How Businesses Can Avoid Plastic Packaging

Is your organisation looking to avoid single-use plastic packaging? You aren’t the only one, the number of businesses seeking alternative packaging materials is on the rise due to the introduction of Plastic Packaging Tax. This tax will drive up costs to businesses who manufacture or make final adjustments to plastic packaging which contains 30% or less recycled plastic materials. The avoidance of plastic tax is also further highlighted in the fact that consumers want to do their part to help the environment and are becoming more cautious when making purchase decisions. Consumers increasingly prefer sustainable brands, with the majority of consumers willing to pay a premium for recycled or renewable products. In fact, brands that continue to push single-use avoidable plastic risk alienating the majority of their customers.

To help you avoid plastic packaging, we have collated 3 key ways your business can reduce your plastic usage, both short and long-term.

1. Carry out a plastic audit – one of the best places to start to avoid single-use plastic materials and packaging is the volume of plastic used across all areas of your business. Small changes can make a big difference:
   • Plastic packaging of materials
   • Move away from plastic straws to alternative materials
   • Plastic waste, prioritise recycling of materials where possible
   • Ditch plastic bottles for reusable containers
   • Use mugs or a reusable coffee cup to avoid throwing away single-use cups
   • Replace single-use plastic with materials which include 30%+ recycled content to make sure all products are recyclable
   • Encourage all employees to get on board

2. Research alternative packaging materials – despite the usefulness and durability of plastic, it is important companies research alternative materials to circumvent avoidable plastic packaging, reduce landfill and long-term environmental impacts.
   • Paper – is made from a renewable and natural resource, it is recyclable and biodegradable. Paper-based packaging also offers benefits from a design, printability, flexibility and durability perspective. Check out our EcoPack solution to understand the number of benefits and possibilities paper-based packaging presents businesses long-term.
   • Corrugate – corrugate packaging is recyclable and compostable – this material is also made from a high percentage of recycled paper which helps reduce your carbon footprint.
   • Cornstarch – corn comes from a renewable resource. This material is also biodegradable and is less likely to pollute the environment.
   • Pulp – is recyclable, compostable and biodegradable which is beneficial in removing plastics from the environment.

3. Speak to your suppliers – All responsible packaging material manufacturers and suppliers will be innovating and growing their offering to provide more environmentally friendly alternatives so businesses can reduce their impact on the environment. As such it is important you speak to current, or new suppliers, to source more sustainable packaging materials. For instance, our two areas of focus are to replace avoidable plastic packaging with paper-based alternatives such as our EcoPack solution as well as maximising the recyclability of PET by developing our innovative range of PurityWash adhesives. 

Speak to our team

If you’d like to learn more about our paper-based packaging solutions which allow you to circumvent avoidable plastic packaging or maximise the recyclability of PET then please get in touch with our team to find out how we can help you.