Benefits of Sustainability in Labeling and Packaging for Businesses

With rising concerns about pollution, climate change, and other ecological issues, many businesses around the globe are looking for ways to cut down on their carbon footprints and be kinder to the environment. One of the simplest and most effective changes you can make is with your brand’s labeling and packaging, and this guide will explore how.

Should Your Brand Consider Sustainability in Labeling and Packaging?

First, let’s look at whether or not it’s worth investing in sustainable permanent labeling and eco-friendly packaging. Some business owners might wonder if it’s really necessary to take a sustainable approach, and the answer is a definitive yes; there are many benefits to switching to sustainable labeling and packaging alternatives.

It’s not just about being kinder to the planet; making use of sustainable labeling and packaging also makes good business sense. The likes of eco-friendly labels and packages can help your brand in some ways you might not have expected, providing a positive impact on your profits and brand growth over time.

How Eco-Friendly Packaging Benefits Your Business

As mentioned above, eco-friendly packaging can offer an array of genuine business benefits, as well as helping to preserve the natural world. Here are just some of the main advantages that businesses around the globe have experienced after switching from traditional labels and packaging to more sustainable options:

Eco-Friendly Packaging is Versatile

One of the best advantages of eco-friendly packaging is how versatile it is. Some people might mistakenly believe that eco-friendly packaging products are more limited or less useful than traditional packaging, but the truth is very different; these types of packaging can be used in a wide range of ways.

There are lots of different eco-friendly materials you can make use of, from wood pulp to recycled fibers and plastics, allowing you to safely and reliably package up a wide range of products and keep them safe in various conditions. Plus, most eco-friendly packaging can be recycled and used all over again.

It Improves Your Brand Image

These days, brand image is more important than ever before. It’s vital to present a positive and attractive image of your brand and its values to the world, as customers can be very discerning; many people will only want to shop with brands that reflect their values and may shun those with poor images or negative reputations.

Investing in eco-friendly packaging is a simple way to show the world that your business cares and is actually taking real action to reduce waste and be better to the environment. This can help you build up more social value in the eyes of your customers and can even draw more people to your brand instead of your competitors.

It Can Cut Costs

Some business worry about the potential cost of making changes to the way in which they package and label their products, and it’s important to manage your budget effectively and make savings where you can, especially if you’re running a small business. However, the truth of the matter is that eco-friendly labels and packaging can actually be cheaper in the long run.

Since many eco-friendly packaging materials are recycled, they tend to be cheaper overall than traditional alternatives. So you can actually spend less on packaging your products with these materials. Plus, as stated above, as your brand image improves, you might even be able to raise profits by making more sales to eco-conscious customers.

Builds Brand Affinity With Eco-friendly Consumers

Following on from the previous point, it’s important for business owners to recognize that there are a lot of eco-conscious people out there nowadays; many people want to do their bit for the natural world by saving energy or cutting down their usage of damaging plastics, and lots of those same people also like to shop with eco-friendly brands.

These kinds of consumers take the time to learn about a brand’s eco-initiatives before deciding whether or not they want to buy from them, and they’ll always favor those brands that are taking action and making a positive environmental impact. Therefore, using eco-friendly packaging is a great way to build a connection with this growing sub-set of consumers.

What is Sustainable Labeling?

As well as sustainable packaging, many businesses are also opting for sustainable labeling. This term refers to labeling materials and methods that aim to have the smallest possible impact on the environment; sustainable labels can usually be recycled or might even biodegrade naturally over time, and they’re much kinder to nature than traditional labels which contribute to waste and pollution.

Why Your Product Needs Sustainable Labeling

Just like sustainable packaging, sustainable labeling can offer a great range of benefits for brands. It’s much better for the environment, and it shows consumers that your brand cares. This can help you improve your brand’s reputation and profile, appeal to eco-conscious buyers, attract more customers over time, and even cut down costs when compared with standard sticky labeling.

How Do Labels Affect Recycling?

It’s worth noting that when products with labels attached are sent to be recycled, the labels usually have to be burned off or removed in some other way, due to the fact that they’re made from materials which cannot be recycled. This uses up energy and contributes to environmental problems. However, modern alternatives like recyclable labels and biodegradable labels are changing the game, and futuristic methods like polymer fusion labeling can be used to create permanent labels that are 100% recyclable with the products they’re printed on.

Author Bio

George Nelson is a sustainability consultant who is currently cooperating with Polyfuze. He is passionate about life-changing innovation, and industrial and manufacturing technologies. George loves discovering and sharing new technologies that shape the sustainability agenda. He has many fascinating articles published in various magazines and blogs.