In view of the increasing global plastic pollution, retailers are turning to environmentally friendly packaging solutions. The environmental impact of plastic packaging is very clear to consumers. But in essence, what is real environmentally friendly packaging?

By definition, environmentally friendly packaging is any packaging that is easy to recycle, safe for individuals and the environment, and made of recycled materials. It uses materials and manufacturing methods that have the least impact on energy consumption and natural resources. Sustainable packaging, or green packaging solutions:

Reduce product packaging

Promote the use of renewable / reusable materials

Reduce packaging related costs

Eliminate the use of toxic materials in packaging production

Provides the option of easily recycling packaging

Why use environmentally friendly packaging?

Choosing ecological packaging is a step to reduce plastic waste.

The impact of disposable plastics on the environment does not start and end with waste treatment. Most consumers know that this is only the end of the whole process. A certain type of packaging will have a serious impact on the environment at every stage of its production, from the procurement, manufacturing, transportation, use and disposal of raw materials.

Australians use an average of 130 kilograms of plastic per person per year. Up to 130000 tons of plastic may eventually flow into waterways and oceans. If we don't act on it, this plastic pollution will threaten our marine wildlife and pollute our food chain.

Switching to ecological packaging is the most feasible solution to reduce this problem. Packaging manufacturers and enterprises play a great role in bringing environmentally friendly packaging products into the mainstream. With the alarming growth of plastic pollution, if the use of plastics cannot be completely eliminated, the industry needs to be reduced.

The sustainable packaging alliance details why this revolutionary packaging method is beneficial to our whole planet.

It is safe and healthy for people and communities throughout its life cycle

It is made of healthy materials

It uses renewable energy for procurement, manufacturing, transportation and recycling

Sustainable packaging has passed the market standard of cost and performance

The physical design of eco packaging aims to optimize materials and energy

It optimizes the use of recycled or renewable resource materials

Eco packaging products are manufactured with cleaner production technology and ethical practices

It is recycled and utilized in biological and / or industrial closed-loop cycles

Adopting ecological thinking and translating it into your packaging design is also good for your brand. A study shows that sustainable packaging can help brand owners increase net sales by about 2% to 4%. Thank more and more consumers (especially millennials) for visiting enterprises with obvious concern for the environment. According to the study, these consumers see environmentally friendly packaging as part of the overall brand experience.

Which packaging material is better for the environment?

Choose packaging materials that are easy to reuse or recycle.

There are many biodegradable and recyclable alternative packaging solutions. The following are the most common examples of natural decomposition packaging:

Paper - this is a good packaging choice because it is reusable, recyclable, biodegradable, and can be used for any purpose. Most of the paper packages we see every day are made of recycled paper.

Paperboard - due to its strong form, paperboard is another great packaging alternative. Paperboard without lamination decomposes easily.

Bagasse paper - this packaging material is made from the extracted juice of sugarcane fiber pulp. Bagasse paper is usually used to replace traditional paper packaging in food services.

There are also recyclable packaging items. However, even if they do not cause harm to the environment, the procurement of raw materials for the production of these items still requires a lot of energy.

These recyclable packaging materials are:

paper

cardboard

Glass

Some plastics - examples of recyclable plastics are PET bottles, milk cans, shampoo bottles, ice cream buckets, takeout buckets, plastic appliances and plastic bags

Some metals - metals can be recycled many times. Steel cans used to hold food and beverages can be recycled.

Environmental protection packaging concept

Ecological packaging uses materials and methods that have little impact on the environment.

When you turn to green packaging, you can explore more ways. The following are the environmentally friendly packaging concepts you may want to consider.

Green bag packaging - perhaps you are a coffee company that uses plastic bags as containers for locally purchased coffee beans. If you are looking for a greener option, try using eco bags as an alternative. This simple and customizable eco bag is made of renewable wood pulp starch. The magic of this packaging solution is that it can become compostable in 85 days!

Canvas handbags - if you plan to permanently ban the use of plastic bags, handbags are a good ecological solution. Use coarse linen bags instead of traditional plastic bags. It is a woven fabric made of jute plant skin and plant fiber. It can be used to pack large and durable items. It is also an ideal grocery bag. This non plastic eco-friendly handbag can customize your brand logo.

Eco friendly box packaging - if you use cardboard boxes to meet all your packaging needs, you have made great efforts to reduce waste through your business. Just make sure to use boxes made of 100% recycled materials.

Environmentally friendly label - without an eye-catching label, the package is incomplete. But please note that even small product labels can increase waste. No matter where you put it (box, pouch, bottle, etc.), your product seal or label must be biodegradable, recyclable and / or compostable.

Combine packaging design and materials

Your packaging design is as important as the product itself.

Of course, environmentally friendly materials are not the whole of excellent environmentally friendly packaging: a large part of them is design. Effective design makes your products stand out from the competition and arouse the interest of customers.

For physical enterprises, packaging design is crucial because it will shape the initial interaction between potential customers and your products. People who see and understand your products for the first time will form their first impression according to the appearance of your packaging.

This is where your brand logo works its magic. It must be strong enough to connect with your customers and depend on their attention. Developing your unique brand identity is essential to convey your brand story and gain consumer loyalty.

Here are four reasons why packaging design is conducive to the success of your product:

Customer appeal - impressive packaging will attract potential customers to pick your product from the shelf and take it home. You want your packaging to attract people and be curious about your brand.

Brand - the appropriate palette, logo and design trademark implemented in your packaging makes your brand logo tangible. Your packaging must highlight your company's colors, fonts and trademarks to create a bold brand statement. Consistently use brand standards and guidelines so that your audience can recognize you.

Practicality - a well thought out package has its own function and purpose. Functional packaging protects your product and makes it easy to transport, collect and store. In addition, if your packaging shows your customers useful functions, it is as valuable as your product.

Information - your packaging is a tool for you to better convey relevant information about your products and company. You need to design your packaging in a way that contains all the information that customers need to know before buying products. Your package should contain the following details:

Who designed the product

For whom

Use of the product, including its limitations (if applicable)

Knowledge required to use the product

Place of production

Manufacturer information

closing date

Why do your customers need your product (how does it improve their lives? Why is it worth buying?)

Steps for designing environmentally friendly packaging

Design packaging that is beneficial to your brand and environment.

Now that you understand the essence of environmentally friendly packaging and design, it's time to create an environment for your award-winning products. The following are the steps involved in designing environmentally friendly packaging.

1. Collect content materials.

Get everything you need ready before you start designing. The materials you may need are as follows:

Copy – the text required for the package. This includes your brand name and compelling product description that attracts customers to buy.

Pictures - decide what kind of pictures you want your product to have.

Necessary labels - these may include nutritional information, industry labels, and bar codes. These will depend on the standards set by your industry body.

Brand requirements - elements such as brand color, font and logo are important to create a packaging appearance consistent with your brand identity and aesthetics.

2. Determine the number of layers of packaging.

Product packaging is divided into three layers: inner packaging, outer packaging and product packaging. Depending on your product type, you may need one or all three of them.

The inner packaging ensures the safety and fit of your product. This can be tissue paper. It can also be a sealed bag designed to keep the product fresh.

Your outer packaging is the first thing your customers see. It can protect your product from external factors. This can be a box that carries the product or a shopping bag used to hold the product in the store.

Product packaging is the way your customers will remember your products. It's a bag for coffee beans, a wrapper for chocolate bars, or a label on clothes.

3. Select your packaging type.

Determining the type of packaging that best suits your product can be a difficult decision. Here are some factors you need to consider in the selection process:

Product - packaging always revolves around the product at hand. If you sell any liquid items, it can set a limit on your choice.

Competition – choose a packaging material that distinguishes you from other brands in the industry. However, please always consider the most convenient method for your consumers. After all, your packaging will affect people's experience of your brand. Make sure it is reusable or recyclable.

Budget - your packaging philosophy should match your budget. Consult the packaging manufacturer to find recyclable options that meet your budget and product requirements.

4. Determine the core of the design.

Create an information architecture in which you return to zero an event or message about your product that you want customers to remember. You may get excellent reviews from your target customers, capture extraordinary slogans of your company's value, or beautiful graphic illustrations showing how to use your products. But when buyers see your packaging, they only think of one thing. What would that outlier be? This should be the main theme of your packaging design. Then use it as the main theme they will notice when choosing your product (or visiting your website).

Look at the following brands to see what their design core is:

After presenting your packaging design, the next thing you need to do is to evaluate its value and effectiveness. Here are some issues to consider when evaluating:

Does it clearly show what your product is? Your packaging should easily show what your product is and the customers it is trying to attract. An effective package should convey a clear message and be different from anything else. Please note that consumers are only willing to pay for products for which they understand the value.

Does your packaging truly represent your product? If you plan to show the product photos on the package, please ensure that the photos represent the actual product itself. If you show a picture of a biscuit filled with many chocolate chips, but in fact there is only one chocolate chip on each biscuit, you may make false promises to customers.

How does the package look on the shelf? Shelf appearance is essential for products distributed and sold in stores. Some things you need to consider include:

How versatile is your design? This is important for brands that plan to offer new product variants in the future. You may only have one coffee product at present, but you may want to launch a range of tea products in the coming years. Can your design be easily adjusted or upgraded to adapt to product changes?

Visibility of packaging when your products are arranged on shelves. Make sure important product details are in the front and middle.

The appearance of products stacked on top and adjacent to each other.

How your product looks when placed next to a competitor's brand. Consider how to make your work stand out and get the most attention.

How your product looks when placed next to a competitor's brand. Consider how to make your work stand out and get the most attention.

Cooperate with professional packaging designers

Now that you know the essence of excellent packaging and how to create a packaging for your products, it's time to contact professional designers to turn your ideas into reality. Professional graphic designers have invested many years of work and study to help enterprises create an effective and impressive packaging design. Invest in excellent packaging that can create a strong impression and attract customers' attention.