How to Start Eco-friendly Packaging for Beverages

Eco-friendly practices were once fairly new in the business world. Today, however, participation in sustainable practices is increasingly becoming the norm.

Consumers are more aware than ever of their environmental footprint, with industry’s growing commitment to important initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For example, we see new preferences in beverage consumption, especially a trend towards new eco-friendly materials.

To that end, one of the important things you can do if you are a beverage business that wants to be more environmentally friendly is to use sustainable packaging.Choosing earth-friendly packaging materials and processes will greatly reduce the waste and pollution that ends up in landfills and oceans.If you're just starting out trying to create eco-friendly packaging for your beverages,read on!

The Benefits of Sustainable Packaging

1.Expand Customer Base and Increase Brand Loyalty

Green development strategies can attract more customers and increase loyalty. Research shows that consumers are increasingly considering sustainability when choosing which brands to support. Being environmentally friendly is becoming a fundamental consideration in almost all beverage categories, including beer, wine and spirits. It affects not only packaging choices, but also raw material sourcing and other processes. According to the Global Green Procurement Report 2021, some 71% of consumers are willing to pay extra for environmentally sustainable packaging, rising to 83% among younger buyers.

2.Optimize Storage

Reducing packaging materials and minimizing waste are key components of sustainable packaging. When implemented correctly, they can increase storage efficiency, allowing you to save storage space and costs, or allocate additional space for more products.

3.Reduce Shipping Costs

As mentioned earlier, shipping smaller packages is a great way to practice sustainability. An added bonus is that it also reduces your shipping costs. For example, using smaller boxes can reduce shipping costs, while efficient use of space can save money and reduce carbon emissions.

Sustainable Packaging Attempts in the Beverage Industry

Widespread Use of PET

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is made from 100% recycled plastic and is transparent, strong and lightweight. Many beverage companies have turned to these bottles as a sustainable alternative. They allow for better use of space, shorter loading times, faster delivery, cost savings for wineries and 50% reduction in emissions compared to glass bottles.

Utilize Beverage Cans

Aluminum beverage cans are the most recyclable beverage packaging in the world, with an average recycling rate of 69%. They can be recycled infinitely without any loss of quality. These cans have found a place in the beverage industry, reducing CO2 emissions during transport by reducing size, while encouraging consumers to buy portable products. However, the production of aluminum alloys emits harmful greenhouse gases.

Reduce Excessive Packaging

Reducing the size of the product can reduce the size of the packaging, which can help reduce shipping costs. Similarly, reducing the generation of packaging materials and waste in the beverage packaging production line will also greatly reduce pollution and waste in beverage packaging.At YCTD, we insist on green packaging process and materials.

Shrink Packing Machine	Palletizer	Carton Packing Machine

Here are some specific steps:

1. Educate about disposal and recycling best practices

Educate your customers about the best ways to recycle and dispose of packaging materials. While recycling methods vary by city, you can still share general best practices by clearly marking reusable or recyclable packaging.

2. Shipping in smaller packages

Reducing your ecological footprint can be as simple as reducing your packaging material usage. This means using smaller boxes, bags and containers for your products. Not only does this help you become more sustainable, it also reduces your shipping costs.

3. Recycle packaging materials

Recycling packaging is a great way to extend the life of previously used materials. When choosing a box, mailer or container, consider packaging made from recycled materials.

4. Plant-based packaging

Plant-based options are rapidly making their way into product packaging. These materials come from biological sources including mushrooms, seaweed, corn and food waste.

5. Edible packaging

Edible packaging can be considered a close cousin of plant-based packaging. Although they belong to the same family of biosources, edible packaging goes one step further and is safe to eat.

6. Compostable and biodegradable plastic alternatives

Compostable packaging is made from materials that are compostable in both households and commercial facilities. They're usually made from plant-based polymers that break down in compost.

7. Avoid excessive packaging in the supply chain

The retail supply chain is rife with packaging materials. Before reaching you, the merchandise is bagged, packed or bundled, often with additional packaging. Optimize how your merchandise flows throughout your supply chain to minimize these materials and the waste they create.

8. Work with manufacturing partners with sustainable practices

Choose a manufacturing partner with a focus on sustainability. Do your research before signing an agreement. How are their manufacturing processes and practices? Do they use sustainable materials? What measures have they taken to minimize their ecological and carbon footprint?

4 steps to transition to eco-friendly packaging

Ready to switch to sustainable packaging solutions? Very good. In this section, we discuss the steps required to make the switch successfully. Below are some suggestions for implementing sustainable packaging.

1. Don’t change everything all at once

If you haven't implemented sustainability initiatives in the past, you may be tempted to change the entire process to be more environmentally friendly. However, this approach may do more harm than good.

Introducing new materials and methods requires research, testing, and possibly even multiple attempts. Trying to change everything at once can overwhelm you and your team and prevent you from properly implementing your plan.

To make your efforts long-lasting—well, long-lasting, start slow. Instead of replacing all of your items with greener alternatives, start with one or two. For example, if you have boxes or pouches of different sizes, change one size first and evaluate the results. Depending on the results of your efforts, you can gradually try other sizes.

2. Order product samples

Many companies offer sustainable packaging. The best way to determine which product is right for you is to get some samples. It would be great if the supplier is willing to provide samples for free. Otherwise, place a small order to evaluate their products.

3. Adjust pricing

Depending on the type of packaging you choose, you may pay more for materials and shipping. Be sure to take this into consideration when pricing. If you're willing to incur the extra cost, do the math to make sure it doesn't impact your bottom line too much.

4. Start with small batch orders

This step is very important, especially when you are just starting out with a new sustainable packaging supplier. Order a small amount of packaging material and compare it to your old packaging to gauge durability, customer acceptance and overall performance.

FAQs About Eco-friendly Packaging for Beverages

Q1: What is sustainable packaging?

Sustainable packaging is an environmentally conscious and innovative approach aimed at reducing the burden on the environment. It covers strategies to reduce waste and pollution by using recyclable, compostable and reusable materials, as well as optimizing packaging design and production processes

Q2: Why choose recyclable packaging materials?

Recyclable packaging materials, such as PET plastic and aluminum beverage cans, can be recycled after use. This helps reduce resource waste and landfill waste, while promoting a circular economy. It also caters to consumer demands for sustainability and enhances brand image.

Q3: What is edible packaging?

Edible packaging is an innovative packaging method using edible materials. These materials are safe to eat, protect the product, and eliminate packaging waste.

Q4: How to implement sustainable packaging in the supply chain?

The implementation of sustainable packaging in the supply chain requires close cooperation with suppliers and partners to optimize packaging materials, transportation and storage, and reduce resource waste and energy consumption.

Q5: Does sustainable packaging increase costs?

While some sustainable packaging methods may incur a slight increase in costs, these costs are often offset by improved brand reputation, lower shipping costs and resource savings, which can deliver business value in the long run, including cost savings and appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.

As a beverage packaging supplier, it is key to keep abreast of the trend of environmentally friendly beverages and keep innovating. Whether you choose to use plastic or glass, YCTD will help you find the most suitable environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging solution.