
Packaging is a common denominator across different industries. From essential products to luxury ones, all types of businesses use packaging to market and protect their product while in transit to the final consumer. Because of this, you will find packaging everywhere – in your cupboards, shelves, trolleys, and dumpsters.
However, the sheer amount of packaging around us can contribute to environmental problems such as excessive waste, pollution, and resource depletion. Being an integral part of the economy, small businesses can significantly impact this problem by switching to sustainable packaging. For example, sustainable custom jewelry packaging boxes that biodegrade upon disposal.
Adopting sustainable packaging can reduce our packaging pollution process and put us on the right path toward reducing the influx of packaging in our landfills. In this article, we will explore the environmental advantages of sustainable packaging for small businesses and the positive impact they can make by taking small steps toward sustainability.
The Environmental Impact of Packaging
Packaging waste has become a significant contributor to environmental degradation. Most of the packaging we use today comes from a type of plastic called polyethylene. Polyethylene is commonly used to make plastic bags, plastic films, and containers for laundry detergent, clothes, shampoo, motor oil, and drinks.
Plastic packaging poses a severe threat to ecosystems and wildlife upon disposal. They end up in the oceans and landfills. The National Geographic Society reports that the ocean has 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic. The pollution threatens marine life and human health by entering the food chain.
Another issue caused by conventional packaging is its manufacturing process. The plastic manufacturing process is energy intensive with high dependence on fossil fuels. The process also releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
The Environmental Advantages of Sustainable Packaging in Small Businesses
To combat the environmental impact of traditional packaging, it has become crucial for small and large businesses to adopt eco-friendlier alternatives for their products. Here are some of the advantages that sustainable packaging gives.
Reducing Waste and Landfill Impact
Traditional packaging focuses primarily on functionality, convenience, and cost-effectiveness, with less attention to where the packaging ends after usage. This is why they usually end up in landfills after use. Small businesses that use sustainable packaging, such as biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable packaging, can significantly reduce their waste contribution to landfills.
Curbing Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution currently ranks as one of the most pressing international issues. Plastic wreaks havoc on our natural habitats and causes harm to marine life and the ecosystem. By adopting sustainable packaging that is plastic-free or made from recycled plastic, we can make a small step toward curbing plastic pollution. Or better yet, you could design your plastic packaging to be reusable, so customers use them for other things instead of disposal. Together, these effects can significantly reduce plastic pollution and contribute to a healthier planet.
Lowering Carbon Footprint
Carbon emissions happen at all points of the production of packaging. It involves the combustion of fossil fuels, which can release greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. With sustainable packaging like Arka custom toy boxes, small businesses can impact carbon emission levels by adopting sustainability initiatives in their business.
Fostering Circular Economy
Sustainable packaging follows the principles of circular economy, where resources are sent back into the production process for further processing until they lose their useful value. This helps ensure optimal resource use and reduce waste generated during production. In contrast to the linear economy, which uses a “take, make, dispose” model, a circular economy will keep raw materials for as long as possible in the production process.
A circular economy also promotes resource conservation by reducing the demand for virgin raw materials from the earth. For example, businesses can opt for custom rigid boxes made from recycled materials, which can be reused or repurposed, aligning with circular economy principles.
Meeting Customer’s Expectations
Sustainability has become a significant concern for customers, and they expect businesses to address the environmental impacts of their operations. Small businesses that use sustainable packaging can meet these customers’ expectations and stand out from other players in the market. To illustrate, a toy brand that switches from traditional packaging to sustainable custom toy boxes can win the hearts of eco-conscious customers. When customers know that you have the same environmental values, they will appreciate your efforts and become repeat customers. This translates to more sales, improved brand image, and a competitive edge in the market.
Bottomline
By taking small steps towards sustainability, small businesses can positively impact the environment, their customers, and their margins. Sustainability can help businesses to attract and retain customers. When businesses are sustainable, they can build a positive brand image and gain customer loyalty.