconsider their packaging options and make the change.
Everyone in the long line of product manufacture and transport prefers to have a packaging option that would meet health and safety standards while delivering on the promise to protect the item.
Companies should think outside the box to find solutions for what goes inside their boxes. Consider each step of the process and its possible effects. Don’t settle for less-than-optimal packaging when sustainable options are available to meet all your needs.