The Next Era of Packaging
Sustainable packaging efforts are not new, but what is new is the level of access to packaging data and drivers for change, all of which are helping open new opportunities to shift to the next era, realizing sustainable packaging.
- States are implementing new packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws. Compliance with these laws requires companies to uncover and report packaging data that most businesses have never organized before.
- With data transparency, companies can begin to see new opportunities for packaging improvements. There are some quick wins companies can implement.
- EPR laws are spurring new thinking beyond compliance, since there are incentives to shift to reusables and away from non-recyclable options, along with other improvements.
- There are signs of the shift in the market toward more sustainable innovation, which gives us an early view of what is coming next that companies can start to integrate into their approaches.
- The new approach to realizing sustainable packaging requires a progression of design changes with three new Rs: refine, redesign, and reimagine.
