Sustainability is increasingly important for businesses and consumers. Product and packaging designs have incorporated many best practices to meet this growing trend. We have put together this guide to provide key information about sustainable package design and how to incorporate it into your operations.
Sustainable package design follows many of the same principles as other sustainability efforts. For example, both adopt a core mantra of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” in efforts to reduce ecological impacts. Examining the basics of sustainable design for packaging materials can help you make informed decisions about how best to ship your products.
Manufacturers can reduce consumption by using the minimum amount of packaging for items. This may mean putting multiple items in one box or removing the inner packaging on certain things. Thermoformed packaging trays are an excellent way to keep individual items separate during shipping, especially when they are made with recycled and recyclable plastics.
Weight is a major factor in sustainable packaging design. Some of the most popular material options are incredibly lightweight, which reduces the strain on shipping providers. At the same time, they offer excellent impact resistance to protect package contents.
The reuse portion of sustainable packaging design is a little more complex. Most end users do not reuse their packaging with the exception of some boxes. However, businesses and manufacturers can begin to move to more reusable materials.
Consider our thermoformed plastic packaging trays. They are great for shipping products and fit perfectly into standard box sizes. However, they are also ideal for storing components. Trays keep items organized, which makes taking inventory and order picking easier.
A big component of sustainability is keeping items out of landfills. Recycling is one of the most accessible ways to do that.
Many of the plastics we use for thermoformed trays are fully recyclable in many facilities. You may need to separate them from other materials, which can become part of your recycling program and improve overall sustainability efforts.
Another way to reduce waste is through composting. Some packaging designs incorporate compostable materials. These are often plant-based, which requires careful consideration of growing and harvesting practices. Some raw materials, such as starch and bamboo are more sustainable than others.
Some of the most sustainable packaging materials are paper and cardboard. However, many other types of products meet multiple sustainability benchmarks. For example, new bioplastics are compostable under certain conditions and could become part of mainstream package design.
You will likely have a choice between recycled or virgin raw materials for your packaging components. Recycled plastics are an ecologically sound choice when paper or cardboard is insufficient for your needs. The benefits increase if you choose plastics sourced from recycling facilities committed to sustainable manufacturing.
There are some instances where you may need to use virgin materials. In these cases, it helps to choose fully recyclable ones. For example, all polyethylene terephthalate scraps can be turned into recycled polyethylene terephthalate. As a result, rPET is a durable and eco-conscious choice for many packing needs. Request a sample to see the quality of our recycled plastics for yourself.
You can take a big step toward sustainable packaging design by choosing fully recyclable materials. These tend to be paper and specific plastics. PET is one of the most commonly recycled plastics. It is widely used in packaging trays, containers, and some pharmaceutical packaging.
Polyethylene is also recyclable, although not all facilities accept it. PE is popular for food containers, liners, and heavy industrial bags. Because these plastics often require specific infrastructure or handling for recycling, you may want to consider implementing a comprehensive recycling program.
For many manufacturers, starting an in-house recycling program exemplifies their commitment to the practice. A good program allows you to reduce waste at virtually every level, further enhancing the environmental responsibility of your packing choices.
Packaging manufacturers must consider the source of raw materials and, in some cases, printing practices. Some of the most recyclable or compostable materials are grown and harvested under less-than-ideal conditions. Excessive land clearing, toxic agricultural chemicals, and power-intensive manufacturing all negate the benefits of recyclability.
In many cases, designing sustainable packaging means customizing components for a specific intended use. This can reduce the size and amount of packaging materials needed, the space and weight capacity required for transport, and the amount of waste. It also allows you to select the most ecologically friendly materials that fit your needs.
Another advantage to custom packaging designs is that you can often plan for a component to perform multiple functions. For example, a tray can be used to move items off a manufacturing line into warehousing, to track them within the inventory system, and to ship them. Once at their destination, users can continue to use those trays for storage and organization.
Renewable resources are more than choosing recycled raw materials. It also applies to manufacturing practices. At Ready-Made, we work to incorporate sustainability into every facet of our manufacturing.
We work with carefully selected suppliers to ensure our raw materials come from sustainable and ecologically sound sources. Our main supplier uses recycled materials, recycles excess, and relies heavily on renewable energy.
We also work to reduce manufacturing waste as much as possible. Our recycling program effectively eliminates all plastic waste from the tray manufacturing process. Additionally, we use features such as motion sensors and refillable water bottles to reduce our carbon footprint on a daily basis.
If you are considering custom sustainably sourced packaging, our team at Ready-Made Plastic Trays can help. While we have over 200 stock tray configurations, we can create custom trays to fit your specific needs. You can choose everything from the materials to pocket shape and size. Contact us to speak to a specialist about your packaging needs.