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What Is Sustainable Packaging?
Sustainable packaging’ is a term that’s being used more and more frequently and a trend that’s increasing in popularity and importance. But what exactly is it and why is it so crucial for your business?
Essentially, it can be defined as packaging that’s designed to have minimal environmental impact throughout its whole life cycle, from manufacture to disposal. Sustainable packaging focuses on minimising waste, conserving resources and reducing a business’s carbon footprint to help prevent pollution and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Read on as we reveal exactly what the term ‘sustainable packaging’ means and how Cambrian can help you make the switch to greener packaging, for the good of your business – and our planet.
The Fundamentals Of Sustainable Packaging
For packaging to be considered sustainable, there are some core principles that must be adhered to in its design, manufacture, use and disposal.
Use Of Eco-Friendly Materials
One of the core principles of sustainable plastic packaging is that it must be manufactured from eco-friendly materials that are easily recyclable and can be processed and repurposed again after use.
Our iconic Ecycle™ range , for example, is made up of 100% recycled plastic containers – including spray bottles, pails and jerry cans. You can’t get much more eco-friendly than that!
Use Of Fewer Resources
Sustainable packaging focuses on using minimal resources throughout its life cycle – without compromising functionality or durability.
Indeed, minimalist packaging design and the use of lightweight packaging are two trends that have seen a huge upturn in 2024 – and are showing no signs of decreasing in popularity!
Packaging that’s designed with minimalistic and efficient structures, eliminates excess materials and is as lightweight as possible goes a long way towards reducing packaging waste and conserving resources. The concept of ‘right-sizing’ (i.e, choosing the appropriate packaging size for a product, to reduce empty space and lower transportation emissions) is also becoming increasingly popular and helping to reduce business’ carbon footprints across the country.
At Cambrian, our revolutionary Monolite monopolymer pumps as well as our exceptional range of 100% recycled pails (manufactured from 40% less plastic than competitors) and Minerva trigger spray head are some of the lightest weight options on the market – and offer a truly sustainable packaging solution without any compromise whatsoever on product quality, integrity or performance.
If you want to know more about any of our sustainable packaging solutions, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today!
Efficient Production Processes
Using energy efficient methods and reducing waste during the production process is another hallmark of sustainable packaging.
For example, our In-Mould Labelling service across our tubs and pails range is a highly energy efficient labelling method. Applying the label to the mould during production (rather than afterwards) will save you time and money and reduce your carbon footprint.
Recyclability
If packaging is sustainable, it must be easily recyclable, but being recyclable also depends on various factors including the material a product is made of and whether or not the infrastructure is in place to collect, sort and recycle the material effectively. If it’s made from a single polymer material such as PET or HDPE, then it’s fully recyclable. If a product is made of multiple polymers and materials, then recycling becomes much more complicated.
At Cambrian, we’re pioneering the use of mono-materials and monopolymers, to simplify recycling and provide our customers with standout sustainable packaging solutions.
The launch of our groundbreaking Monolite monopolymer pumps range was one of the key product innovation highlights of 2024. Being monopolymer means that the product is made from just one type of plastic, so it’s recyclable in its entirety using standard facilities – unlike other (even all-plastic) pumps which are made from a variety of materials and require specialist facilities to be properly recycled.
Our outstanding Minerva trigger spray head too is made from a single polyolefin (a group of plastics from the same family), so it can be recycled in its entirety using standard plastic recycling processes.
Reusability
A big factor in whether packaging is sustainable lies not just in whether it’s recyclable but whether it’s reusable.
Our excellent range of PET-manufactured clear straight-sided jars are perfect containers for reuse. Glass jars too are a perfect example of products that can be reused and repurposed and Cambrian is soon going to be introducing some amazing new glass products to our product line-up! At first we’ll be offering glass dropper bottles and jars with a primary focus on the personal care and aromatherapy industries, so watch this space for more details!
Compliance With Sustainability Legislation
The final factor in what makes packaging sustainable is whether or not it complies with government sustainability regulations.
In the UK, we now have an abundance of sustainability legislation – such as Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – that places significant responsibility on manufacturers and brand owners to reduce the environmental impact of their products and packaging and invest in more sustainable design.
To be exempt from Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), for example, packaging products must contain a minimum of 30% recycled material and the more sustainable your packaging, the smaller your financial obligations will be under EPR.
Our comprehensive Zero PPT range of bottles, caps, jerry cans and trigger spray heads all contain a minimum of 30% PCR and are going a long way towards helping our customers reduce PPT liability and meet their EPR responsibilities. Learn more about our Zero PPT products on our website and try them for yourself through our Free Samples service.
Why Is Sustainable Packaging So Important?
Now we know exactly what sustainable packaging is, we come to the question of why it’s so important for your business.
First off, upgrading to greener packaging is a vital part of the work we all need to do to help our planet be a better place to live in for everyone. And by being a sustainable business, you’re not only reducing your carbon footprint and helping the planet, you’re boosting your environmentally and socially responsible brand image, as well as meeting the increasing consumer demand for sustainable packaging, which is key to commercial success.
How Cambrian Can Help
At Cambrian, we’re committed to the use of eco-friendly materials to manufacture all the packaging products we source and supply.
More than 250 of our stock lines are recyclable and we believe that as your next-gen packaging supplier – and a certified Carbon Neutral company ourselves! – we have a responsibility to guide our customers towards more sustainable packaging solutions. Through our Personal Packaging Consultations and Made To Order service, we can provide tailored options that help our customers meet the challenges of increasing consumer sustainability expectations and EPR/PPT legislation.
At Cambrian, we’re always here to help. If you have any questions about our products or services or require any information, please contact our friendly team today!
For more information on What Is Sustainable Packaging? talk to Cambrian Packaging