Graphics by Anna Dang
The rising concern for the environment has been a prominent issue for the last few rather recent years. As important as it is, many companies overlooked this issue resulting in a huge market eager to purchase unique packaging innovations–specifically, sustainable packaging which ended up garnering more attention and consumer interests as of today.
As 2022 hits, the topic of sustainability is important as ever and reaches a large target audience that is willing to put effort into saving the environment. Sustainable packaging will continue to grow and remain in our lives to hopefully, and ultimately, reduce waste.
To start off the year, here are a few sustainable packaging trends:
1. Returnable/Reusable Packaging
Instead of single-use, companies are converting to multi-use or reusable packaging to
prevent less package disposal and overall create less material consumption. These
packages have a long life-cycle as they’re not being disposed of after usage and can be recirculated over many times.
ByHumankind’s Refillable Deodorant Packaging
2. Replacing Plastics
Some plastic products can take as much as 1000 years to decompose in landfills. Companies nowadays are continuously looking for new innovative ways to replace plastic and mostly converting to paper and pulp packaging types; many brands are shifting their packaging to paper or pulp-based solutions.
However, there is always space for growing improvement in the sustainable packaging industry, especially when it comes to the recyclability of the product and how much can actually be recycled. Big corporations such as IKEA have begun testing out packaging composed of mushrooms to replace styrofoam with MycoComposite; a mix of mushroom root and agricultural waste.
IKEA’s Mushroom Packaging
3. Using Different Inks We often overlook the ink itself on the package which is why it’s an important topic to remember; petroleum-based inks on packages hold various volatile organic compounds that are a threat to humans and wildlife (especially if the package ends up in a landfill). An alternative that is being used more often (relative to a few years back) is vegetable and soy-based inks. They are not only biodegradable, but much easier to de-ink during recycling, and less likely to expose humans and wildlife to toxic chemicals.
4. Compostable or Biodegradable Packaging
As mentioned earlier, mushroom packaging has become possible and that means many other organic and biodegradable materials can be used to replace non-eco-friendly packaging. High-end brands such as Gucci and Burberry created innovative ways to deliver their products to consumers; using materials such as stone paper, bamboo paper, biodegradable seals and organic cotton woven printed labels are just some of the many alternatives these fashion brands are turning to in order to ultimately become more sustainable.
Gucci’s Organic Eco-Friendly Packaging
References
Frank, T. (2021, December 21). Sustainable Packaging Trends in 2022. Explorer Research. Retrieved from, https://explorerresearch.com/sustainable-packaging-trends-in-2022/
Packaging Digest. (2021, July 13). 7 Sustainable Packaging Trends for 2021. Packagingdigest.com. Retrieved from, https://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainability/7-sustainable-packaging-trends-2021
Pauline de Bruijn. (2021, October 18). Five sustainable packaging trends in 2021. Zero Packaging. Retrieved from, https://www.zero-packaging.com/post/five-sustainable-packaging-trends-in-2021
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