Packaging and product design are integral to consumerism as we know it. Discover how the plastic-free movement is creating a shift in how products are displayed, made, and disposed of.
Every time you go into a retail or grocery store, you see food products or other items packaged in a way to appeal to the senses. Packaging is a way to differentiate one brand from another; it gives the customer a first impression of the product. Some packages are vibrant and bold, whereas others are neutral and muted. The design of the packaging is more than the aesthetics. It also encapsulates the brand message in a single product.
Image via Ksw Photographer.
At first glance, packaging is simply a means to present a specific product on the shelf. It’s opened once and then trashed or recycled. But what happens to the packaging when it has been discarded? That oh-so-carefully designed container ends up in landfills, oceans, and rivers, causing harm to surrounding wildlife and ecosystems. In fact, it’s estimated that around
forty percent of all plastics produced is packaging. That’s more than the plastic created and used for building and construction! Surely, there’s a way to reduce package and plastic pollution while still appealing to consumers.
Image via Larina Marina.
After being exposed to images and videos of wildlife harmed by plastics, consumers and business alike are stepping up to face plastic pollution. The up-and-coming plastic-free movement has gained momentum in making others aware of the effects of excessive plastic use. It has achieved so much traction that many businesses are changing how they approach product and packaging design in order to take more responsibility of how the product is being discarded.
What’s the Plastic-Free Movement All About?
This
trending movement, also coined “zero waste” or “low waste,” is currently gaining traction. It’s catching everyone’s eyes due to viral images and videos showing wildlife and sea life harmed by the overconsumption of plastic. What was once a revolutionary material is now so heavily consumed that it’s wreaking havoc on our environment, due to its
infinite lifespan.
So, the goal of the plastic-free movement is to bring awareness to the amounts of plastic that is used on a daily basis. From straws to coffee cups to food packaging, plastic is everywhere. This durable yet flexible material is heavily embedded in most cultures worldwide; in some areas, you simply cannot escape plastic.
Image via maramorosz.
The good news is, there are many areas where plastic consumption can be reduced. More and more consumers are opting for reusable items over disposable items, including reusable water bottles, straws, produce bags, or grocery bags. While switching over to something as small as a reusable straw may not mean much, using one product over and over again instead of its single-use counterpart diverts a lot of plastic from landfills and oceans.
Image via Bogdan Sonjachnyj.
The
plastic-free movement has become so well known that brands are stepping up their sustainability efforts, from the manufacturing to the disposal of a product. Many companies have changed their packaging to reduce plastic, switched to recycled or reusable materials, or
ditched traditional packaging altogether.
The Rise of Package-Free Goods
In addition to the increasing trend of consumers opting for plastic-free goods, many are opting for package-free goods. Consumers can find package-free goods in the bulk sections of many grocery stores, in farmers markets, in specialty stores, or in
zero waste-oriented stores. This concept forgoes the traditional packaging that most products would typically have, such as a label, container, or design component, thus eliminating the packaging design and experience altogether.
Image via Newman Studio.
While typical packaging is used to lure customers to a specific products, more and more businesses are offering items without packaging in order to reduce total cost of goods and materials. Still, going package-free is not ideal for every product. Many items are required to have some sort of packaging component, such as oral hygiene products.
Even though many products are unable to go package-free, the plastic-free movement has motivated many brands to think twice about their packaging and product design’s overall impact.
Companies That Are Reducing Their Products’ Impact
While many brands still have a lot of work to do in order to make their packaging and product more sustainable, there are quite a few companies that are doing it right. From creating thread from recycled plastics, to using only compostable materials, these businesses prioritize sustainability throughout the product’s lifecycle and advocate for making the world a cleaner place.
Adidas x Parley
In order to combat the heaping patches of ocean plastic,
Adidas and Parley have collaborated to make athletic wear from recycled plastics. This collaboration effort tackles the increasing issue of littered plastics on beaches and coastlines while creating something new from trash.
Many other brands have taken this approach of creating thread from plastic, including
Rothy’s,
Girlfriend Collective, and
Everlane.
Numi Tea
Numi Tea is the gold standard for sustainability efforts. They live and breathe all things earth-friendly, from the teas and herbs they source all the way down to carbon offsetting projects. They also go above and beyond packaging efforts by using soy-based inks, compostable tea bags (most contain plastic!), implementing organic and fair trade practices, and working with local areas to ensure thriving communities.
Pela Case
Pela Case disrupts the phone case industry by using flax straw, instead of hard plastics or silicone, as the main component of their case material. The flax straw used in their phone cases provides a solution to the flax straw waste from harvesting flax seed oil, while also creating a fully compostable phone case.
Elate Cosmetics
Rather than packaging cosmetics in hard to recycle plastics and mixed materials,
Elate Cosmetics uses bamboo to make their packaging more sustainable. Bamboo is known to be a self-regenerating source of timber that relies on less water than other wood. The clean beauty brand also strives to reduce packaging costs by offering refillable palettes shipped in seed paper.
How Brands and Designers Can Implement Low-Waste Strategies
Businesses and designers have the ability to make a lasting impression in terms of sustainability. Just by making tweaks to packaging or by changing the material from virgin to post-consumer recycled content, brands can appeal to consumers while lessening their impact on the environment.
Image via Chaosamran_Studio.
Use Recycled or Post-Consumer Recycled Content Whenever Possible
Many products and packaging use virgin materials, whether it’s new plastic, paper, or metal. The amount of resources and processing needed to create new materials can do more harm than good to the environment. A great way to reduce waste and lessen the product’s impact is to source product materials from
recycled or post-consumer recycled content(PCR). Give those recycled items a new life instead of using more resources.
Reduce Excessive and Unnecessary Packaging
There’s nothing worse than opening up a large container and seeing that the product takes up only a small portion of the packaging. Excessive or unnecessary packaging uses up more material than necessary. Drastically reduce packaging waste by thinking about “right sizing” packaging. Is there an element of the packaging that can be removed without affecting the overall branding?
Carlsberg took initiative and noticed the endless amounts of plastic used in securing beverage six-packs. They then switched to the innovative
Snap Pack to reduce waste, emissions, and harm to the environment.
Implement a Program to Responsibly Return or Dispose of Products
If package or product redesign is too monumental of a task, there are other ways to reduce your product’s impact. By participating with programs that responsibly recycle packaging, such as
Terracycle, your business can ensure the product is disposed of properly.
Another way to reduce packaging costs and impact is by engaging in a return scheme. Smaller businesses partake in a return system where the consumer pays for a deposit on the packaging, such as a growler or milk bottle, then returns the packaging to the business to be sterilized and sanitized for refill. In larger businesses, this can create logistical issues, but companies such as
Loop are creating a new standard for returnable packaging.
Incorporate Reusable Packaging or Encourage Consumers to Reuse
Most packages are made to be thrown away or recycled once opened. Businesses can extend the lifecycle of the packaging alone by using materials that can be reused or
upcycled. Glass, metal, cotton, or sturdy cardboard can often be reused to fit other needs, such as storage for food or personal items. When using reusable containers such as glass jars, encourage your consumers to reuse the packaging by showing them simple ways to upcycle the item.
Stick to a Single Packaging Material
Packaging that contains more than one type of material, or mixed materials, often make it more difficult to recycle. For instance, lining a cardboard box with a thin plastic window can reduce the probability of the package being recycled. By using only cardboard or any other easily recyclable materials, consumers can simply put the package in the recycling bin rather than having to separate all materials.
