Retail Packaging and Environment: Not an Easy Affair

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Retail Packaging and Environment Not an Easy
Affair
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iSell packaging

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• Retailers are aware of the environmental concerns
  caused by packaging. However, eliminating plastic
  is not the total solution.
• In a recent survey, 71.4 of consumers said that
  they want food and grocery retailers to be more
  eco-friendly. In other words, todays customers
  are more aware of environmental concerns and want
  shops and businesses to reduce their impact.
• The ever-increasing environment awareness among
  consumers has prompted many major retailers to
  reduce plastic usage. Some retail stores are
  using paper bags for loose fruit and veggies
  while some are using recyclable plastic
  packaging. 

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Is zero plastic possible?

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• While most retailers are thinking about
  eliminating plastic packaging, it may not be
  feasible for them unless a powerful alternative
  is discovered. Plastic perhaps makes up most of
  the waste that goes into the ocean or dumped into
  landfills every year. However, the target of
  zero plastic isnt realistic. Plastic is
  counted among the most flexible and durable
  packaging ideal for storing and transportation.
  Besides, it is great for branding.

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• While most retailers are thinking about
  eliminating plastic packaging, it may not be
  feasible for them unless a powerful alternative
  is discovered. Plastic perhaps makes up most of
  the waste that goes into the ocean or dumped into
  landfills every year. However, the target of
  zero plastic isnt realistic. Plastic is
  counted among the most flexible and durable
  packaging ideal for storing and transportation.
  Besides, it is great for branding.

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• However, it is worth to mention that many major
  brands like Nestlé, Unilever, The Body Shop,
  Procter and Gamble and PepsiCo have announced a
  reusable and refillable packaging model. Walmart
  has also announced that it is looking to reduce
  the packaging waste generated by its private
  labels with the goals of achieving 100
  recyclable or compostable packaging for its
  private brands by 2025.

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• Some companies are launching their products
  without packaging. For example, Lush, a skincare
  brand, has launched Lush Naked Shops where they
  sell packaging-free products like shops. This new
  packaging concept has been termed as Nude
  packaging.

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Eliminating Plastic Only Cant Serve the Purpose

• Its not only the plastic that impacts the
  environment. A better way to consider the
  environmental impact of materials is to look at
  the entire system, from manufacturing,
  transportation to warehousing.
• For example, many companies want to use glass as
  a potential substitute, but the product also
  leaves a carbon footprint. The glass
  manufacturing process involves the furnaces being
  fired with fossil fuels, consuming more energy
  than the energy being consumed by the plastic.
  Then, when a glass is transported, its heavy,
  which simply means that it impacts the
  environment.
• Glass isnt an evil product, either. Both plastic
  and glass materials are important.

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The Case is More Complicated at E-Commerce Store

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• The packaging seems to be an inseparable part of
  ecommerce. While a customer can decide on
  packaging while shopping at a physical store,
  online shoppers dont see packaging. They instead
  get a view of the final product and make their
  buying decision.
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• In an e-commerce scenario, the role of the
  packaging in encouraging the customers to buy the
  product is not nearly as important. The role of
  packaging is to protect the product from damages
  during shipping.
• .

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• Here Amazon deserves a pat on their back. The
  e-commerce company is trying to ship the products
  on its inventory in more streamlined packaging.
  Amazon has started shipping in recyclable boxes
  that are easy to option and free of excess
  materials like hard plastic clamshell cases, wire
  ties and plastic bindings. It eats up less space
  in shipping containers and boxes, making shipping
  more efficient..

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To conclude, eliminating plastic from retail
packaging is not an easy goal. However, consumers
can play a big role in this scenario. For
example, the can reuse or re purpose the plastic
packaging they get.

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Thank You.

• Debra Weiss

• [phone]

• regmorhay_at_gmail.com

• www.isellpackaging.com