Today, e-commerce and increased consumerism have become impactful factors in our everyday lives! It has slowly become the norm when it comes to how we obtain the products that we need.
Due to this, companies need to become more aware of the environmental impact that they are having. This is because pollution and unnecessary waste are now becoming bigger issues. To reduce our environmental footprint, sustainability should be a top priority!
To achieve this, businesses need a cradle to cradle model, also known as circular economy, that focuses on giving new value to used materials. This avoids the linear “take, make, waste” model where used materials get sent to incinerators or landfills.
What else should you know about sustainable packaging? Keep on reading to find out more about sustainable packaging!
Aim of the Circular Economy
The growing numbers of sustainable materials in our world today is leading to a more circular economy. A circular economy’s goal is to keep any materials used in products and services in circulation for as long as possible. This system allows for the eradication of unnecessary and excessive waste on a daily basis.
Most materials used in production today are typically designed for single use. The shift from single use to a circular product has experienced a larger growth demand than ever before.
Although single use is more convenient for consumers, it is not a viable system that can stand the test of time. A circular economy emphasizes the need for the reduction of the negative impacts of the current linear system in place. This is often achieved through the cutback on the use of harmful materials thrown away after one use.
Businesses should prioritize establishing recyclable materials, products, and services in their place. A circular economy aims to improve the current climate crisis. It provides a sustainable solution by targeting the considerable amount of waste produced every day.
Why Is a Circular Economy Important?
In the mission to counteract the effects of climate change, a circular economy plays a crucial role. To take action against the decline in the environment, material recovery and reuse are one of the most effective actions to put in place.
According to the United Nations’ Internal Resource Panel, almost half of greenhouse gas emission comes from the constant extraction of natural resources. This is due to the growing need for production materials to keep up with the fast-paced usage of a linear economy.
A circular economy is important because if done right, it has the potential to preserve the environment and even advance and boost the current economy. The foundation of a circular economy comes from sustainability and the need to cut back on the number of natural resources extracted to make a real difference in climate change.
Millions of people across the globe suffer from the effects of a linear economy and have become burdened by these negative impacts.. A circular economy could be a huge stride towards the reduction of toxic waste and improved living-condition for affected people.
Achieving Sustainability in Packaging
Packaging plays a huge role when it comes to the consumption of products around the world as it is what ensures the protection and preservation of the products in our everyday lives. With the rise of urbanization and e-commerce, the global packaging industry is set to grow exponentially as consumers continue to buy products.
To fight this, businesses are turning to sustainable packaging in order to achieve eco-friendly initiatives. Sustainability in packaging has become the standard for most companies and innovations regarding this appear more frequently. Switching to sustainable packaging proves to be better, in the long run, to minimize the waste of the industry and combat contribution to landfills, and lower overall environmental footprint.
Moving towards sustainability calls for a major adjustment regarding the lifecycle of a product including the packaging, which means that the entire system needs to evolve to meet the requirement of sustainability. There are many different ways to achieve sustainability in packaging such as turning to recycled materials when creating packaging and shipping in smaller packages to avoid over-packaging in supply chains. Businesses that support the shift to sustainability can keep ahead of tightening regulations, enhance their growth overall, and lessen their environmental impact.
Sustainable Packaging and the Circular Economy
Attaining a circular economy through the help of sustainable packaging doesn’t only start with the use of more eco-friendly materials, but also requires the ability to turn the waste into something useful. This means that there is a need for the collection of packaging waste to get recycled and used again, thus completing the circular system. If done correctly, sustainable business packaging can greatly help move us into a proper circular economy.
Sustainability Is the New Way!
The growth in developing countries results in increased consumerism which brings with it the need for packaging of products. However, because of the damaging effect that this system has on the environment, there is a great obligation to push toward a circular economy through the help of more sustainable packaging. Sustainability is not something out of reach as long as companies work more towards reusing and recycling materials when creating packaging for their products.
We hope that after reading this article, you have a better grasp of how sustainable packaging can benefit the circular economy. If you want to read more articles like this, check out the rest of our blog.