Brands and individuals trying to build sustainability frameworks have consistently faced packaging challenges.
Often, a product's packaging reveals a lot about its brand. Especially for brands that call themselves sustainable, packaging can make or break customer trust. Despite this, most greenwashing companies are unwilling to give up their profits to benefit the environment.
In this article, we discuss some factors that make apparel packaging sustainable. This article is for small clothing brands and conscious consumers interested in getting educated in eco-friendly packaging.
Eco-Friendly Options for Your Clothing Brands Packaging
Clothing packaging is not limited to plastic bags. An e-commerce store can choose from a wide variety of eco-friendly packaging options. The new generation of customers wants to shop from ethical, sustainable, and eco-conscious brands that care about their clients and the environment. As a result, the clothing industry has become even more competitive. As a merchant, it is important to ensure your custom branded packaging stands out from the competition. It is necessary to balance your economic needs and the environment.
The following are some green packaging solutions to look out for:
Eco-Friendly Mailers
For clothing companies shipping apparel, mailer envelopes are an excellent option. There can be plenty of options to choose from, but it can be hard to pick the right one, especially if you want to be eco-friendly.
Sustainable and recycled materials are often used in these and are a great option for eco-conscious brands.
Mailers can be reinforced with recyclable fiberglass in some designs. Doing so ensures that the packaged products are protected while being kind to the environment simultaneously. Further, your customers will love the mailers because they look lovely!
Custom Poly Mailers
Want your products to stand out, but find eco-friendly mailers too much? Custom poly mailers are an excellent alternative. They are made of 100% polyethylene, an easily recyclable material so that they can protect delicate items from light, dirt, and moisture. Custom mailers are also recyclable, as printing does not affect their reusability (it only enhances the consumer experience).
Paper-based mailers
Paper-based mailers can be used for shipping apparel as an alternative to poly mailers or curbside recyclable and compostable mailers.
Typically made from Kraft paper, paper-based envelopes provide almost as good protection as poly envelopes, combining the simplicity of an envelope with the functionality of a shipping box.
Our recommendation is to choose a 100% recyclable option, made from thicker stock than regular paper mailers, yet still able to accommodate apparel and soft goods.
Compostable mailers
In terms of lightness, durability, and water resistance, compostable mailers offer the best of both worlds: They're biodegradable as paper but have the same properties as poly mailers when it comes to being light and durable.
PBAT, a biodegradable polymer, and PLA, a plant-based material, are the most common materials used for compostable envelopes. The compostable mailer returns to the earth without leaving any harmful residues behind if it is composted properly.
Custom Tissue Paper
Especially for clothes and accessories that are more prone to damage, this is an excellent solution.
Whether you purchase an item online or in-store, custom tissue paper is useful for wrapping highly fragile and brittle items.
As a result, the products are protected from damage if they fall - the tissue cushions the product so that it doesn't get damaged.
Custom Tape
The strength and reliability of corrugated boxes make them widely used. Over time, the sea of brown cubes can get a little monotonous. Those looking to spice up their packaging might consider custom packing tape. They can use it to make their shipments stand out.
There hasn't always been a positive perception of packing tape. Considering the environment, it is necessary to remove it from boxes to recycle them, and plastic tape liners are not easily reclaimed.
Custom Label Rolls
You can enhance customers' shopping experience by using custom label rolls. You can do small things to make a big difference. They come in various sizes and shapes and are extremely easy to apply.
Adding logos, slogans, and other branding elements to packages is easy with label rolls.
Cardboard Boxes
The most durable and lightweight boxes are usually made from corrugated cardboard. In most cases, people would not quickly throw away this clever little moldable, shapable packing material. The only time it finally goes into the trash is if it is water-damaged or totally damaged. This already has a positive impact on the environment.
Why are cardboard boxes so useful? Compostable and recyclable five to seven times, they are environmentally friendly. Since cardboard boxes without laminates or wax coatings are easier to recycle, we recommend choosing them.
It's an old and new way to ensure that the client gets their items in good shape while also being environment friendly. Cardboard boxes can protect anything from glass to several articles of clothing.
Labels & stickers
In terms of product presentation, your product label is the cherry on the cake top. These can also be eco-friendly, along with all the other items listed above.
Consider using recycled papers printed with soy or water-based ink that is non-harmful. Moreover, avoiding top coatings on labels and stickers will make recycling easier.
Eco-friendly stickers can be applied to tissue paper, mailers, boxes, and other surfaces easily and quickly. Your brand's logo can be placed anywhere you desire, knowing that you are doing your best not to damage the environment.
Final thoughts
You cannot ignore the importance of packaging for your brand. A true eco-friendly company will invariably choose sustainable materials for the packaging and recycle or reuse them after disposal. Do you agree or disagree? Share your thoughts on sustainability in the comments!