More companies are now aiming to be more eco-friendly to accommodate the increasing demand.

“Sales of products increase when switching to more environmentally friendly packaging, according to one in three (31%) marketing professionals surveyed by Pro Carton.” That’s right. You can be increasing sales with eco-friendly packaging. If you want to compete within your market, it’s practically a necessity. Consumers are increasingly demanding higher standards of sustainable actions from companies as we move deeper into the 21^st century. The public is learning to prioritize our planet’s health by leveraging their spending power. Many individuals now only support corporations that are making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint with renewable energy and eco-friendly products. With an abundance of competition, customers will go elsewhere if they see that your brand’s vision does not align with their own ecological values.

What is Sustainable Packaging and Why is it So Important?

Sustainable packaging has less of an environmental impact than traditional materials for the duration of its life cycle. This begins at the source of the material, but is also considered throughout the production process and as far as the way in which it’s disposed of. As millennials continue to make up a larger part of the consumer base, we are witnessing a growing portion of the public that focuses their purchasing power toward companies that they align with ethically. Eco-friendly packaging is thus becoming a fundamental part of any brand’s identity.

Adopting eco-friendly practices helps to empower your brand by engaging your audience and building trust. By falling in line with your customer’s values, your brand becomes more relatable, fosters more loyalty, and ultimately leads to more sales over time. Coincidentally, eco-friendly packaging practices can actually end up costing less. They utilize less material and have become incredibly cost-effective as the market for sustainable packaging solutions continues to grow over time.

What’s Driving this Growth?

In its latest annual study on this topic, Nielsen reveals that almost two-thirds (66%) of consumers are willing to pay extra for products and services that come from companies who are committed to positive social and environmental impact. That represents a sizable jump from 55% last year and 50% the year before. The increasing trend in ecological values is definitely going to continue to grow for as long as the public actively seeks sustainability efforts from large corporations to help combat climate change.

Sometimes Consumers Trust Companies that Support Environmental Causes

Taking on sustainability initiatives as a brand automatically builds trust with your audience. A staggering 92% of customers trust a company that supports environmental causes more than one who does not. There’s obviously a universal appreciation and support for the current sustainability movement. Eco-friendly companies are looked up to because they are genuinely making the effort to do the right thing. It’s an authentic form of transparency that speaks for itself. Applying proactive sustainability solutions is objectively beneficial to our community. There are no gimmicks involved. Customers intentionally seek out eco-friendly products because they align with their core values.

Avoid Mixing Recyclable and Non-Recyclable Materials

The recycling process is highly organized and incredibly complex. The reality is that only a percentage of what we send to be processed can truly be recycled and converted into another usable material. Often times, packing materials are disposed of because the packaging is actually a mix of recyclable and non-recyclable materials that can be difficult to separate or too time consuming to sort. These circumstances actually negate the eco-friendly efforts employed by corporations, despite their good intentions. It’s important to take the time to verify that packaging materials are entirely recyclable so that they may be handled as such instead of being disposed of as waste products.

Reduce the Amount of Packaging Material Used

The first step toward more sustainable packaging solutions relies on reducing the amount of materials being used. This tackles the issue at its source. Remember the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle)? It’s a longstanding principle that’s easy to understand. If you reduce what you consume, you will have less waste to deal with down the line. Not only does this immediately reduce your packaging cost, but it also reduces the energy used and byproducts that occur as a result of the disposal process.

Switch to eco-friendly Box materials

Your brand can have a big impact by using eco-friendly alternatives to plastics and non-recyclable materials. In doing so, you are consequently supporting the companies that are heavily involved in the sustainability initiative. Acting as a responsible consumer, you help to increase the demand and reduce the prices of sustainable packaging. With time, companies like yours will funnel more value toward other eco-friendly companies and decrease the demand for unsustainable material. Collectively, there will be an even larger impact as less money is invested in disposable packaging that leaves toxic pollutants in the environment both during production and throughout the disposal process.

Consider Using Pre-Cycled Materials for your Boxes

Pre-cycled materials have already gone through the recycling process and are now ready to be re-purposed. Using pre-cycled materials is extremely beneficial for the environment! They end up reducing the amount of new material your company is putting into circulation. Most commonly used packing materials can be found in pre-cycled forms. Packing peanuts, for example, are color-coded based on the percentage of recycled material in their composition. Many innovative printing companies are printing marketing material and other inserts on recycled paper as well. Even custom product packaging can be sourced from recycled pulp for corrugated boards and shipping boxes.

Take the Next Step

Due to the strict demand imposed by consumers, eco-friendly packaging is essential in acquiring customers and empowering your brand. By reducing the materials used throughout your packing process and opting for sustainable packaging alternatives, you can respond to your market’s demand and generate more income as a consequence of brand loyalty. With a more powerful presence, your brand can be increasing sales with eco-friendly packaging. EcoEXpress makes custom sustainable packaging by using recycled material as the basis for your branded packaging designs. Take initiative and do business with a manufacturer that offers eco-friendly shipping supplies so that your brand’s core values may better resonate with your audience.

EcoEXpress uses corrugated boards made from 50% repurposed pulp and our boxes are 100% recyclable.