Retail and e-commerce play a vital part in the UK economy, contributing to 4.9% of the UK’s total economic output in 2023.
But despite the critical role, there’s significant pressure for brick-and-mortar and online shops to operate on shrinking profit margins while facing increasing pressure from consumers to adopt sustainable practices. The reality is that balancing profit and practicality with sustainability is challenging; especially when it comes to packaging, where environmental impact and consumer expectations are exceedingly hard to navigate.
From the Plastic Packaging levy to accusations of greenwashing, the sustainable packaging landscape is becoming increasingly complex and can often feel impossible to navigate.
At Titan Packaging, we’ve been assisting national brands in the health and beauty, food, and beverage industries in developing sustainable packaging strategies. Here are some sustainable packaging ideas that can help your retail or e-commerce business make a positive impact.
1. Reduce Your Packaging Size
We’ve all been there. You’ve finally received your parcel and it appears to be the world’s biggest box with a product that’s the size of a jelly bean. Now, you’ve got to get rid of excessive cardboard and void fill.
It’s a common issue that most retailers struggle with; after all, according to DHL the average box is 40% too big. Packaging that’s too big or too small is a waste of material and increases the risk of products being damaged during transit, thus impacting your returns rates (and excess carbon emissions that come with this). Storing several different size cardboard boxes is also inefficient, and means you’re holding onto excess stock.
Instead, consider 3 to 4 different box sizes that can be used across your product range. This reduces the amount of ‘empty space’ and filler shipped, thereby decreasing environmental impact and material costs. Smaller packages also allow for more efficient transportation, reducing emissions and costs per item. Additionally, appropriately sized packaging minimises product damage and return rates, ensuring items reach customers in perfect condition.
2. Recycled Plastics > Virgin Plastics
In an ideal world, we’d eliminate plastic entirely and utilise materials that were 100% recyclable or biodegradable. However, there are instances where plastic remains the best material for the job, due to its waterproof and durable qualities. However, these same properties are what make plastic so bad for the environment, as it takes anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose (The UN).
The good news is that switching from virgin plastic to recycled plastic can significantly reduce waste and environmental impact (and save money). According to Tide, plastic recycling can save up to 80% of the carbon emissions associated with virgin plastic.
Pair this with the fact that the UK government has increased the Plastic Packaging Tax from £210.82 per tonne to £217.85 per tonne for any plastic with less than 30% recycled content, it’s clear that recycled plastic is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly choice.
At Titan, we offer plastic closed loop recycling. This means that we’ll recycle plastic and put it back into UK manufacturing. By implementing closed loop recycling you can preserve natural resources, minimise harm caused to plants, reduce pollutants and lower the use of landfill sites.
