There are many design considerations when developing a sustainable package. A mind map can quickly identify many opportunities. Once complete, align your design brief to key areas of focus from the mind map to ensure you’re targeting every opportunity available.
1. Material Reduction
Light–weighting is an excellent way to reduce the amount of material that will end up in the recycling stream. However, design for manufacturability and user experience must be considered when light-weighting a package. Package integrity, manufacturing constraints, supply chain requirements, and usability should continue to provide positive experiences throughout the package’s lifecycle.
Determine what % of PCR is capable for the manufacturing process and the package design. Due to decontamination of recycling streams packaging features such as hinges, tamper evidence, and child resistance will be affected. Know your manufacturing capabilities with PCR and align it with good design practices based on PCR testing and data.
The shape of a package will influence supply chain efficiencies. Non-round, cube efficient packaging with tapered sidewall allows for containers to nest inside one another. This generates tremendous freight savings by reducing the number of truckloads on the road, reduces fuel usage, and results in lower greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Brand owners and retailers will also appreciate the cube–out advantages by allowing more product on shelf.
When designing new packaging we have to keep sustainability at top of mind in order to achieve our Impact 2025 and beyond goals.
Contact Berry Global and Blue Clover Studios to help achieve your sustainability goals and together we will make a cleaner world for many generations to come.