Packaging touches all parts of a product's lifecycle. Packaging begins on the designer’s table, and packaging ends up in the recycle bin. Retailers should consider the entire lifecycle when designing their packages. Packaging design done right will greatly reduce waste from the beginning.
The Scale of Packaging Waste
Packaging waste has grown to a huge number. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) America produces 96 million tons of packaging waste annually. Of that amount only approximately 39 percent is recycled. Those figures are a reminder that what retailers do through good package design makes a big difference.
The Design Stage Comes First
A brand's first step in creating good packaging is by selecting its materials. Companies can select materials that easily allow customers to recycle them. Paper and cardboard are popular materials for packaging, as they are lightweight, sturdy and recyclable. More companies than ever before prefer using these types of materials versus plastic.
The initial selection of the type of materials will affect a product's total environmental footprint. Retailers want to purchase products from companies whose packaging generates less overall waste. As a result, many retail companies now prefer to buy their boxes (cartons) made out of recyclable paperboard.
The retailer will be able to save money, while also reducing the negative impacts on the environment. Custom folding cartons have become very popular among retailers due to how light they are and that they are recyclable. They are also flat when folded up, thus allowing for reduced space needed for shipment.
Clear Labels Guide Better Choices
Clear labeling helps customers to properly recycle. Clear symbols are often confusing and many household items are discarded instead of being recycled. The Recycling Partnership's 2024 report showed that most household materials which could have been recycled were not even placed into a recycling bin. Simple clear labels will help close this gap.
The same study determined that only twenty-one percent of all recycled materials were recycled. It also demonstrated that seventy-six percent of all lost recyclables occurred before they left the home. This data shows just how much waste occurs within this cycle.
In-Store Handling Matters Too
Retail Brands are important too; they help with the Store it Self. Design your shelf packaging for easy opening and sorting. In addition to the obvious, separating clearly between Plastic, Paper & Foam will assist Customers in Recycling Correctly. Simple decisions made about an in-Store Design can lead to Better Recycling Habits Later.
Paper and Paperboard remain two of the easiest materials to recycle. The EPA states that "Paper and Paperboard account for the majority of Packaging Material Recovered Nationally." Clearly this demonstrates how making good Material Choices during Design will ultimately result in fewer Problems as you go.
Shipping and Transport Add More Waste
Shipping Packaging is also an important component in our products' journeys. The extra padding, plastic wrap, and foam associated with it are usually just thrown away when we're done with them. By utilizing correct box sizes, brands will be able to cut down on waste while lowering their own shipping costs.
Planning for the End of Life
In addition to being used during the shipment of products, at the end of a product's lifecycle, packaging has yet another decision to make. It can get recycled, reused, or ultimately land in a landfill. When brands begin thinking about what will happen at the end of each product's use from day one they generally obtain better results than those who do not.
This implies a consideration of how items will be disposed of at the very beginning stages in design meetings. Boxes are made with the intention of being used once which results in an increased amount of waste over time. A product designed as a reusable or recyclable unit is a complete reversal of this trend.
When retail brands consider how they can utilize packaging to promote their company image, it has the same effect as creating more stress on local recycling programs. Strong, neat packaging gives customers confidence immediately when purchasing products. In addition, strong packaging helps to minimize return issues due to damage incurred during shipment.
For this reason alone, many retailers have opted to select smart packaging options. Custom retail boxes provide great protection and are designed to be easily recycled. The custom boxes also appear to be well-made and professional when displayed on store shelves.A
A Simple Checklist for Retail Brands
Retailers may apply a straightforward checklist of steps as they go through this process. First, in the beginning of the product development phase, choose products using recyclable material. Second, include clearly marked labeling on each package explaining what should be done with each component.
Third, minimize the number of components included and eliminate all composite materials where possible. Fourth, test the packaging for durability prior to distribution so items will reach customers undamaged. Fifth, provide employee training to properly sort/sell packaging materials.
Sixth, monitor post-sale recycling practices; i.e., measure the amount of packaging which is actually being recycled. By following these steps, retailers turn good intentions into actual results.
Rules and Regulations Are Changing Too
A government rule will influence how a company goes through this last process as well. Some manufacturers now have to pay for recycling due to Extended Producer Responsibility. Manufacturers are forced to look at the whole life cycle of packaging because of these laws. Most manufacturers will make better, wiser decisions as a result of this pressure.
Customers Play a Role Too
The customer is just as important to this final step. The most effective packaging in the world cannot be recycled properly without consumers who recycle effectively. Packaging producers can greatly assist with helping customers by putting easy-to-read information regarding proper disposal directly on each package. Companies making these small design changes may increase actual recycling rates.
Why This Full Checklist Pays Off
Brands who implement all of the above will typically enjoy long term success. Long-term customer relationships are developed through their adherence to environmental practices. Brands can avoid the financial burden of future regulation by changing to sustainable packaging now.
Most companies find it is much cheaper to plan ahead rather than have to fix a problem after it has been created. Each stage in a product's life cycle from design through to end-of-life has an impact on the environment. It may seem like small things, but the cumulative effect of making decisions along the way can make or break the sustainability of products.
Retailers have a great deal of control over how they choose to make a positive difference in their overall supply chain. A brand should carefully consider the entire process from start to finish, not just one part of it.