The end of the year is fast approaching. And with it comes a flurry of consumer spending and online shopping.
Starting with the digital buying frenzy of the Black Friday Sales period in November and running throughout December, this is the golden time for retail businesses. It also means a greater need for shopping bags and postal packaging when shipping eCommerce customer orders.
A primary consideration for all businesses this year is how to manage the demands of peak trading more sustainably than ever before. Environmentally conscious packaging is now a customer expectation, and companies must consider how to create great customer experiences while also minimising their impact on the planet.
We’ve rounded up five brilliant packaging ideas to boost your business’s eco-credibility this festive season.
Reusable customer shopping bags
Retail environments are full of customers walking around with plastic shopping bags. An effective way to cut plastic waste is for stores to provide their customers with sturdy, reusable bags to carry their purchases. Not only is it more durable than a plastic shopping bag, but these plant-based carry bags can be composted. Another perk of reusable shopping bags is that you can print your brand’s logo on the side as a creative marketing activity.
Boxes for retail customers
To cater to those who prefer not to use a bag, retailers might consider keeping the cardboard boxes received through their supply chain and offering them to customers instead of plastic bags. This gives boxes a secondary use, and they can be composted or recycled after reaching their final destination.
Compostable postbags
eCommerce is becoming an increasingly popular way to shop, and more and more customers are placing orders online rather than visiting busy retail stores. The downside is that products sent in the post are wrapped in an enormous amount of protective packaging. Once received, this packaging goes straight into the bin and then to the landfill. Stem this mindless wastage by sending orders in a post bag that is made from 100% organic material. Once it’s reached its destination, the bag can be disposed of along with household food scraps in the compost.
Repurposing supply chain boxes
Another way to ensure cardboard boxes aren’t only used once is to feed them back into your supply chain. They can be convenient for returning items to the manufacturer or even to replace your standard customer-facing packaging when sending out larger eCommerce orders.
Compostable checkout bags
Stock up on an ample supply of earth-friendly compostable checkout bags for your retail business before the silly season starts. Ideal for customers who purchase smaller items, they’ll transport goods safely, and once at home, the bags can be disposed of in the compost heap. Compostable checkout bags can even be printed with your business’s logo using plant-based ink, so it doesn’t affect the bag’s ability to return to the earth harmlessly.
If you’ve mastered all these sustainable ideas, why not take things one step further by encouraging customers who live locally to collect their orders from your store? Not only will this save on unnecessary shipping to their home address, but it might avoid the need for packaging altogether. Face-to-face interactions are an excellent way to boost your customer service standards, and you’ll be reducing a delivery service’s associated costs and carbon emissions.
Want more earth-friendly retail packaging ideas? Head to the Because We Care website and be inspired by our versatile range of products.
