How to Reduce Packaging Waste Without Redesigning Your Entire Supply Chain

Looking to use renewable packaging without making major shipping and inventory adjustments? Implementing these few, key solutions is a great step towards practicing sustainable manufacturing. Packaging plays an essential role in shipping, transportation, and marketing of products, but there are several ways for a business to limit their output of trash. By following these waste reduction guidelines, businesses will be able to reduce packaging waste, increase supply chain efficiency and offer more sustainable options in a simplified, cost-effective manner.

Packaging waste consists of excess materials used to protect, ship or store products that are thrown away immediately after the product is used. Nearly any material used for packaging can become waste, but the most common shipping items include styrofoam, cardboard, bubble wrap, and plastic wrap.

It is helpful to categorize discarded items when deciding how to reduce packaging waste. There are three types of packaging, each offering different opportunities to reduce waste.

Primary:

Primary packaging consists of containers that come into direct contact with the product. They protect and preserve their contents and play a key role in product display. Packages such as food and beverage bottles, jars, boxes, wrappers, and flexible packages are commonly discarded items by end users.

Secondary: 

Secondary packaging groups several primary packages together. They add another layer of protection and make products easier to handle and present in bigger quantities. Cartons, small boxes, and trays are all examples of secondary packaging. 

Tertiary: 

Tertiary packaging is often referred to as bulk packaging. These containers are designed to move large product quantities from factories to warehouses and stores. Drums, totes, bins, pallets, stretch film and large corrugated boxes are often used for their strength and security.

Packaging waste reduction is the practice of minimizing the amount of materials that enter the packaging process or adopting reusable alternatives and practices. Keeping materials in use for as long as possible reduces the need for new resources.

In addition to keeping trash out of landfills and protecting the environment, companies that reduce packaging waste stand to gain in several areas.

• Financial: Reusing items and buying reconditioned products reduce new material expenses. 
• Operational: With fewer materials cluttering your packaging, inventory management becomes much smoother. Waste-free supply chains are more likely to experience improved logistics, transportation, and reduced damages and losses. 
• Social: As companies continue to prioritize sustainability, their waste reduction efforts help to support customer values.

Consumers and businesses today are increasing their efforts to become eco-friendly and improve supply chain efficiency. With these goals in mind, let’s explore the most effective packaging waste reduction methods companies can implement.

Sustainable packaging refers to containers that reduce environmental impact throughout their life cycle. They are created from eco-friendly materials and made from waste disposal methods designed to prolong the lifespan of existing products. This reduces the need for new resources, keeping potential waste away from landfills.

PCR plastic containers are made from post-consumer resin, or plastic that has already been used by consumers, collected through recycling, then shredded and reprocessed for new use.

Regrind products are made from reprocessed excess plastic pieces, rejected parts, or unused scraps.

Reconditioned items, such as reconditioned drums and IBC totes,  are previously used bulk containers that have been thoroughly cleaned and repaired for reuse. The Cary Company also offers rebottled totes, which consist of a new tank and a reconditioned cage.

When organizing product transportation, try to fill each shipment to its maximum capacity. This approach helps reduce packaging waste by limiting the amount of partially empty containers and unused space. The consolidation of products also lowers the amount of labor and costs needed for packaging and shipping.

Overpackaging occurs when excessive layers or filling are added to protect package contents. While it’s important to ensure product safety and security, reducing the amount of unnecessary packaging is key to minimizing waste. 

Cutting down on overwrapping shipments results in less plastic stretch film use and decreases packaging weight and volume, reducing package manufacturing and shipping costs. Reusable pallet wraps and covers also reduce wrapping time and waste.

Additionally, matching your products with the best-fitting package sizes will minimize empty space, requiring less loose fill, bubble wrap, and other similar materials. Search our selection of boxes by size to lessen the need for excess filling, and explore our biodegradable loose fill for an environmentally-friendly way to pad your products.

The simpler your materials are, the easier they are for consumers to identify and recycle appropriately. Mono-material packaging promotes using a single material throughout the entire container and closure, making your packaging easier for consumers to separate and recycle. Many glass, plastic, and metal materials are widely recyclable, but providing recycling instructions on labels helps keep consumers informed.

Many suppliers work to reduce packaging waste in coordination with their business partnerships. Choosing partners that provide sustainable packaging can help to spread the use of environmentally friendly materials across the supply chain. The Cary Company offers a wide variety of recycled, reconditioned, and eco-conscious products. In addition, we provide IBC tote and drum disposal services and detailed guides to meet your sustainability needs.

At The Cary Company, we offer a wide range of packaging essentials to meet your sustainability goals while ensuring your product is packaged and shipped safely. For questions about selecting the right materials for your application, contact us at 630.629.6600 or sales@thecarycompany.com.

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