Environmental pollution and its consequences have become a major issue with the majority of the population due to its unmistakable presence.

This is why a rethink in consumer behavior as well as in the industry can be observed.

The social trend is clearly moving in the direction of environmental protection, saving resources and sustainability in general. But this also affects retail and industry.

A change can be observed in the packaging materials segment in particular. Many manufacturers are looking for alternatives, and some are already turning to sustainable raw materials. But companies that source packaging for their products are also aware of the issue.

There are numerous ways to reduce the burden on the environment and save valuable resources. In this blog post, we'll tell you to what extent you and your business can set yourself up sustainably.

 

Sustainability can be so simple!

As experts in sustainable packaging materials with many years of experience, we at Palamo have been dealing with this topic for quite some time.

We are always on the lookout for sustainable packaging solutions and have already found numerous ways to protect the environment and save resources when designing packaging materials. The choice of material is already an important aspect that has an impact on the environment.

Pay attention to the raw materials to be used

New does not equal better. With regard to packaging materials made of paper or cardboard, resources and costs can be saved significantly by dispensing with virgin fibers and using recycled raw materials. This is because these materials can very often be recycled again - without the quality of the product suffering.

In addition to the aspect that the circular economy can be run through several times, the energy and water consumption is significantly lower in contrast to the processing of newly extracted raw materials. This in turn has a positive effect on the CO2 balance of these products.

In addition, natural raw materials such as petroleum and wood can be saved in the processing of recycled materials.

There are also viable alternatives to pulp, which is derived from wood. Grass, for example, is one such resource. This raw material is significantly cheaper, but above all it is a natural material that grows back very quickly.

In addition, the cultivation of grass takes up much less space. For example, green strips in urban areas can be used. These areas are also not in competition with food-producing agriculture.

Growing grass is also lucrative for many farmers, as it allows them to find buyers for the hay they cannot feed to their animals.

Acting with foresight: Planning for sustainability

If you are as concerned about protecting the environment as we are, then you should also "think about the future beforehand". Because sustainability does not end with the choice of materials, but encompasses the entire life cycle of packaging.

Therefore, we also focus on the following questions: What happens to our packaging after use? Can they be recycled? Are they recyclable or reusable?

Because packaging materials are only truly sustainable if they can be recycled or composted. Whereby the value for the circular economy is shown by how well they can be recycled.

After all, it depends on how much it contributes to environmental protection, saves resources and thus reduces the burden on the environment.

In addition, this life cycle closes the loop, as it creates a basis for efficient recycling. In this way, for example, high-quality recy clates for numerous new sustainable packaging can be produced from valuable recycled material.

In terms of plastic packaging, this means:

• Lower energy consumption, as less new material.
• Lower CO2 emissions than the production of virgin plastic.
• Further savings as incineration is dispensed with.

Nowadays, however, there are numerous plastics such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) from which optimal sustainable packaging can be produced. This is because high-quality recyclates can be obtained from both materials, which belong to the so-called monomaterials, and new products can be manufactured from them again.

In terms of paper or cardboard packaging, this means:

• The secondary raw material recovered paper has the same advantages with regard to the recycling process.
• Waste paper can be reprocessed several times without compromising the quality of the end product.

All these factors can already be taken into account before the choice of a packaging material is made. Because it is only through such thought processes that optimum environmental protection and resource conservation can be achieved.

Package size: Less is sometimes more

The better the packaging is adapted to the product,
the less filling material is needed.

In addition to the choice of material, the size of a package plays an important role. This also applies in terms of sustainability.

Environmentally conscious consumers are often annoyed by the excessively large dimensions of the cartons of the goods they order. On the one hand, they feel that packaging that is too large is a waste of resources, and on the other, they have to dispose of it themselves.

Especially since often only a small product is packed in an oversized carton and additionally filled up with paper scraps or polystyrene balls to transport the goods safely.

In the supermarket, on the other hand, it is increasingly met with incomprehension that numerous organic products are packed in plastic and also cause a large amount of waste. Particularly with this type of product, this appears to many consumers to be a major contradiction.

Both have an enormous impact on the environment and should not be necessary. It would therefore be in everyone's interest to reduce the packaging materials. Palamo, for example, offers free formats for a wide range of packaging.

Whether these are cartons for shipping, Doypacks or even folding boxes, it doesn't matter. Because each of these types of packaging can be adapted to the respective products in free formats.

But first, we want to give you an idea of how much packaging waste is generated in Germany every year.

Because this aspect is also relevant to illustrate how important sustainable packaging materials are in today's world.

According to the Federal Environment Agency, packaging waste with a volume of 18.9 million tons was generated in 2019. This was a new record high. 96.9 percent of this packaging waste was recycled and reused.

Free formats significantly save resources

Our answer to these large amounts of packaging waste is to reduce packaging materials. And that's basically very easy to implement. Through free formats.

We are talking about custom-fit packaging, which is individually tailored to your product. Because through the really suitable size, packaging materials are reduced.

This will certainly not only have an effect on the large amounts of waste, but will certainly also please your customer. After all, he no longer needs to dispose of unnecessary packaging material himself. And they will no longer be annoyed that the packaging is far too large in relation to the contents.

This is particularly appealing to sustainably oriented consumers. Free formats are therefore not only an advantage from an ecological point of view, but also in terms of customer satisfaction.

 

By using free formats you can also save costswhich would otherwise be spent on more packaging material as well as the necessary filling material would be incurred. But also in terms of transport and storage, you never pay more than necessary with custom-fit packaging.

Conclusion: Free formats relieve the environment

Germany produces an immense amount of packaging waste every year. Although a very high percentage of this is recycled and reused, customized packaging is an even more sustainable option.

This is because their precision fit means that no resources are wasted and a lot of waste is avoided. In addition, costs in production, transport and storage can be minimized.

The use of recyclable and reusable packaging materials further increases sustainability. Thus, not only is the packaging material reduced, but at the same time the basis for a new product is created.

In addition, compared to new products, significant costs and resources are already saved during production, as the production of recycled and recyclable packaging requires significantly less water and energy.

All these factors make free formats in packaging a recommendable solution and make them a step forward in terms of sustainability in every respect.

Reducing packaging materials is easily possible with free formats and is an important step in the right direction in view of the packaging waste generated each year.

FAQ

Question: What products are available in free formats?
Answer: At Palamo you can find both doypacks, shipping boxes and folding boxes that you can design in free formats using our smart configurator.

Question: Is free-format packaging more expensive than conventional formats?
Answer: No, on the contrary. This is because there is usually much less material needed to produce the packaging. This reduces material and production costs.