The importance of sustainable packaging and recycling is something that has gained plenty of attention in recent years. Nobody wants to see vast amounts of packaging going into landfill (except, perhaps, landfill site owners). But while recycling is a great idea, having the right materials in the first place may be even better.
For some companies with big names and a brand reputation to nurture, this can be a high priority and worth a lot of investment and effort to drive coherent policy change. A prime example of that to emerge this month could be retailer Sainsbury’s.
Paper For Pastries And Paninis
It has announced it is making major changes to the packaging for products sold in its bakery sections in stores all over the UK, aimed at greatly reducing the amount of non-biodegradable material in its packaging.
This means that whether it is the boxes doughnuts come in, the bags for other pastries, or the coverings for loaves of bread, the dominant material in use will soon be paper.
It is far from the first time Sainsbury’s has taken such steps, something the retailer reminded readers of in the press release, as it has previously changed the packaging on mushroom punnets and, before that, on its toilet rolls and paper towels.
For a major retailer like Sainsbury’s, the PR benefits will be substantial and obvious, with the high profile of the company meaning the changes in packaging will be publicised widely, rather than being something consumers only ever learn about when they visit the store and buy something from the bakery.
Why Scale Is No Reason Not To Be Sustainable
This may leave those who operate on a smaller scale, such as in a small shop, food stall, or mobile van, whether they can – and should – do the same thing with their packaging, such as having paper takeaway coffee cups. The answer is an emphatic yes.
A key point about doing this is that the packaging itself can state that it is biodegradable and sustainable, so everyone who buys a food or drink item can discover this for themselves.
The nature of retail that relies on passing trade is that many purchases are spontaneous, whereas major stores will have regular customers who plan a big weekly shop and may be contactable through being members of various loyalty cards and promotional schemes.
This means customers are unlikely to read anything on your website (if you have one) about your packaging. But if they discover for themselves that you are going the extra mile to protect the environment, this will go down very well with many people, whose daily routines (such as walking past on the way to work) mean they could become your ‘regulars’.
Another consideration is an altruistic one; this is a chance to play your part in creating a more environmentally friendly world. Even if someone buying from you doesn’t dispose of your packaging properly, at least it is not leeching toxic, synthetic chemicals into the environment over many years.
On top of all this, there is the consideration that if your outlet is located close to a major store like Sainsbury’s that might offer something similar to your products, you don’t want eco-conscious customers to automatically choose them.
London Calling
The Sainsbury’s announcement came after London Packaging Week, an expo held at London’s Excel Centre earlier this month that included events connected with the future of fast-moving consumer goods packaging, including food and drinks.
Publicity for the event stated that this would include support for the “innovation projects of packaging technologists and designers,” and the event website had its own ‘innovation gallery’ to showcase some new ideas.
Even so, when it comes to cups to serve hot drinks in or wrappers and boxes for food, there really is no need to reinvent the wheel; making paper and cardboard cups from sustainable or recycled organic material is hardly a job for NASA.
As it happened, Sainsbury’s were at the event, no doubt happily showing off the new baked goods packaging that they were about to announce to the wider world. So too were many other large businesses, including retailers as well as e-commerce firms who send out packaged products by mail.
Because large companies have a diversified staff base, with some employees whose jobs involve choosing packaging and strategic planning rather than spending work time on the shop floor, it is easy for them to send representatives to such events and build PR and branding around their packaging decisions.
That may not be possible in a business the size of yours, but that is no reason for you not to be every bit as committed to using sustainable packaging.
If you would like to find out more about how Elpack Packaging Solutions can assist your business, or discuss your bespoke packaging needs, get in touch with our expert team today! Call us on 01425 524021 or drop us an email at info@elpack.co.uk
