The majority of customers want to buy sustainably packaged products. Recent market research shows that over 80% of customers prefer sustainable packaging. Find out how switching to more sustainable packaging materials and featuring a commitment to sustainability in branding materials can help your business attract and retain more customers.
Reduce Carbon Footprint
Environmentally conscious consumers are eager to support brands that prioritize sustainability as part of commitments to reducing carbon footprints. Whether your business makes sustainability a major selling point or simply makes this information available to conscientious customers, packaging products more sustainably can increase your appeal to a growing percentage of consumers.
Your business can consider several approaches to sustainable packaging. Packaging made from any percentage of post-consumer recycled material reduces the amount of virgin materials required to produce packaging. Recyclable packaging can also reduce waste. Compostable packaging is a newer option that also promotes sustainability. Whether your business is designing stick pack packaging or larger flexible packages, there are more sustainable options available than ever before.
Tap Into Green Consumer Market
Products marketed as sustainable took a larger market share in 2022 than in previous years, with over 17% of purchases. While this is still a relatively small share of the market, the compound annual rate of growth for this category about 9.5%, which is almost double the rate for conventionally marketed goods. By aligning your business with this growing market sector, you can expect increasing sales and profits now and in the near future.
Pricing is another significant factor for sustainable packaging and products. As of 2022, these products had a price premium of nearly 30% over conventionally marketed goods. For brands seeking sustainable coffee packaging or flexible packaging for other consumable goods, the ability to price these products accordingly can compensate for the higher cost of sourcing PCR, recyclable or compostable packaging materials. Recycled and recyclable materials cost more than virgin materials, and new compostable materials can cost more than virgin, recycled and recyclable packaging intended for standard disposal.
Build Your Brand Ethos
If your business is seeking a strong selling point for products, you should consider sustainability. Branding experts expect the appeal of this future-oriented approach to production, packaging and branding to increase over time. Businesses that commit to sustainability show an awareness of large-scale environmental factors that can increase their competitiveness with conventional brands and products in the same market sector.
Another way to build a positive brand ethos is to choose packaging designs that indicate that your business prioritizes consumer safety, such as using child proof packaging for age-restricted products or supplements. Sustainable materials are also available for safety features, such as 100% recyclable child-resistant zippers.
No matter what type of sustainable packaging you choose, any decisions that you make regarding the use of compostable, recycled or recyclable materials can change the way that consumers view your brand. Your business can emphasize a commitment to sustainability in branding materials or find ways to convey this information to consumers who are seeking the most sustainable products.
