The Environmental Impact of Sustainable Packaging
Sustainable packaging clearly has a positive environmental impact, but it is incredible how much of an impact it can have. In 2021, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition found that 60% of consumers had access to curbside recycling, while 32% had access to recycling drop-off. Overall, recycling accessibility has risen. Sustainable options are available. As they continue to gain traction and more businesses switch to sustainable processes and products, waste will be reduced to help people and the planet.
Business Impact of Sustainable Packaging
Packaging is crucial, being responsible for the protection of products. It is possible to have products that are sustainable without compromising quality or durability. In fact, there are many benefits for businesses when they eliminate plastic waste and employ sustainable packaging.
Sustainable packaging is often lighter, which leads to lower costs to ship and handle. It is also easier to dispose of and there are often less labor and material costs involved. By using products that are Cradle to Cradle Certified® (C2C) businesses can show that they are serious about sustainability. Cradle to Cradle Certified® (C2C) is a standard for products that are safe, circular, and responsibly made. C2C products are scored based on five areas:
- Material health
- Product Circularity
- Clean Air & Climate Protection
- Water & Soil Stewardship
- Social Fairness
By packing sustainably and using C2C businesses can show transparency with customers and that they are serious about reducing waste. They can be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Sustainable Packaging Products You Should Know About
Now that it is clear that sustainable solutions exist, it is important to know specific products that can be used. IPG sells some of the most innovative and effective sustainable packaging products, including those that are Cradle to Cradle Certified® and curbside recyclable. Our Curby®Packaging Products are curbside recyclable, including Curby Fragile Wrap and the Curby Mailer, which make Ecommerce packaging even easier!
Another innovative sustainable packing solution is the PaperSpace X-Fill™ System, which is Gold level certified by Cradle to Cradle. The PaperSpace X-Fill™ System is a paper void fill system that uses recycled paper content. Some of its features are:
- Highly efficient
- User-friendly
- Low downtime and maintenance
- Versatile
- Adjustable heights and angles
- Economical
Additionally, Gold is one of the highest levels of C2C product certification, and shows IPG’s dedication to a high standard of sustainability.
Packaging makes up a large portion of our ecological footprint. By using sustainable products we can minimize that footprint, support a circular economy, and go green!
