Today’s consumers are responding to climate change by developing more green-minded purchasing habits. This means that when browsing for products, consumers have become increasingly aware of where the product comes from, how it is made, the environmental commitments of the company they are purchasing from, and how it is packed and shipped. Because of these evolving consumer habits, companies have taken a close look at the environmental impacts of their supply chains and made changes to improve their overall footprint. One of the prominent adjustments some are making to become more eco-conscious is switching to more sustainable packaging.
Companies looking to incorporate sustainable packaging into their supply chain may draw inspiration from numerous industry best practices:
- Dick’s Sporting Goods, the largest sporting goods retailer in the country, recently announced that it is reinventing the packaging used for e-commerce orders. As part of this effort, the company will be implementing a Packaging on Demand solution to reduce waste.
- Target recently launched its Target Zero initiative which is an icon designed to inform customers whether a product or its packaging is made from sustainable materials. This is part of Target’s larger sustainability effort, titled Target Forward, which includes the goal of making sure all of its own-brand plastic packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025.
- Costco, as part of its overall sustainability efforts, has made improvements to their egg carton packaging, which are now manufactured from 100% recycled PET water bottles and are 40% lighter than pulp egg cartons.
What is Sustainable Packaging and Why is it Important?
Simply put, sustainable packaging includes materials that are better for the environment. To identify whether the packaging is sustainable, manufacturers look at the life cycle of the material, how it is made, and how it can be reused. Beyond the environmental benefits, businesses that focus on sustainability can reap other benefits such as lowering their Total Cost of Business, increased employee motivation (link to sustainable workplace blog once live), and improved relationships with their consumers.
Companies that implement sustainable packaging to decrease their environmental impact may also consider switching to sustainable shipping platforms. Sustainable plastic pallets from iGPS are lightweight, durable, and 100% recyclable. They are also up to 20 pounds lighter and therefore require less fuel for transport making them even more sustainable.
Sustainable packaging is a high priority for consumers. Businesses looking to remain competitive in the evolving marketplace and become more environmentally conscious should consider implementing sustainable packaging best practices.
Companies committed to sustainability use iGPS plastic pallets for all their shipping needs. Our lightweight, recyclable plastic pallets help make greener supply chains and reduce the Total Cost of Business. For more information, contact us at 1-866-557-0047, email a specialist at switch@igps.net, or visit our contact page.
