Product packaging ranks among the most visible contributors to household waste. Indeed, 90% of plastics do not get recycled. However, the growth of eco-friendly options offers hope that landfills will be smaller in the future as businesses prioritize sustainable materials. By optimizing distribution networks and vehicle efficiency, many brands are holistically managing their supply chains to reduce freight emissions, thereby furthering circular economic growth. Smarter packaging and logistics decisions add up for monumental positive impact.
Pursuing Recycled and Renewably Sourced Materials
The foremost strategy brands target for diminishing packaging impacts focuses on the materials themselves. Some switch to recycled inputs salvaging post-consumer plastic, paper and glass that otherwise clog landfills to manufacture delivery containers and cushioning items. Agricultural residues like straw or bagasse also convert into durable cushions and padded mailers as renewable alternatives to standard petroleum-based foam. Using waste streams ethically involves tapping into recycled resources and leftover agricultural products.
Optimizing Distribution Networks
Beyond material choices, brands also analyze distribution networks identifying opportunities to lessen miles traveled for lower carbon freight. Localizing manufacturing and assembly operations in regional market areas shrinks inbound supply chain climate impacts from cross-continental transport. Retail-ready packaging configurations omit secondary repacking at store distribution centers bypassing material handling. Even truck trailer designs have been revolutionized. Cubic shipping methods use vertical space better, fitting more cargo. Bulk rail and ship transport for long hauls offer energy savings over trucking. Finally, emerging electric and hydrogen freight vehicles transition fleets to zero emissions. The optimization of logistics and the selection of transport modes work together to significantly enhance sustainability.
Engineering Decomposable Replacements
Beyond tapping discarded materials, brands also incubate compostable and biodegradable formulations, allowing packages themselves to break down naturally when disposed to avoid persistent litter. Bag makers commercialize plant-based flexible plastics made from corn, potatoes or seaweed oils that microbes digest instead of photodegrading into microplastics. Manufacturers like Epsilyte formulate biodegradable EPS components for electronics and appliances integrating soil-friendly additives to accelerate decay when landfilled.
Slimming Package Profiles and Material Volumes
The most direct path for brands slashing packaging waste focuses on using less in the first place. By right-sizing box dimensions to snugly fit contents versus defaulting to standard oversized cartons, companies ship more product in the same vehicles lowering carbon impacts per item. Items like toys and appliances also leave out excess inner padding when durable enough, while subtle material down-gauging incrementally lightens packaging weights. Multi-pack containers that replace single-unit boxes further optimize material efficiencies. Small changes make dramatic sustainability differences when multiplied by production scales.
Equipping Packages for User Recycling
Apart from material selections and volumes used itself, brands also upgrade packaging to empower responsible consumer recycling behaviors after delivery for circularity. Tactics include unifying to #1 PET or #2 HDPE standard resins along with omitting pigments, labels, glues and additives that often complicate recycling machinery. Decals educating on exact materials for responsible sorting help as well. Brands switching to mono-material formats like all-paper padded mailers or solo-plastic clamshell rounds simplify end-of-life handling across entire packages too. Design tweaks enable ethical disposal.
Conclusion
With growing ecological consciousness about packaging waste, companies hear calls to deliver goods sustainably. Many heed demands by tapping recycled and responsibly sourced materials for transport packaging production while designing overall package profiles minimizing raw material volumes required. Engineers also incubate promising biodegradable solutions for the future as well as adding user features promoting recyclability. Across industries, brands make progress rethinking delivery systems advancing circular economies through smarter design and material selections. The principles of environmentalism demonstrate that a forward-thinking approach to business, prioritizing responsible stewardship of the environment, leads to long-term financial success and sustainability.
