Just 5% of the plastic waste generated in the US is recycled.

As a small business owner, it’s so important to embrace sustainability. As more people become conscious of their carbon footprint, they look for businesses that share this concern. One of the ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint is to look at your packaging waste.

In today’s post, we’ll tell you how you can reduce your packaging waste in 2024. Employing minimal packaging will save you money, lower your carbon footprint, and show your customers that you care. Keep reading and learn what you need to do.

Redesign Your Packaging

Start by redesigning your packaging. Depending on what type of products you’re shipping, you can probably get away with using minimal packaging to get them there safely.

A lot of new e-commerce businesses get caught up in branding, which often involves more packaging and package labeling. Of course, it’s important to establish your brand and packaging is a great way to do that, but it’s not always the most sustainable practice.

Working with a reputable box manufacturer, you can design something that gives you the best of both worlds. Packaging that better fits what you’re shipping calls for less packing materials, resulting in far less waste.

Use Recyclable Materials 

If you’ve never given much consideration to the types of materials in your packaging, there’s a good chance you’re creating a lot of waste. When you employ recyclable materials for your packages, you’re reducing the amount of waste in landfills.

For example, cardboard boxes can be reused to store and ship other things. Even when they’re not reused, paper products can shredded and remade into other paper products. Shredded paper makes for a great alternative to styrofoam when packing boxes as well.

Use a Packaging Fulfillment Company

Small businesses that ship a lot of products to their customers can make use of a packaging fulfillment company. A fulfillment company can reduce the amount of package waste through various means, including automation and supply chain efficiency.

With more efficient fulfillment operations, you can reduce the amount of human error involved in the shipping process. A fulfillment center can also handle more packaging inventory. This means fewer packaging orders for smaller e-commerce companies that don’t have the space to house a lot of packaging.

At PFC, we’ve long been committed to sustainability. As a top corrugated box manufacturer and fulfillment center, we’ve helped countless Nashville-area businesses become more sustainable.

Think About Packaging Waste

Becoming a more sustainable business is possible when you take a closer look at how you operate. Packaging waste is a major contributor to high carbon emissions, but it doesn’t have to be. There are simple and affordable ways to solve this problem.

Hiring a packaging fulfillment company can not only solve your waste problem but numerous other issues as well. Packaging Fulfillment Co. has 28 years of experience manufacturing corrugated boxes and fulfilling orders in Nashville. To learn how we can help you streamline your operations, contact us today.