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If you are into the business of product packaging, you may already know that the use of sustainable packaging materials is no longer a luxury. Companies of all sizes are committing to greener packaging practices. Consumers are also demanding companies to use sustainable and eco-friendly materials for product packaging.

It can be a tough challenge to figure out which packaging product to purchase. You can choose from an endless array of options. However, the lack of proper training will make it hard for you to distinguish which sustainable packaging materials are suitable for your packaging operations. There are several other factors as well that contribute to your overall eco-footprint.

Sustainability

Sustainability has been around for a while. It has transformed into what it is today after decades of research and planning. Today, we have some big sustainability goals in sight, thanks to the measures deployed to control emissions and reduce the use of materials that contaminate the environment. As a result, recycling has become a more prevalent concept in today’s world.

A recent survey involving over thirty thousand consumers suggests that the largest barrier in the way of going all-in on sustainable product packaging is price. Costs of eco-friendly products tend to be higher. Confusion and lack of trust around sustainability claims make it even more challenging for businesses to retain customers.

So, what is the right way to win the customer? It always starts with the right education. Make sure to inform your customers about every step involved in achieving sustainability. Tell them how you source your materials and supplies. Then, make sure to label your products to tell your customers how to recycle the packaging materials.

Green products

Not all sustainable products are created equal. Some are rated greener than others. Markets continue to receive products that serve eco-friendly packaging buyers in a better way. That is why it is essential to stay up-to-date with the new products.

The best way is to buy from vendors whose claims can be validated easily. As a rule of thumb, you may want to stick to the use of corrugated and paper options. When you have to use plastic, make sure that you are sourcing environmentally safe plastics.

Choosing the right product

When it comes to selecting the right packaging materials, you can choose from limitless options. But remember, you will have to be careful about the product damage that tends to happen due to the use of improper materials. If the packaging materials you use are unable to keep your products safe during shipping, your customers will get damaged products more often. You will need to see if plastic does well to protect your product as compared to cardboard. If that is so, you will have to get safe and recyclable plastics for product packaging.

Equipment required to meet sustainability goals

In addition to using sustainable materials, you also have to ensure packaging efficiency, which necessarily includes measures taken to reduce material wastage during the packaging procedure. Manual packaging procedures usually result in material wastage. Automation, on the other hand, can make the packaging procedure more efficient by cutting on the amount of material wasted on a packaging line.