Largely driven by consumer demand rather than social responsibility, more and more companies are making changes to ensure that they are doing everything that they can to show that they have “gone green”. This trend has not escaped the notice of packaging companies as demonstrating to customers that the packaging is created with the environment in mind has proved to improve sales and brand loyalty.
There are many reasons to make the change to a modern, eco-friendly package design that will not only save your business money and improve profits, it will also help to save the planet.
1. Cost savings
Not only is the unit cost of eco-friendly packaging materials similar to that if those that harm the environment they are also a lot lighter and often thinner. They are designed in such a way that they still offer the same amount of protection to the product during shipping, however, they will cost significantly less in shipping costs.
2. Gain new customers
As previously stated, the eco-friendly push is led by the consumer’s desire to save the planet. So, if you can offer a customer a product that is of a comparable price to a competitors, with the added feel-good of being good for the environment they will often jump at the chance. The average consumer today is much more savvy than they used to be when it comes to how and where their products are produced, sourced and manufactured. If you can offer them the chance to make an eco-friendly choice without hurting their wallet they often will.
3. They can be reused or recycled
Renewable materials that also be recycled or reused are what everyone wants. You want the customer to feel comfortable putting the packaging into their recycle bin. The main goal is to have packaging that looks great, and also doesn’t feel wasteful to use.
4. Social currency
If your brand is known to be environmentally conscious then customers will be proud to associate themselves with you. Just think about the PR nightmare that can arise if a high profile company was found to have caused damage to the environment for years.
If you have any social media message or product that you want people to share online they will be glad to if it makes them look better also. If you have shown that you, as a business, have done all you can to protect the environment, then you can be sure your customers will be more than eager to associate themselves with you.
5. Less waste
Being kind to the environment is not just about changing packaging materials, there are a lot of other things that you can do to cut costs and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time. By reducing waste, you can further cut costs and look good doing it!
6. It’s an opportunity for a redesign
If you are making the switch to a more eco-friendly packaging then you should take this chance to think about the overall redesign of your packaging. With so many more options available in terms of colour, box design and inserts this is something that is definitely worth considering. A few simple changes to your package design using the tools and experience available at a top packaging company could massively increase the number of units that fly off the shelves.
