Sustainable packaging alternatives for your business
We know that packaging plays a huge part in CSR and sustainability goals for businesses, with many looking to reduce packaging use and material waste. There are lots of sustainable packaging alternatives available on the market that can help you achieve those goals.
Here are a few suggestions to set you on the road to a more sustainable packaging operation:
Sustainable mailing
Mail Lite® bubble mailers are made with FSC® certified paper, the bubble liner contains at least 60% recycled material and has been designed for easy removal so the outer can be recycled in the paper waste stream.
If you are looking for a 100% paper option, Enviroflute all paper padded bags are an alternative to traditional bulky mailers. Made from FSC paper they are widely recycled and offer the same level of production as a bubble mailer thanks to its patented internal design.
For larger items which have been traditionally shipped in polythene mailers, a switch to an all paper mailing bag is a quick and effective way to remove plastic from your operation.
Sustainable void fill
Sealed Air AirCap® bubble is now manufactured using a minimum of 50% recycled material. It offers fantastic product protection and contributes to reducing the amount of plastic waste going into landfill. With its clever roll winding, a 200m roll takes up 35% less space than 2 rolls of regular 100m bubble. This means that you can transport more on a vehicle, reducing the number of delivery journeys and positively impacting C02 emissions.
Korrvu® Select uses a built-in film that holds your product in place, reducing the need for additional void filling or wrapping. This allows you to reduce the amount of packaging material needed to protect your products in transit. Korrvu® is widely recycled and contains 30% recycled content too.
If you prefer paper-based options, there are lots to choose from. Geami WrapPak® is perfect for items where presentation is important, providing an engaging unboxing experience for retail customers. For more industrial applications FillPak® and PadPak® systems provide an array of options and offer up to 100% recycled content.
Sustainable taping:
If you are using a polypropylene or vinyl tape to seal boxes, there is an opportunity to switch to a paper tape and remove literally miles of plastic from your operation. Available in self-adhesive or water activated applications, paper tape forms a strong seal with corrugate, reduces incidences of pilferage and makes your parcels look neat too. A digital dispenser can be programmed to dispense pre-set lengths of tape, speeding up the packing process and ensuring you use the right amount each time – reducing the amount of material you use overall.
If you are using high volumes of machine stretch wrap there may be opportunities to remove tonnes of plastic from your operation. Technological advancements in stretch films deliver great performance from low micron stretch – this means that you can wrap a pallet using less material and still have exceptional load containment.
Professional analysis can help find the right material to maintain load containment by analysing your pallet profiles, weights and wrapping machines. A professional pallet wrap analysis is quick and easy and causes minimal disruption to your packing operation.
Macfarlane Packaging are here to help you find the right sustainable option for your packing operation. Why not contact us today to find out how we can help.
