With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, we want to discuss the importance of sustainable practices for companies who want to operate with integrity + respect for the environment and for their consumers. “Rather than just focusing on growing financial profit, a sustainable business will take into consideration its social and environmental impact as well” (Cultivating Capital). As a company, we are open about our commitment to sustainability and our efforts to become a Zero Waste Production Facility through a partnership with a leader in the recycling business to achieve this goal. Let’s dive deeper into what it means to be a sustainable company and how Mankato Packaging can help you to become one.
Sustainable Trends
The eco-friendly movement is not a new one, but a lot of companies aren’t sure what steps to take to make their practices more sustainable. We did some research and have some great ideas to help you get started!
- Use sustainable packaging (more on this later…)
- Identify areas where you can be saving energy (i.e., water and electricity)
- Work with vendors who have sustainable practices to foster eco-friendly practices throughout your entire supply chain
- Recycle! This includes employee waste but also any production waste, like plastics, papers, chemicals, etc.
- Educate your consumers about how to recycle or reuse your packaging
These are just a few practices that can make a big impact on your company’s sustainability!
How We Can Help
We use 100% recyclable paperboard materials and environmentally friendly inks to ensure recyclability after printing. When you choose product packaging that is created with paperboard instead of plastic, you are immediately making a huge impact on your sustainability: “Recycling rates for plastic packaging are relatively low. In the United States, for example, waste is generally managed with low leakage but recovery rates for packaging and food-service plastics are about 28 percent… compared to approximately 80 percent for paperboard” (McKinsey). This is an incredible leap for standard paperboard, and we are so proud to say that ours is certified 100% recyclable!
The Bottom Line
Adopting more sustainable practices might require some investment of time and money up front, but the payoff can be huge with your consumers. “Sustainability is a driving factor in all purchase decisions, with 68% of internet users now reporting that sustainability played a significant part in deciding which product to buy. Consumers don’t just want to see a sustainable product; they need to see a well-rounded concept that incorporates sustainability into every component. This includes packaging” (Packaging Digest). When you make consumers aware of your sustainable packaging, you set yourself up to be chosen over your competitors who aren’t making such commitments to sustainability practices. You set yourself up for growth!
If you’re ready to discuss how we can help you to get excellently designed, recyclable packaging that will protect the integrity of your product, get in touch with us today!