Consumers appreciate eco-friendly packaging

Most used packaging is not properly managed. How can we effectively reduce the environmental burden of this type of waste? Ecological packaging is rising to the challenge.

Just a dozen or so years ago, a small group of society attached importance to ecology. Today, the trend towards ecological products is undeniable, and due to environmental protection, the number of environmentally friendly packaging has significantly increased. An increasing group of customers is determined to buy a product in eco packaging, even if its price is slightly higher than the standard one. Manufacturers, following changes and current trends, decide to produce modern packaging made from renewable raw materials that are recyclable.

Eco-design consists of two phenomena. The first is the graphic design of packaging, which is intended to emphasize the naturalness of the product, and the second is the design based on the use of only natural materials.

So far, consumers have not attached much importance to ecology, even in countries where awareness of this issue is at a high level, and the fact that the packaging is environmentally friendly did not contribute to a greater interest in buying a given product. However, experts agree that this situation has changed significantly in recent years. Consumers have begun to pay attention to whether the packaging has the appropriate certificates and whether it is recyclable. The increase in awareness is also caused by greater information requirements on the part of manufacturers. It is estimated that in the next 10 years, the factor that will attract customers’ attention will be the information on the packaging regarding its impact on the environment.

There is great potential in carton packaging (milk, juices), which, thanks to their unique features, support environmental protection, and at the same time, thanks to their lightness, are extremely practical in terms of transport, storage and display on store shelves. This type of packaging is mostly made of cellulose, which comes from wood, a renewable resource. This means that used cardboard can be recycled, giving this packaging great ecological potential.

Eco packaging is also biodegradable, undergoing the process of industrial decomposition, and therefore does not require incurring costs related to recovery. In recent years, they have become a real hit among people who care about the environment. They are made from various types of raw materials, including materials called biodegradable polymers, and can be composted with organic waste, because they do not release substances harmful to the environment.

Designing eco packaging brings measurable benefits, both economic and marketing. Their potential has begun to be noticed not only by experienced players, but also by companies just entering the market. Packaging designers create taking into account the needs of the brand, customer expectations and current trends. The growing importance of environmental protection is affecting foreign markets, and forecasts show that in the coming years, Polish designs will also attract attention with modern eco-design.