Eco-friendly shipping and packaging materials – 5 myths dispelled

Eco-friendly packaging materials are gaining momentum worldwide as people are more concerned and worried about the current state of waste production.

But some myths need to be busted so that everyone switches onto the world of sustainable packaging and hopefully reduces the amount of non-biodegradable waste. So here's us doing a social service by dispelling the most common myths about eco-friendly packaging materials.

Myth 1 – Eco-friendly packaging materials look boring

This one is a popular myth among small and large business owners alike.

No, eco-friendly packaging materials don't look boring. Any material doesn't get its moment until it is polished and packed in a certain way by us humans, right? The same applies to sustainable packaging materials, too.

You can get it made exactly the way you want and paint or print your brand's theme and logo onto the materials.

Colour is one of the major factors that attract people to packaging. A paper/cardboard box can be as beautiful as a plastic one if you find the right printing press willing to print your brand's theme onto it. Sustainable inks are also available in the market, and you can make use of them to shape and design the boxes just the way you want.

As for the bubble wrap, you can find a ton of replacements that look way more interesting. You can find bamboo fiber padding that works magic when compared to ordinary bubble wraps.

Myth 2 – Sustainable packaging materials cost more than the conventional ones

This myth keeps many small brands from trying out the different options offered by eco-friendly packaging materials. So, let's say it aloud- switching to eco-friendly packaging doesn't decrease your profit.

Here's how. Sure, eco-friendly packaging materials cost a bit more than conventional ones. Still, as soon as people hear that the brand has adopted eco-friendly packaging or is incorporating sustainable practices, the brand attains a premium status among the customers. This gives you an upper hand over other brands that haven't adopted the same.

Further, when you pack sustainably, you require very few materials compared to non-degradable packaging materials. Therefore, sustainable packaging does more good to your figures than harm. It means you are cutting down on costs.

Myth 3 – It's hard to procure sustainable packaging materials

This myth might have been true a few years ago, but post-pandemic situations changed for the best. People are more aware of the waste accumulated in landfills, causing a widespread change in people's attitudes towards plastic. Unfortunately, this also urged packaging companies to produce more sustainable packaging options, so eco-friendly packaging products are scarce. You have to look in the right place.

Myth 4 – Eco-friendly packaging is all about recyclability and zero waste production

Many times, companies get the concept of eco-friendly packaging completely wrong. So let's bust it once and for all.

When a company adopts eco-friendly packaging, it means all their practices, from procurement to packaging to shipping, are eco-friendly, not just the zero waste concept. So along with procuring eco-friendly raw materials, you also need to consider eco-friendly shipping.

So if you ship them in a way that contributes significantly to the products' lifetime costs, then just adopting the eco-friendly packaging isn't doing much good for the environment.

Myth 5 – Sustainability is a trend that's going to fade

Unfortunately, this myth is something most people believe in, and let's just say- No. The trend is not going to vanish in a few months or years. Instead, it should be considered the need of the hour.

To businesses that believe in this myth and are adamant about not making significant changes in their packaging, consumers always look out for something that follows the trend. It's better to change as early as possible than regret it later.

People think a lot about the packaging and the number of plastic pieces associated with a product before purchasing. So if you still refuse to switch to eco-friendly packaging, you might unknowingly be giving up on a large chunk of your user base.

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