Sustainable Packaging Tips and Creative Approaches for Small Business
Sustainable Packaging Tips and Creative Approaches for Small Business
Blog Article
It is important to focus on creating more sustainable packaging designs in order to meet consumer needs. Consumers want to see change in the packaging industry and are willing to pay for it. Switching to sustainable packaging is cost effective, often leading to reduced time to package products, lower material costs, and reduced freight costs.
Choosing the Right Materials and Format
The packaging showcased here uses high-quality felt for every jewelry order. This material is designed to keep precious metals safe and free from scratches, while remaining portable. There are several reasons for choosing the pouch: People tend to throw out boxes unless they are super luxe. The goal was zero plastic in the packaging. The pouch was designed in the perfect size to fit a card, even if jewelry is not being stored. Its flat design keeps postage costs low, and being a branded keepsake, it adds value to the brand as a whole.
For example, when packaging top-selling products, orders are packed with custom makeup bags and mailers. Inserts are added, the box is taped shut, and it is ready to ship. One of the simplest ways to improve the sustainability of packaging and distribution is to reduce the amount of material used.
Optimizing Box Size and Reducing Waste
This process begins with selecting the right size box for the shipment. The ideal box is just large enough to hold the items with the minimum amount of protective packaging needed for cushioning. Additionally, a smaller box reduces shipping costs. This effectively reduces the volume of packaging materials required.
| Packaging Step | Benefit | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Choose Felt Pouches | Scratch protection & zero plastic | Felt |
| Right-Sized Boxes | Less waste, lower shipping costs | Cardboard |
| DIY Aftercare Cards | Budget-friendly & personalized | Postcard stock |
| Custom Tape from Scraps | Reduces leftover waste | Printed paper strips |
Budget-Friendly Inserts and Cards
To create an aftercare card for custom orders, ordering postcards from Vistaprint and cutting them to size can be a cost-effective approach. The quality is excellent, with thick card material. For printing on valentine paper, transparency can be set to 50%, saved as a PDF, and printed with settings on plain paper, draft, and borderless.
Making thank you cards at home on a budget is also achievable. Templates can be created in Canva and printed on photo paper from Amazon. Set the print quality to photo glossy paper with dimensions at 4x6. Load the paper with the glossy side down; one side is suitable for writing, and the other is glossy for presentation.
Customizing Boxes and Personalization
Customizing boxes can be accomplished through Packlane by selecting the desired box size and proceeding to design. Choose a color, upload an image, and adjust the placement as needed. Adding a slogan, company name, or quote is simple. The box interior can also be designed, following the same process as the exterior.
Small businesses looking for eco-friendly packaging options for personal care products can consider using wholesale deodorant containers, which provide flexibility for custom branding and sustainable packaging design.
Affordable and Creative DIY Packaging Ideas
Small businesses should not feel pressured to purchase expensive personalized packaging. Packaging can be made attractive on a budget by sourcing materials from stores such as Hobby Lobby or the dollar store, using items like tissue paper and similar supplies. Many packaging solutions can be achieved as DIY projects at low cost.
Another tip to save money is to reuse packaging materials received from other companies. All packaging can be reused, which saves significant costs. Cardboard boxes can be shredded and repurposed for protective packaging. For shredding, a Fellowes Powershred M8C, bought on Amazon, can shred up to eight pieces of paper at a time and works efficiently.
Balancing Functionality and Appearance
Functionality is just as important as appearance in product packaging. The design must effectively prevent damage during transit, from the manufacturer to the retailer and finally to the end user. If a product arrives damaged, the packaging aesthetics become irrelevant.
Expanding Your Brand's Reach
Small business owners are encouraged to put their products and content on multiple platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok to reach the largest possible audience. For example, a notepad launch on TikTok resulted in four times as many orders compared to Instagram, highlighting the importance of broad exposure.
Creative Hacks for Branded Tape and Waste Reduction
Free branded paper tape can be made from leftover label scraps. After making labels, leftover strips are cut and glued to scrap paper. A full page with the brand logo is designed and printed onto the paper page, then cut back to the original strip size. This hack has become a game changer for reducing waste and adding branding.