Reducing or eliminating the quantities of plastic your business uses doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the level of strength, durability, and protective capacity your packaging provides. It’s quite the contrary with numerous paper packaging alternatives being able to provide equal, if not better, protection than existing plastic packaging options.
With a near-boundless amount of paper packaging options available, making the switch has never been so widely accessible for businesses. While the immediate benefits are clear – reducing your company’s carbon footprint and doing your part to protect the environment, there are also more long-term benefits to be reaped from opting for sustainable packaging, but more on this later.
To assist you in making the switch from plastic to paper packaging, we’re outlining the various benefits it can bring to your business. In addition, we’ve compiled our five easiest sustainable packaging switches so you know where to take the first steps in contributing to the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle to create a better, brighter future.
Benefits of switching to paper packaging
Customers are more aware than ever about environmentally-friendly practices, including packaging options for businesses. They have a hunger for brands that show respect to the environment. In fact, two-thirds of consumers believe it’s important that products they purchase come in recyclable packaging, according to the 2021 Global Buying Green Report. Consequently, approximately 54% of consumers consider sustainable packaging before selecting a product/brand, while a staggering 83% of younger customers (those under 44 years of age) are willing to pay a higher price for products packaged in a sustainable manner. While there are immediate benefits of lowering your carbon footprint, the long-term benefit is positive brand recognition among buyers who are willing to pay a premium for your sustainably-packaged products.
Scrapping plastic and adopting an environmentally-friendly alternative like paper packaging portrays a powerful statement about your business’ ethos and values. It exemplifies your business’ commitment to creating a sustainable future – something that will resonate with your customers and will positively impact both your brand image and the environment.
Primepac’s top 5 easiest sustainable packaging switches
Polypropylene tape → Gummed paper tape
The switch from polypropylene tape to gummed paper tape is as simple as it gets! It’s a cost-effective method of reducing the amount of plastic used in your packaging. Gummed paper tape is resistant to temperature changes and humidity, providing a firm seal that will last long past the duration of a product's transport. It’s a permanent adhesive that isn’t sticky until you wet it. In most instances, the tape doesn’t need to be removed from the packaging which makes for efficient waste management.
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Plastic courier bags → Paper courier bags
Another simple swap is opting for paper courier bags over plastic ones. This plastic-free alternative is made from recycled and FSC certified paper to a great cushioned thickness, to ensure your packages are well-protected. When your business, or your customers, have finished using the bag, it can simply be composted or recycled. This is a simple swap and can reduce the amount of plastic used by your business tenfold.
Wrapping paper → Kraft paper
Kraft paper is a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to all kinds of traditional wrapping paper. It’s made from recycled paper and is thick and sturdy. This means, while it may not be the ideal fit for typical parcel wrapping, it is perfect for void fill and surface protection. After its useful life, it is 100% recyclable so disposing of it is a simple task.
Traditional packaging materials → Honeycomb Kraft paper
Protect the contents of your packages with honeycomb paper as opposed to plastic void fill. Honeycomb Kraft paper improves workplace efficiency, saves valuable space, and eliminates the expense of shipping rolls of packaging material to your operational hub. It is excellent for void fill, cushioning, and blocking or bracing to ensure the contents of your package arrive at their destination in prime condition.
Plastic wrap → Purewrap
Taking sustainable packaging one step further, there are now plant-based plastic packaging items available like Purewrap, that remove carbon from the atmosphere. Making use of Purewrap, in place of traditional plastic wrap, offers the same performance without the negative environmental impacts. It’s made from sustainably-grown sugar cane through a process whereby the raw material takes more carbon out of the atmosphere than it produces. At the end of its use, it can simply be recycled. It is a revolutionary material in sustainable packaging and Primepac has secured the exclusive rights to supply it to New Zealand businesses.
As you take the plunge to reduce plastic from your business, you’re not only cutting down on your contribution to the waste stream, but you’re also modelling more sustainable practices for those around you. Taking small, incremental steps like the easy switches listed above will start to reshape your business and transform your brand image for the better.
Demand for more sustainable business practices and environmental packaging is growing with many businesses starting to respond. That’s why it’s crucial to get ahead of the curve and set an example for your customers who care deeply about protecting the environment. There are an array of sustainable packaging products available, so why not investigate what you could start implementing in your business now by viewing Primepac’s range below?
