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Principles for effective packaging reduction

Packaging materials are an essential part of our lifestyle & perform several important functions, for example, protecting products on their journey from the manufacture & distribution process to the end user, marketing a product brand and providing information to consumers.

The choice of materials is influenced by many factors including the move some retailers are making towards shelf-ready packaging in order to reduce handling costs. Too much packaging means unnecessary use of materials, higher carbon emissions and extra cost.

In order to effectively reduce the quantities of packaging materials used by industry there are 3 main ways to achieve this;

• Substituting lighter materials
• Re-using packaging materials
• Increasing percentage of recycled content

Lighter Materials

Employing modern, lighter materials in place of traditional ones is a key factor in the reduction of packaging materials & hence a reduction in energy consumption. These days most new substitute materials & grades are as effective as their older equivalents yet as strong & robust with little or no loss in performance. As these new materials are lighter, utilising them often brings a financial saving which makes the whole process more commercially viable. Significant, large scale, global reduction of packaging material can only be properly achieved if industry & commerce can demonstrate real benefits in terms of efficiency & cost reduction.

Re-using packaging materials

Reusing reduces the amount of material requiring disposal, preserves raw materials and saves the energy used in the manufacture and transport of virgin containers such as bottles & cans. A significant amount of products are delivered in containers that could be re-used many times. Numerous studies have been carried out into the relative benefits of reusable versus one-way packaging. Results do vary, but in the majority of environments reuse does appear to be an environmentally preferable option although it does to a large extent rely on the assistance of retailers and consumers. One positive method of obtaining support for re-using containers would be to encourage customers to recycle in exchange for cash or other products. Another effective method is the use of plastic sleeves on bottles to prevent damage & help to increase the number of return trips they can make.

Recycling

There are technical limits to how far packaging materials can be reduced and reuse is not always appropriate for the market. In these circumstances, it is particularly important that the recycled content of a packaging material is maximised. In many parts of the world most waste ends up in landfill sites and litter can also be a real problem particularly in the developing countries. It is vital that efforts to facilitate the recycling of waste are maintained by providing an end-market for recycled material and encouraging appropriate disposal. Furthermore, working with local authorities, national government, local communities & volunteers to collect & recycle packaging waste is paramount.

Mark Reid works for Postpack Ltd, an online manufacturer & distributor of packaging materials throughout the UK, Ireland & Europe. They provide free samples if required, offer free delivery for orders over £100 and operate a free bespoke design service. Click here for a custom packaging solution for your products and for a huge selection of packaging materials to order online

Principles for effective packaging reduction / Author: Postpack Ltd

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