The world’s population is predicted to have exceeded 10bn in 2050. Our resources are not limitless meaning that if we don’t find ways to create sustainable materials, we could be in trouble.
Thankfully, in the packaging industry, we are already innovating and have been for a while. Hence our Ready2Recycle range which uses mono material PE/PE or BOPP/PP structures. It can be recycled and still provides all the crucial benefits of regular plastic.
Why do we need a circular economy?
Plastic in itself is not the problem, however. Plastic provides many benefits that are often overlooked, such as preventing food waste by increasing shelf-life. When disposed of properly, plastic can have a positive effect within the confines of a circular economy.
Standard plastic packaging is still a big part of a sustainable economy, and we want to help and educate our customers in getting the positive reasons for this across to their end-users.
In a circular economy, products and materials keep circulating in a high-value state of use, through supply chains, for as long as possible which is why standard mixed plastic structures and mono material PE/PE or BOPP/PP recyclable alternatives can work for your business.
Before we start explaining how as a business you can keep sustainability in your sights through your packaging, we’d like to explain a little more about the bigger picture of a circular economy and how it can help.
How does a circular economy work?
Businesses, organisations and industries need to embrace the opportunities and benefits of a circular economy so that waste is ‘designed out’ of how we live – those who can do so first will have a competitive advantage.
There are many routes to embracing a circular economy through packaging including:
- Design
The design of a bag, i.e. materials or features, helps to encourage re-use. Material optimisation is also something that we always encourage and we would never overspec a bag unnecessarily.
- Re-use and repair
Adding resealable zippers to a bag is just one example of the ways of keeping the content fresher longer by reclosing the bag after every use and possibly re-using packaging once empty. The end-user could then repurpose the bag for something else.
- Recycling
Mono material structures make it easier to recycle and re-use, limiting the amount of waste created.
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing products with circular economy principles built-in at design.
Every business is different. Moving to a circular business model can also help you to make a few small changes that can make a massive difference in the future. Above are just a few examples, but there are many more out there!
How does a circular economy work?
A circular economy is achieved by creating products consciously with their whole life cycle in mind, re-using and recycling to extend their useful life, and then when their life is deemed over, remanufacturing to create new products from old.
It’s an all-encompassing approach to life and business, where everything has value and nothing is wasted. In simple terms, we can explain it as ‘make, use, remake’ as opposed to ‘make, use, dispose of’.
How will we benefit from a circular economy?
Using Ready2Recycle mono-material structures in your business sustainability strategy comes with the following benefits:
- More environmentally friendly
Reducing demand for mixed raw materials and maximising the life of products could eradicate a large proportion of the world’s carbon footprint.
- Business opportunity: it literally makes business sense
By getting the most significant value out of the resources they use, you will gain the competitive benefits of forming longer-lasting relationships with customers, based on the provision of products and services rather than the sale of products alone.
- Waste reduction
Reducing the amount of waste seen around our shores by disposing or recycling packaging will improve people’s quality of life all across the world. But remember, the packaging doesn’t make its way into the oceans on its own and it is down to all of us to educate, manufacture, improve infrastructure and recycle!
How can we make the switch?
If you are interested in including the circular economy throughout your business strategy but don’t know where to start, we can help. We are the experts in packaging for sustainability and will advise on how you can get started.
Whether you choose to continue with traditional plastic solutions or change over to our Ready2Recycle range, we can speak with you on how best to proceed with either of these valid options. Ultimately, it has to suit your product requirements and meet your customers’ expectations.
If your brand is looking to invest in quality packaging, we will guide you through the entire print process. Providing recommendations along the way to improve efficiency, reduce costs and add untold value to the end product.
