Ensuring Sustainability: Questions to Ask Your Packaging ...

Amid the growing consumer interest in eco-friendly business practices, food companies need to ensure that they are following through on their claims when it comes to sustainable packaging. Any misrepresentation of your sustainable business activities could be perceived as &#;greenwashing&#; and put your brand in a negative light.

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In addition, the Federal Trade Commission oversees marketing claims around sustainability, and offers resources for companies on this topic in its Green Guides.

Sustainability is a complicated subject matter, however, especially when it comes to packaging. Materials that appear to be compostable, for example, might actually be compostable only in certain facilities, and the same goes for recyclables. It&#;s important to discuss these matters with your packaging supplier to ensure that, first, you are minimizing your environmental impact, and second, you are communicating honestly with your customers.

Following are some questions to ask your packaging supplier, and why they are important:

• Is the packaging compostable or recyclable, and if so, how does

  the end user dispose of it?

Whether or not any piece of packaging can be accepted for composting or recycling often has as much to do with the facility where it is being taken as it does with the materials from which it is made, said Viktoria Pakhnyuk, Ph.D., Sustainable Project Manager at Kwik Lok, the maker of packaging closure systems, labels, and machinery.

Materials that are certified as compostable are lab-tested to ensure that they do actually break down according to
specific parameters. However, composting facilities may not accept all types of organics.GreenBlue.org offers a guide to composting facilities in the U.S.

In addition, the term &#;biodegradable&#; is being phased out, Pakhnyuk said. &#;Anything is biodegradable if you give it enough time,&#; she said.

When it comes to recycling, she suggested that companies look to the Association of Plastic  Recyclers for more information.
Plastics are not recycled equally &#; the type of polymer used, as well as the container shape and size, is important to consider
for its likelihood of being recycled.

Using packaging that is made from recycled materials is another option for companies seeking to make sustainability claims. That can be more complicated, however, Pakhnyuk said, citing the need for certification during several steps of the process by which the packaging is manufactured. The Recycled Materials Standard offers this guide to five global recycled materials standards.

In addition, some recycled materials may be FDA-approved food grade, while others are not.

• How can the true impact of a product be considered?

Food companies need to take a holistic look at the process by which their packaging is made, including the environmental impact
of each of the raw materials that go into the manufacture of the packaging.

Review of the entire packaging supply chain, beginning with whether or not the raw materials are sourced from renewable resources.
Organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council provide certifications for the responsible sourcing of wood-based materials,
for example. The USDA also certifies bio-based products with the BioPreferred Program.

In addition, the packaging-manufacturing process itself needs to be considered in light of the water and energy needed to produce
the final product.

• Is this product compatible with my current operations? If not, what changes will I need to make?

Manufacturers need to ensure that the specifications of the packaging they choose meet the demands of their processes. Packaging that
slows the manufacturing process or generates excess waste might negate the beneficial impact that sustainable packaging would
otherwise provide.

Kwik Lok, for example, offers multiple packaging options for different manufacturers to ensure that their processes are optimized.

• Do you have the expertise that is required for today&#;s demands around sustainability?

Packaging suppliers should have a high level of knowledge when it comes to the nuances around sustainability issues and the environment. They should also be aware of regional regulatory variations around recycling and composting.

As a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and the global Plastics Pact Network, Look for suppliers such as Kwik Lok that are
involved in the leadership of industry networks and that have strong credentials when it comes to using packaging materials responsibly.

&#;Being sustainable is very much a large team effort,&#; said Pakhnyuk. &#;It can&#;t just be a manufacturer. It can&#;t just be a producer. It has to be the entire stream. It&#;s very collaborative.&#;

With competitive price and timely delivery, Huanyou sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

For more information about how to ensure that your packaging meets your sustainability goals, and those of your customers, visit Kwik Lok today.

Is your packaging really eco-friendly and sustainable? Find out by asking your packaging manufacturer these 4 questions, which will help you determine whether your packaging manufacturer is truly committed to eco-friendly & sustainable practices, ensuring that you are making a responsible choice.

Has a customer ever asked you a difficult question about your packaging?

&#;Is this packaging paper from recycled materials?&#;

&#;Is the ink used in your packaging soy-based?&#;

Or even questions that probably have nothing to do with your brand such as: &#;Is the packaging factory paying its workers a fair living wage?&#;

It&#;s surprising how many people take the time to find out more about what they are purchasing. Reports have shown that 69% of respondents are concerned about the environmental impact of plastic packaging and 48% say that recyclable packaging is a viable option to replace single use plastic and other harmful materials. 37% say that they will look for and pay up to 5% more for environmentally friendly products.

In an attempt to be more environmentally and ethically conscious, numerous brands have switched to sustainable packaging alternatives. In fact, your brand might have been one of them and kudos to you for being socially responsible! But there&#;s more to it. You must know exactly the kind of packaging you use and the kind of partners you work with. This is not just to answer customers' questions but as a way to add value to your company.

If those difficult questions have left you speechless, it's time to start looking for answers. Take the first step by asking the right questions. As a trusted packaging expert, we have compiled a list of questions you need to ask your manufacturers. In part 1, we are tackling questions about what the packaging is made of?

1. What materials make up the packaging? Is it recyclable?

Packaging material could be made of paper, rigid plastic, or even flexible packaging, made of low-density polyethylene. It is important to know what materials go into the packaging to gauge whether it can protect your product, reflect your brand, and to understand if it is sustainable.

The most common material for recyclable packaging is cardboard but materials such as glass, metal, paper, and even some kinds of plastics can be recycled. Be sure to ask how much of the new packages are made of post-consumer recycled content. Post-consumer content includes any waste that is produced by the end customer that is recycled and put back into the production process. Although 100% post-consumer recycled packaging is available, some manufacturers use other materials to make the packaging more durable. For example, PackMojo&#;s materials are made from at least 70% post consumer content.

One of the best practices when it comes to sustainability is reducing. This might mean that you may need to opt-out of using foams, films, and air pellets. It is always good to ask your packaging partners to only use packaging materials that your product really needs.

2. Is the packaging biodegradable?

Biodegradability is the ability to break down the materials by microorganisms. Thanks to bacteria, fungi, a good amount of heat and oxygen, materials disintegrate into natural elements. However, the time needed for disintegration is not specified. Some biodegradable packaging could leave behind chemicals and toxins. Anything plant-based, animal-based, or natural mineral-based is biodegradable. Here are some examples of common materials and how long they take to decompose:

1. Paper roughly takes 2 - 5 months
2. A plastic bag would take 10 - 20 years
3. Tin can take up to 50 years
4. Glass can take thousands of years

You might also come across the use of bioplastics. Bioplastics are made from vegetable fats, straw, sawdust, recycled food waste, etc. It requires extremely high temperatures to break down and cannot do so in closed landfills or home composts.

3. Is the packaging compostable?

Compostable packaging is also made of natural resources which breakdown at high temperatures. Though unlike biodegradable packaging, it goes one step further to leave behind nutrients that can be used as fertilisers to help soil nutrition and plant growth. The best way to differentiate compostable and biodegradable packaging is that all compostable material is biodegradable, but not all biodegradable material is compostable.

Compostable packaging should typically decompose within 80 days, so ensure all the raw materials used in your packaging breakdown within that time frame. While cardboard is the most commonly used compostable material, many other alternatives such as banana skins, bamboo and potatoes are also being used.

With more research and more customers demanding home compostable packaging, many companies are now manufacturing packaging that can break down at lower temperatures, in your own backyard. Along with cardboard, sawdust, fruit and vegetable skins, and paper can be composted at home.

4. Is the ink used in packaging sustainable?

Inks play an important role in packaging. Many ink manufacturers have eliminated the extreme use of heavy metal like lead and other by-products that are a potential hazard to human health and nature.

Soy-based and water-based inks reduce and in some cases eliminate the use of petroleum-based solvents. Be mindful that for soy-based, the ink&#;s oil only needs to contain a minimum of 6% soy for it to qualify as soy-based. Make sure you ask your supplier about the other materials that go into the ink.

Thanks to developments in the water-based ink industry, these inks are not only environmentally friendly but also suitable for printing on cardboard packaging without the risk of the ink being absorbed. Typically, these inks compose of 60% water.

These questions are a start to being well informed and will give you a better understanding of what your packaging is made of. With more knowledge, your brand can take pride in telling your customers all about your sustainable packaging. Stay tuned for part 2 where we cover the questions you need to ask about the ethical production of your packaging.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Biodegradable Packaging Manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.