Partnering with Environmentally Friendly Packaging Companies
Many brands are partnering with packaging manufacturers specializing in eco-friendly materials. Companies like Ecologic and Sustainable Packaging Coalition offer packaging solutions made from recycled or renewable resources like paper, bamboo, sugar cane and bioplastics.
By selecting suppliers focused on sustainability, brands gain access to the latest green packaging innovations. They also support the growth of eco-companies developing alternatives to traditional plastics and fibers. Partnering ensures any new designs will utilize the most environmentally preferred options available.
Lightweighting with Paper and Paperboard
Designers are leveraging the versatility of paper and paperboard for lightweight yet durable packaging. Folding carton boxes, wrapping paper and carrier bags utilize these renewable resources efficiently through compact designs with minimal excess material. Detailed CAD modeling optimizes material usage and structural performance.
Innovative techniques such as corrugating, honeycombing and micro-fluting further boost the strength-to-weight ratio of paper-based packs. This allows an even smaller packaging footprint while maintaining protection levels.
Experimenting with Bioplastics and Plant-Based Materials
Bioplastics derived from crops like sugarcane, corn or vegetable oils offer a renewable alternative to fossil-fuel based plastics. Designers continue improving formulations for properties matching conventional polymers. Advances enable seamless substitution of petroleum plastics with innovative plant-based versions.
New materials like PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) plastics and lignin thermoplastics also show promise. Designers conduct research to apply these cutting-edge biomaterials for packaging applications from shopping bags to clamshells.
Optimizing for Recyclability
Eco-conscious designers ensure any new pack designs can re-enter the circular economy through recycling. They specify widely collected post-consumer recyclable materials like PET (#1), HDPE (#2) and fiber-based components. Careful attention to construction avoids multi-material laminations which complicate sorting.
Design features promoting recyclability include clearly labeled resins, optimized dimensions for automation, and minimal inks/labels. Component separation aids disassembly. This futureproofs designs for evolving collection/processing methods, boosting environmentally friendly packaging companies over the long run.
Encouraging Reuse with Refill and Récup Systems
Many brands utilize refill pouches or bags that consumers bring back to retailers for fresh product. These durable reusable packaging options eliminate single-use containers. Brands like The Natural Skincare Co. facilitate refills through standardized dispensing systems.
Returnable packaging further reduces waste. Kegs, totes and crates built to withstand multiple roundtrips between manufacturers and distributors exemplify long-life reusable designs. Customizable size/shape maximizes transportation/storagecube usage.
Trialling New Sustainable Formats
While traditional packaging persists, innovative brands experiment with substitutes. Examples include powder concentrates replacing plastic bottles, or loose bulk bins replacing small containers. Online sellers ship products unpackaged or using post-consumer materials as envelopes/wrapping.
These newer formats rethink norms with the goal of eventually eliminating unnecessary packaging. Lessons from pilot programs inform future industry-wide shifts toward dematerialized solutions matching customer preferences and sustainability goals.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Box Examples
Some environmentally friendly packaging companies include:
- TerraCycle – Offers reusable boxes made from recycled paper and plastic for shipping ecommerce orders.
- Preserve – Uses compostable and biodegradable materials for produce, snack and meal kit boxes.
- Pentatonic – Creates paper packaging solutions strengthened through origami-inspired folding without excess material.
These forward-thinking companies demonstrate that eco-packaging need not compromise on functionality or appeal through innovative design-led solutions.
Driving Long-Term Sustainability
With continuous innovation, packaging design directly supports the global shift toward a circular economy model. Designers lay the foundation for reduced impacts, closed-loop material flows and regenerative product systems of the future through diligent experimentation today.