As a signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), Signet is committed to creating, sourcing and providing our customers with eco-friendly alternative packaging solutions that reduce our impact on the environment.
Eco-friendly alternative packaging solutions are so important for brands and consumers alike. Luckily, this handy article will help you keep abreast of all the latest plastic, styrofoam and bubble wrap alternatives, and other eco-friendly packaging solutions.
Keep reading to discover the latest eco-friendly packaging options for your business.
Why switch to eco-friendly packaging?
Whether it’s Keep Cups at cafes, the recent ban on plastic straws, reusable shopping bags at the supermarket, or the increase in fully-recycled packaging, it’s clear us Aussies are making a concerted effort to become more eco-friendly.
This shift is also impacting our purchasing decisions. One recent study found that a third of consumers choose to buy from brands they believe are doing social or environmental good.
Given this increased consumer awareness around the hazards of plastic and other environmental concerns, coupled with the increase in packaging demands due to online shopping and such, many businesses have had to change their ways.
That’s why every major brand now devotes entire sections of their website to promote their eco-friendly measures. Even McDonald’s recently announced that its packaging will be made from 100% renewable, recycled, or certified sources by 2025.
Today, it's essential that your business reflects these same values, not only to help the environment but also to increase brand loyalty amongst eco-conscious consumers.
And with packaging materials and accessories likely making up a sizable part of your brand’s environmental impact, implementing eco-friendly packaging into your brand’s operations is no longer an option, it’s a necessity.
This demand has led to a wave of innovative new eco-friendly packaging alternatives in recent times, from plastic-free mailers to biodegradable packaging tape.
And the best part? Oftentimes, these options are just as, if not more affordable, than their not-so-environmentally-friendly counterparts, making them an economically viable option for your business.
Top 5 Alternative Packaging Solutions
There have been many breakthroughs in eco-friendly packaging, which means it’s getting easier for your brand to reduce its environmental impact. So let’s dive into the world of alternative packaging solutions...
1. Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging Supplies
As the names suggest, biodegradable packaging can break down when exposed to certain light, air and moisture conditions, while compostable products break down into natural components under specific conditions that return nutrients back to soil
One great example of biodegradable packaging is our Kraft Water-Activated Packing Tape, which is made from environmentally friendly, Natural Kraft Paper and starch adhesive. It’s 100% biodegradable and 100% recyclable, with a water-activated adhesive that penetrates into the fibres of the carton, providing a superior seal.
2. Eco-Friendly Packing Peanuts
For a long time, polystyrene was the standard in loose-fill packaging for fragile or otherwise sensitive items, helping to prevent movement and cushion against shocks. But since it’s not biodegradable or recyclable and can wreak havoc on waterways, businesses should consider replacing it with biodegradable air peanuts.
Our range of Sustainable Packing Peanuts includes the compostable BioFill, which provides shock-absorbing protection for products in transit. It’s made from natural corn starch that, once applied with water, breaks down quickly and easily.
Ranpak’s FillPak and PadPak ranges are also used to fill any empty voids or space in boxes. They are made purely from paper, making them recyclable, biodegradable and compostable. Read our case study on how leading brand Lush cosmetics uses Ranpak supplied by Signet for their in-the-box protection.
3. Eco-friendly Bubble Wrap Alternatives
While the classic plastic bubble wrap we grew up with might still bring about nostalgic pangs of joy, irrespective of your age, it was never the most eco-friendly. Luckily, these days, there are a whole lot of alternatives to bubble wrap.
One of the most popular eco-friendly bubble wrap alternatives is Ranpak’s Geami. It is made from die-cut paper that creates a 3D honeycomb structure to securely wrap and protect your products without the need for tape, and is ideal for a variety of products including glassware, housewares, cosmetics and electronics.
Made from a 100% recyclable, renewable and biodegradable Kraft Paper, Geami also requires less material to provide optimal protection, while offering amazing visual presentation, to enhance the customer experience.
Corrugated cardboard is another eco-friendly option. Rather than disposing or recycling post-consumer cardboard waste, it gets the chance of an additional life as a cushioning material, in which small incisions are made to produce a concertina-type effect that protects against shocks just like bubble wrap.
4. 100% Recycled Boxes
While boxes are made from organic materials like cardboard and paper, their use can still have an impact on the environment, especially if made from virgin paper and cardboard.
To ensure your packaging is as eco-friendly as possible, try to source boxes made from 100% recycled paper and cardboard, such as many of the boxes you’ll find here at Signet.
See for yourself how Signet helped successful fitness brand MOBECO eliminate unnecessary packaging and plastic, and achieve a sustainable packaging solution, through our mailing boxes and shipping cartons.
5. Plastic-Free Mailing Bags
It’s all very well having eco-friendly packaging, but it won’t mean as much if you then go ahead and place it inside a plastic mailer. At the bare minimum, use return mailers, which allow customers to return or reuse the mailer more than once.
But as a sustainable plastic alternative, try to ensure your mailers are made from recycled materials, and fully recyclable, so they can get another go as, say, one of our recycled boxes or packing paper rolls.
These days, it’s easy to achieve your plastic-free packaging needs, thanks to the extensive and easily accessible range of recyclable, paper Jiffy Mailing Bags on offer. They’re made from 100% recycled newspaper, available in all common sizes, and cushioned to protect your products.
We’ve helped online eco-store Biome switch to Jiffy Padded Bags as an affordable green substitute to plastic postal satchels, while Crockd discovered that our Jiffy Padded Bags are rugged enough to both protect their DIY pottery kits and meet their sustainability goals.
Sustainable Compostable Mailers are another great plastic-free alternative. They’re made from plant-based materials, and will compost in industrial facilities and home composting environments, turning into organic fertiliser.
Alternatively, our environmentally friendly, 100% Recyclable Honeycomb Mailers offer a sustainable alternative to plastic bubble mailers. They’re made with a double layer of honeycomb Kraft paper padding for superior protection.
No matter which eco-friendly packaging solutions you choose, help reduce your environmental impact with the latest in compostable, recyclable, biodegradable and reusable packaging products today.
Or speak with a Signet team member about our eco-friendly packaging solutions today. Contact our Sales Team on 13 7446, email sales@signet.net.au , or Live Chat with us by visiting www.signet.net.au.
