Despite the fact that most businesses had to adapt to the current situation and reset their goals, we know that sustainability is still high on the agenda of our clients, and is back at the top of their priority list right now. That’s why we’re always thinking of new ways to innovate the packaging we supply and continuously work on improvements and further material developments.
Pouches have become the preferred flexible packaging solution across many industries. Our Ready2Recycle pouches are an even more popular option. Scrubbington’s refill pouches were our first large scale refillable project. They were attracted to our sustainable pack format because they offer a 78-82% saving on plastic, but also save water and energy too, compared to other rigid packaging solutions.
Scrubbington’s are one of the first in the bath and shower sector to make the switch. Refillable products are often now packaged in recyclable pouches or larger containers that cut down the amount of plastic used compared to smaller bottles which are why they approached us to create and supply their packaging.
Given our experience, we understand why brands have been hesitant to make a move; packing liquid into flexible pouches can seem like a struggle. But, they are 100% recyclable, and that’s the USP that not only helps to create the demand for recyclable pouches but sells your products, too. During the 2020 pandemic, the use of soap rocketed following the government’s advice that we all wash our hands more.
Most of our customer’s clients expressed their desire to be eco-friendly and it was clear throughout lockdown in the UK that they prefer to buy refills than new packaged goods. And, whilst spending time at home became the norm, people noticed their surroundings. So they began opting instead for attractive ceramic or glass dispensers labelled for shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, which thus creates the demand for refillable packaging.
Designing packaging for maximum recyclability was important to Scrubbington’s and we helped them to achieve this with PE/PE pouches, which are recyclable due to the mono-material structure. Polyethylene (PE) printed film is laminated to another layer of polyethylene (PE) providing strength and durability. Moreover, they ultimately recognised the value in opting for a light-weight, stand-up pouch to do this. So, not only we are proactively designing for optimisation and reducing material usage but we are also investing in recyclable plastics.
Who hasn’t stood in the shower desperately trying to squeeze the last few drops of shower gel out of the tube? Or resorted to cutting it open and scraping out the remnants because you’ve forgotten to buy a new bottle? By investing in good quality dispensers with pump tops, you can rest assured that with a big refill pouch safely stowed in the cupboard you can top it up whenever you need. And with your brand in their mind, the possibilities are endless.
By switching to a refillable pouch for your next product, households could eliminate the equivalent of 84kg of single-use and unrecyclable plastic waste per year. However, to make recycling happen more than it already it is, we need to work together to make sure that consumers are recycling at home as much as they can. When the demand for recyclable packaging increases, that’s when the benefits are seen not only nationally but across the world.
Refillable pouches are just getting off the ground in the UK. Countries like France, Germany and Italy have already adopted the pouches, not only for soap or hand gel, but for various other food and non-food products.
If you need any advice on recyclable packaging, feel free to get in touch with us.
