Green packaging: how the packaging of the future is developing

The problem of environmental pollution is a very important global phenomenon and is an extremely topical topic in Italy and in all European countries.

If, until a few years ago, economics and ecology were two independent entities, today the situation is very different; with the precise aim of spreading the concept of environmental sustainability and sustainable economy, thanks to advertising and communication, it was possible to inform and modify consumer behavior by proposing the purchase of more ecological products by applying,in fact, the concept of green / ecological economy.

Natural resources are being depleted faster and faster and it is therefore essential to integrate, in business strategies, attention to environmental and social health; in particular, we must raise awareness of topics that deal with the limitation of waste of raw materials and the reduction of environmental impact by increasing research to find sustainable solutions that experimentin green and compostable packaging.

What is green packaging?

The basic concept that characterizes eco-sustainable packaging, is the result of the idea of using less packaging material that is still able to guarantee the safety and protection of the product.

The goal of green packaging is to reduce unnecessary packaging and package products responsibly and sustainably, thus promoting the concept of care for the environment and society.

Ecological packaging involves the use of biodegradable and recyclable materials obtained through production methods with a low environmental impact that also ensure good energy savings at all stages of processing and limits production waste and waste of raw materials to the maximum.

Sustainable packaging is certainly identified with two great “concepts”: Recycling and Reuse, or the transformation into a new useful object for the final consumer.

Reuse is an element of great consideration in different production sectors, starting from the food sector, passing through e-commerce platforms and ending with the clothing/fashion sector.

The notes expressed above, in fact, induce companies to invest in research for the production of packaging that can perform different tasks taking on new life at the end of their main function.

To confirm the above, from recent market surveys carried out at a global level to analyze how consumer demand is increasingly oriented towards companies that focus on environmental sustainability and sustainable packaging, it emerged that two thirds of Italians would like more eco-sustainable packaging for products and, about 89% of them,  he would prefer cardboard to plastic.

55% of millennials said that they choose products with the least packaging.

In Europe, more and more people are positively influenced towards the purchase of products with ecological, recyclable and biodegradable packaging which, in addition to a reduction in environmental impact, can compete and guarantee better performance than those derivedfrom oil.

Furthermore, for 41% of consumers, packaging is the first sustainability factor on which a brand is evaluated;  this means that packaging becomes the fundamental element to pay attention to in order to evaluate the “goodness” of the brand and its image return.

Another important note to consider is that deriving from the different environmental impact which is the primary difference between the classic packaging made with plastic materials and those made with ecological materials.

Eco-packaging, in addition to being made with sustainable materials, is also processed and transported through the use of sustainable energy sources.

From the above, the logical question is: What materials to use for a green packaging?

Among the materials used for green packaging, we find biodegradable plastics, vegetable plastics, recycled paper and cardboard, corrugated cardboard and recycled polyethylene bags.

Some of these elements, including paper in all its possible compositions  and corrugated cardboard,  are 99.9% recyclable materials and can be customized.

In the production of packaging, paper and corrugated cardboard allow to create functional packaging models that, through the minimum consumption of raw materials, guarantee a high quality product and perfectly in line with the needs of the market.

What are the advantages of ecological packaging?

In addition to being extremely beneficial for the environment, green packaging also brings numerous benefits to manufacturers and consumers.

Focusing instead on the economic aspect, through the use of recycled materials companies save on processing costs (and use less), allowing in many cases to decrease the final price to the customer.

A second aspect on the advantages of ecological packaging concerns the corporate image: the company proves to be updated on “sustainability” and shows total transparency towards consumers regarding the use of innovative, modern and versatile machinery that allows to create any type of packaging.

Sustainable companies, through the limitation of waste and the reduction of packaging waste, achieve greater effectiveness on production processes and minimize impacts on the environment.

Finally, government policy is also planning investments dedicated exclusively to companies in the sustainable development phase with the aim of increasing innovative solutions that adopt sustainable strategies.

In conclusion, the choice to use an ecological and recycled product such as paper and cardboard, or the use of biodegradable, compostable and renewable products helps to actively contribute to the reduction of waste, the constant reduction of waste and, at the same time, contributes to ensuring the development of a circular economy.

In EVi, every day we look for and evaluate topics and possibilities for comparison in order to create solutions favorable to sustainable development.

More information on the subject is available for consultation directly (https://eEVI s.r.l. | Packaging solutions (evi-italia.com).