“Packaging can be theater; it can create a story.” – Steve Jobs

Just as Steve Jobs so aptly said before he passed away, “packaging can create a story.” Humans want to be fed a story; we want to feel something in our hearts that moves us to do or act a certain way. We respond to emotion, empathy, and charisma. When a company relies on nothing but marketing and rational rhetoric, it loses the majority of people that are looking to dive into a story that removes them from their mundane, everyday lives.

One of the most impactful stories of our time today is that of the green movement. Nonfiction in nature, more people than ever before are waking up to the degradation we are doing to the planet. They want to ensure their consumption habits are conducive to cleaner air, water, and resources for ourselves, and for our children. It’s a story that we all want to be part of, which is why it’s so important for companies to recognize the ecofriendly rhetoric at our disposal today.

The Green Trend

Just to sum up the state of our consumption today from an environmental lens:

  • 408 parts per million of CO2 were recorded in the atmosphere at the end of 2018, the highest it has been in 3 million years

  • 2016 was the warmest year on record

  • 800 million people live in areas around the world that put them at risk for further climate change

There is no doubt we are currently facing a climate crisis, coupled with difficult economic times for many creators throughout the world. But, with the rise of conscious consumerism, ecofriendly products and packaging are on the rise.

In this particular article, it was deduced that 33% of UK consumers have concerns over the origin of products, how they are made, their impact on the environment, and their overall sustainability. As sustainability becomes a core concern for consumers throughout the world, it’s more important than ever before for companies to consider ecofriendly product packaging.

Consumers no longer care about themselves; they care about the planet, too.

Going off of that 33% statistic above, the same study found that 50% of consumers oppose GMO foods, too. Even more staggering, 35% of people are willing to spend more money on ecofriendly products, and 56% were ‘slightly likely’ to consider paying the higher price. For the first time in history, we are seeing a complete change in consumer habits to meet the needs of the planet.

To what can we contribute the rise of conscious consumerism? For starters, the widespread press coverage and educational materials related to global environmental issues has helped educate a younger generation about the planet. People are now concerned about our oceans, air, rivers, biodiversity, and sustainability for future generations.

We all co-inhabit this earth together. Younger generations want companies to start acting like it.

So, more than just playing into the story, there are immeasurable benefits of committing to ecofriendly packaging. Let’s explore them below.

Benefits of Ecofriendly Packaging and Design

Besides saving the planet and making your company ‘look good,’ here are other notable benefits of making the switch to greener packaging:

  • Easier to throw away: Ecofriendly packaging can be easily sorted into any applicable recycling bin, and shipped off to recycling centers where the materials are reused again.
  • Biodegradable: With ecofriendly packaging, any design can be broken down organically by the earth in any kind of landfill setting. Unlike the rare metals and other chemicals used in products today that are suffocating the earth, ecofriendly packaging can easily slip back to ‘where it came from.’
  • Carbon footprint reduction: When materials are reused and recycled, less power is put into their creation. As a result, the CO2 emissions that come from shipping, manufacturing, etc. are decreased, which means less fumes are released into the air.
  • Improves brand loyalty: As you can see, more than half of the population is loyal to companies that make an ecofriendly pledge. It’s one of the quickest ways to build brand loyalty that won’t fail you.
  • Recyclable: All ecofriendly packaging can be recycled without any issue.
  • Money-saving: Making packages from recycled material is a cost-effective solution to having the packaging created from scratch. Saving the planet will also save your wallet along the way.
  • Lower shipping costs: Bulk ecofriendly package orders come with lower shipping costs.
  • Versatile and flexible: The sky is the limit for ecofriendly package is design. You can still consider any kind of shape, design, color, and material.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The importance of ecofriendly packaging is only going to increase as time moves forward. With an incoming, educated generation that cares about sustainability, if you want your brand to resonate with these consumers, then you need to show them you’re willing to change your ways. It might cost you in the interim, but the good news is, many consumers are willing to pay for the cost hike if it means saving the planet.

Manufacturers are working hard to find ways to create cost-effective ecofriendly solutions that rival the non-environmentally conscious competitor. If we all band together and commit to making a change, ecofriendly packaging will become something of the norm.

If you’re ready to save the planet and tell a story that will resonate with consumers, consider ecofriendly product packaging today.