For many businesses, using non-sustainable product packaging in supply chain logistics is a major contributor to unnecessary waste. Furthermore, it is responsible for multifaceted ecological damage and adds to a company’s overall carbon impact.
Why is using plastic packaging bad?
Plastics are derived from non-renewable sources like fossil fuels and finite natural minerals. The manufacturing of bulk-order plastic packaging has a wide range of negative impacts on the planet, including habitat destruction, substantial greenhouse gas emissions, and long-term ecological damage. At the other end of the product’s lifecycle, when single-use plastics are not recycled or disposed of appropriately, they contribute to the earth’s exacerbating pollution problem and pose an ongoing threat to delicate natural ecosystems.
Why should companies change to sustainable packaging?
An area where business owners have the power to make positive inroads for the planet is in the packaging solutions they choose for their supply chain. Compostable packaging uses organic and renewable materials to minimise environmental impact. Not only is a sustainable change in your packaging a decision that will future-proof your business, but it also meets your customers’ expectations for sustainability and ensures you’re proactively addressing environmental issues before governments and regulatory bodies make these changes mandatory in your industry.
The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to reassess and refresh your supply chain processes and adopt more sustainable packaging options into your day-to-day business operations. Here are five fast-action steps and thought-starters to give your supply chain a more sustainable start to the year.
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- Understand the impact of your current packaging
The first step is to conduct a comprehensive lifecycle analysis of your current packaging. Assess the materials used within your end-to-end supply chain and examine its journey from raw material extraction to how your teams or the eventual customer dispose of it. This involves evaluating the resources, energy consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions. It may require you to request information from your suppliers and business partners so you can fully understand your current environmental impact.
- Identify quick-win areas for improvement
There may be obvious parts of your supply chain where it’s clear there is excessive plastic packaging or that a non-recyclable material is being used when something more earth-friendly could be a replacement. These are the areas where a change can be applied relatively quickly and easily. - Review sustainable product substitutes
There are many viable bulk-order alternatives to plastic packaging on the market. Consider using recycled and recyclable items, biodegradable products, compostable materials and pre-used boxes. Explore innovative technologies and materials that align with your business’s future sustainability goals and invest in switching to a greener product packaging alternative. - Optimise packaging sizes and weights
Efficient packaging goes beyond product material choice; it also means using the best size box for air freight and shipments. Optimising the size and weight of supply chain boxes will often mean smaller, lighter packages, which can subsequently reduce transportation costs and require less carbon emissions from the associated transportation. - Collaborate with sustainable suppliers
Review your current supplier relationships and the sustainability commitments you’ve made together. Engage in dialogue with these business partners to workshop where sustainable products and processes can be applied, and existing activities can be optimised. It’s good practice to conduct regular audits to assess your combined environmental performance and continue to implement environmentally responsible practices throughout the supply chain.
- Understand the impact of your current packaging
As we enter a new calendar year, businesses can make positive incremental improvements through sustainable packaging solutions, being mindful of eco-friendly materials, optimised packaging and a more streamlined end-to-end supply chain. These sustainable actions will benefit the environment and enhance your company’s brand image and long-term viability.
