Folding boxes 
Shipping boxes 
Stand-up pouch 
Flexible packaging 
Labels 
Paper cans 
Sample boxes GOODS PROTECTION MEETS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
E-commerce is booming - and with it the demand for shipping boxes and the volumes of packaging waste generated. This harms the environment and causes frustration among some customers. However, doing without shipping packaging entirely is not an option. After all, an increased incidence of transport damage and returns is no less harmful to the environment.
This makes it all the more important to find a good balance between protecting goods and protecting the environment. The good news is that optimizing shipping packaging in terms of sustainability often requires just a few changes - and these are usually neither difficult nor expensive.
It is important that you keep all essential aspects in mind: On the one hand, the packaging must protect the goods just as well as conventional packaging; on the other hand, it should comply with the applicable requirements for chemical substances, be designed for recycling and, where possible, be reusable.
PACKAGING MATERIALS: RECYCLED FIBRES, FINISHES AND RECYCLABILITY
One effective way to reduce the environmental impact of shipping is to use materials that can be recycled after use. Cardboard and corrugated board are well suited for this: they can generally be recycled via waste paper collection, provided coatings and finishes do not impair this.
But here, as well, there are more and less sustainable variants. Board with a high proportion of recycled fibres, for example, reduces the demand for virgin fibres. Uncoated surfaces with little ink coverage are also generally easier to recycle than heavily printed or coated ones, and unbleached board does not require a bleaching step in production.
If they are not urgently needed to protect the goods, coatings and laminations also do not make a desired contribution to the sustainability of the packaging. Because even if they are removable as part of the recycling process, reprocessing is made more difficult.
THE VOLUME: LESS IS MORE
Shipping packaging must be larger than its contents, that is certain. After all, the goods must be protected from crushing and shocks. However, the volumes of shipping boxes are often much larger than necessary - and this can lead to a double increase in resource consumption: In order to prevent damage caused by the goods sliding out of place, the empty space is often filled with additional filling material.
FILLING MATERIAL: PAPER BEFORE PLASTIC
Paper, cardboard, wood wool and other plant-based materials are well suited as filling materials for shipping boxes. Unlike polystyrene and many plastic fillers, paper-based fillers can usually be disposed of with waste paper. Even better: avoid void fill altogether by choosing a box that fits.
CARTONS WITH TEAR-OFF STRIPS
In e-commerce - and unfortunately this cannot be completely avoided - returns are a frequent occurrence. This can also help reduce packaging consumption: a shipping carton with tear-off strip, for example, can be opened without damaging the box, so it can be used again for a return shipment.
A shipping carton with tear-off strips for example, prevents boxes from being damaged by customers when they are opened so that they are no longer usable for return shipping.
USED SHIPPING BOXES
Many returned boxes are still in good shape after their first use. However, they are often not used a second time to send goods to a customer because the packaging may have gotten a few scratches and no longer looks new.
One solution would be to let customers decide for themselves whether they want to receive a used or new box. Environmentally conscious customers will give you credit.
