It’s wonderful to acknowledge that we’re presently living in a world where sustainability is becoming a standard for consumers. Recent reports about sustainability and ethical consumerism by various think tanks confirmed that the majority of shoppers today are willing to change their shopping habits to lessen the impact on the environment. As a matter of fact, 70% of conscious shoppers would pay 35% premium on sustainable brands.

However, the use of non-recyclable and single-use plastic packaging defeats the purpose of sustainability practice no matter how eco-friendly the product is. Indeed, it is a challenge for many, especially in retail where many businesses are concerned that switching to sustainable packaging is more expensive.

The good news is that eco-friendly packaging is becoming more popular. Thanks to environmentally-aware consumers, the retail industry is reshaping its value chain to adjust to the growing demands of sustainable packaging. New vendors are providing competitive rates and several corporations are exploring recycled materials to produce new packaging that limits the use of natural resources.

The cost of plastic pollution

We use packaging on a daily basis for different purposes— to protect our items, to wrap food, for storage, etc. What is sustainable packaging? To put it simply, sustainable packaging is made from recyclable materials that is safe for people and the environment. Sustainable packaging is a solution to the growing problem of plastic pollution that goes through landfills and the ocean.

According to Ecowatch, around 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide annually. These plastic bags find their way in the oceans and into the bellies of marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds. The World Wildlife Fund estimated that 81 out of 123 marine mammal species have eaten or been entangled in plastic.

Plastic pollution also affects people's health. Aside from chemical additives that were found to cause hormone-related cancers, infertility and neurodevelopmental disorders , microplastics that are present in plastic food packaging have been detected in human blood.

Switching to sustainable packaging

During the height of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020, the use of plastic decreased to 2.2% as economic activities slowed but rebounded back in 2021 when pandemic restrictions eased. Fortunately, 2022 is a strong year for sustainable packaging and conscious consumerism.

For businesses to gain the trust of consumers with their switch to sustainable packaging, the quality should perform better than conventional plastics in terms of strength and safety. Most eco-friendly packaging today are made from starch-based materials that are biodegradable, durable and heat tolerant. Additionally, 36% of shoppers will buy more sustainably packaged products that are better labelled according to a recent study.

By benefits of using sustainable packaging are:

• Reduce carbon emission
• Promote a healthy life that is free from the harmful plastic toxins and allergens
• Increase in sales and loyalty for businesses
• Governments implementing regulations on environmental waste and waste management

Sustainable packaging criteria

To help industries and businesses develop a sustainable packaging system, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition defined sustainable packaging based on the following criteria:

• It is beneficial, safe and healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle.
• It meets market criteria for performance and cost.
• It is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy.
• It optimises the use of renewable or recycled source materials.
• It is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices.
• It is made from materials healthy throughout the life cycle.
• It is physically designed to optimise materials and energy.
• It is effectively recovered and utilised in biological and/or industrial closed loop cycles.