An increasing number of companies are joining their expertise in sustainable packaging innovations. Successful strategic collaborations help organizations to differentiate from their competitors and win customer attention. 2019 US Customer Sustainability Survey results report that two out of three customers pay close attention to the environmental impact of purchase and are keen to pay extra amount for more eco-friendly products. This article highlights five important and impactful partnerships in the sustainable packaging innovations field.
The Plastic Bank and Henkel
The Plastic Bank is an organization that collects ocean-bound plastic and turns it into recycled Social Plastic. By the date of publication, the organization collectors have recovered more than 12.1 million kilograms of ocean-bound plastic. By empowering the regenerative society, they create a regenerative and circular economy. Collectors can return plastic in exchange for blockchain tokens that can be used to pay groceries, schooling, and healthcare services. The Plastic Bank sustainable packaging innovations help both to preserve the environment and support underdeveloped communities. Later, Social Plastic is bought by Henkel. It is a German chemical consumer goods company that produces home care, baby care, and adhesive technologies. 50% of packaging is made from Social Plastic supplied by The Plastic Bank sustainable packaging innovations.
Botta Packaging and Esselunga
Botta Packaging in partnership with Esselunga, one of the biggest supermarket chains in Italy, developed an advanced innovative envelope. Produced entirely from a corrugated paper to protect bottles and eggs during deliveries address and fulfill customer need in more sustainable packaging.
Widely used plastic bubble wrap represents a non-sustainable habit and those who are reluctant to change accordingly risk to annoy customers. Also, cumbersome compound packaging materials which require additional separation and sorting effort is another factor consumer are happy to avoid.
The Botta Eco-Envelope is one of the sustainable packaging innovations solutions that address all the above problems. Plastic bubble wrap is eliminated, and only recyclable materials are used to fulfill high protection and sustainability standards.
Cradle-to-cradle and Frosch
Cradle-to-cradle certification is a globally recognized measure of safer, more sustainable products made for the circular economy. An increasing number of organizations and standard issuing boards recognize Cradle-to-cradle as a preferred standard to illustrate circular economy contribution and sustainable packaging innovations. To receive certification, products are inspected for environmental and social impacts across five sustainability categories as material health, material reuse, renewable energy, and social fairness. Frosch detergent products are Cradle-to-cradle certified with 85% of packaging recyclable without losing quality.
Tide and Amazon
The project started as a part of Amazon’s Frustration-Free packaging initiative that has resulted in a reduction of approximately 500 thousand tons of unnecessary packaging materials. Tide products that are traditionally packaged in plastic bags and containers were subject to a reconsideration process which led to the Tide Eco-Box solution. The solution that is a part of the global sustainable packaging innovations movement reduces waste, aligns with the sustainable development paradigm, and contributes to environmental conservation. The Tide Eco-Box uses 60% less plastic and 1.81 kg lighter.
IKEA and Ecovative Design
IKEA in collaboration with Ecovative Design developed fully compostable polystyrene packaging alternatives using mushrooms as a basis. This sustainable packaging innovations solution is able to decompose in a week comparing to years of traditional packaging solutions.
