Several recent studies and surveys have shown that consumers place a high value on purchasing items with sustainable packaging. If a consumer is choosing between your product and a competitor, the sustainability factor can make or break the sale even if one product is pricier than another. At Indepak, we can provide you with several eco-friendly packaging options that entice consumers and reduce your global footprint.
1. Recyclable Materials
Just about every material we use at Indepak can be recycled, and certain types of thermoform plastic are easier to recycle than others. For instance polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are two materials that are accepted by virtually all of the curbside recycling programs in the United States. Selecting one of these two materials can make it easier for consumers to simply toss your eco-friendly packaging into their recycling bins after use. However, more and more curbside programs are accepting a wider variety of materials in their bins, so if PET or HDPE won’t fit your needs, we can find other recyclable options.
2. Recycled Materials
For many products, using thermoform plastics derived from post-consumer content or recycled content can be a good option. Using recycled plastics helps to conserve energy as well as conserving natural resources, particularly water. At Indepak, we can create many types of eco-friendly packaging using recycled content, either with pre-consumer or post-consumer plastic materials.
3. Bioplastic Materials
The use of starch-based bioplastics is on the rise, and this is an option for many of our clients. Starch-based plastics are derived from natural, renewable sources and some of these plastics are either biodegradable or compostable. These tend to be a bit more expensive, but if many of your customers fit into a demographic of persons highly concerned about the environment, bioplastics might be a good option to consider.
4. Compostable Materials
There’s plenty of confusion about the differences between compostable materials, biodegradable materials and bioplastics. Compostable materials often can be placed in a consumer’s green-waste bin, which makes them fairly easy to recycle. Bioplastics are sometimes compostable, but this is not always the case. Still, with bioplastics, you are using renewable resources, which is a benefit.
Biodegradable materials are sometimes compostable, but not always. The downside to biodegradable materials is that sometimes these materials have to be collected separately from recyclables, green waste or the regular trash bin. Biodegradable materials, typically, unless they are compostable, have to be taken to a special facility where a biodegradation process is simulated. These materials will not biodegrade in a landfill, and having to take the extra step to find a facility that handles biodegradable plastics can be difficult for many consumers. Still, these materials can be a good option for some types of eco-friendly packaging and the team at Indepak can help you select materials that can be easy for consumers to recycle or to place in compost or green waste bin.
5. Combination Designs
Another eco-friendly packaging option is to consider the use of multiple materials. For instance, we can use plastic as well as paperboard to create your packaging. This reduces the amount of plastic used for the product, and we can even create designs that included plastic and paper derived from wholly or partially recycled content.
When it comes to design, of course, creating a packaging that fits your product exactly also improves the sustainability factor. We can create designs that use as little material as possible, just enough to protect your product and display it to its best advantage. At Indepak, we are committed to minimizing our impact on the environment, and we strive to be a low-waste operation at every level. If you are interesting in learning more about our eco-friendly packaging options, feel free to contact us at any time.
