Black Friday is incredibly important for most businesses, generating massive amounts of revenue. However, the day also generates a huge amount of waste in the form of commercial and consumer waste. Reducing packaging is essential for environmental reasons, and your customers will be expecting it too.
Recycled and recyclable commercial packaging
We all appreciate just how much we need to do to stem and reverse the damage we cause our planet. Research has shown that making small but consistent changes is key to long term effects. Making these changes personally is one thing but companies also need to take steps.
Packaging has long been an issue for many consumers. Sharing photos on social media, consumers are highlighting wasteful practices, such as a large box for a small item or excessive, over-the-top packaging.
There is also the issue of packaging not being recyclable. When packaging is made from recyclable materials such as glass, metal, card, paper, cardboard and plastic, consumers can easily recycle it, usually at the kerbside.
Recycled material is when the packaging has been made from pre-used materials. This includes cardboard, paper and plastic.
How to make commercial packaging more eco-friendly this Black Friday
The short window around Black Friday can see sales increase by as much as 16%. The value added to the UK economy and for businesses is considerable. But it isn’t all good news – for example, excessive and non-recyclable packaging will end up in landfill. The good news is that for businesses seeking eco-friendly packaging, there are versatile and affordable options.
How do you make commercial packaging eco-friendly?
Using materials that can be easily recyclable is crucial. Cardboard is recycled at the kerbside in most local authority areas of the UK. Plastic, however, is usually more of an issue and in most cases, ends up in the bin. Using less plastic is key, as is using less packaging all round.
The dimensions are also important; because we can recycle paper and cardboard more easily than other materials, we assume that it is eco-friendly. Producing paper and cardboard is energy-intensive and so when opting for these materials, less is more. Use boxes and packets that fit an item securely.
Using less energy also contributes to a packaging material being more eco-friendly. All this can be done without compromising on quality not the range of packaging options available to businesses.
Packaging is important but with Black Friday and the festive season on the doorstep, now is the time to opt for the truly eco-friendly options. Why not let the team at Trakrap suggest alternative secondary packaging options that could help not only consumer perception of your brand, but perhaps most importantly, your impact on the environment?
