Reusable Packaging Solutions: The Future of Packaging Industry

Plastics and nature are two main reasons and the greatest concerns for today's environment. We can always find the plastic described data, however, it remains in an extended environment. Why? Since plastic are the most environmental friendly solutions, unlike its contradictions, because it will reduce, minimize opportunities and less energy consumed in production. For example, we use stiff glass packaging for the product, will require additional storage space compared to multiple pollution. So the question is not how to replace plastic, but how can it be environmentally friendly? 

Since this packaging is designed for reuse, guaranteeing great is of most extreme significance. This fills the double need of upgrading packaging timeframe of realistic usability and additional assurance to the bundled item. Items pressed in reusable packaging are less inclined to decay or harm during transportation. Additionally, adaptable packaging that is broadly acquiring notoriety is smaller and requires a lot lesser space to ship items when contrasted with inflexible packaging. 

Efficient Transportation

Since this packaging is engineered for reuse, ensuring high quality is of utmost importance. This serves the dual purpose of enhancing packaging shelf life and extra protection to the packaged product. Products packed in reusable packaging are less prone to spoilage or damage during transportation. Also, flexible packaging that is widely gaining popularity is compact & requires much lesser space to transport products as compared to rigid packaging. 

Limited Storage Space

It eliminates the requirement of raw materials for more packaging, as the same packaging can now be reused. This is beneficial in industrial applications where they need to constantly pack products to transport from one site to another. 

Less Waste Production 

Reusable packaging has the power to minimize household & industrial waste production by many folds. Unlike conventional packaging that goes into trash after one use, reusable packaging results in less waste generation. It can also bring down the cost of waste management, especially for large firms. This can have a major effect on the overall cost of production. 

Environmental Benefits 

It not only saves time & money but also is beneficial for the environment. It can help you bring down your carbon footprint by minimizing environmental degradation activities. When both companies & households use packaging that can be reused or returned to form a circular economy, the requirement to manufacture more packaging material will reduce. 

This also reduces the energy & raw material consumption, and emission of greenhouse gases during the process. Cosmo Films is a responsible organization that is investing money & efforts in creating smart & sustainable solutions for its clients and the environment. Producing durable packaging that enhances the shelf life of products and promotes sustainability is at its core.

Key Benefits of choosing Reusable Packaging

Whenever we talk about the sustainable use of plastic, the first thing that comes to our mind is recycling it. In fact, governments have already been taking action to recycle 100% of the plastic produced around the world. However, the number seems to be quite distant because, at present, it was reported that in Europe only 9% of the total plastic produced gets recycled. As compared to the amount of plastic produced around the world, this number does very little help in tackling environmental concerns. According to research in 2018, 360 million tonnes of plastic was produced globally, of which 40% was converted to packaging.

The packaging sector is one of the largest consumers of plastics, where this material seems to be irreplaceable. Plastic has surprisingly reduced the carbon footprint of the packaging sector by preventing food spoilage, reducing CO2 emission during transportation, etc. But we cannot ignore the environmental challenges it has posed, neither can we depend upon recycling as the only solution. We need to build and promote other solutions, talking about which, one of the most effective ways to outperform single-use plastics is reuse packaging.

Also known as returnable packaging, reuse packaging refers to the packaging designed to be used multiple times. Such packaging offers durability, ease of use, and ease of cleaning. These include consumer packages such as beverage containers, zip lock bags, as well as industrial and transport packaging. It helps further reduce the carbon footprint by decreasing the demand for production. Here are some of the main benefits of reusable packaging.

Environment Benefits

A returnable supply chain can drastically reduce the carbon footprint of a company. For instance, in case your business requires constant shipment of products between manufacturing or factory sites, single-use corrugated packaging will result in accumulated waste material in large volumes in landfills. It will also increase energy consumption in manufacturing. In such situations, reusable packaging helps minimize the use of raw materials, energy, and waste creation. Another major application of single-use plastic is consumer goods. Designing quality packaging for reuse, for instance, zip-lock bags can drastically reduce household plastic waste.

If designed meticulously, returnable packaging can not only reduce raw material consumption but also minimize CO2 emission by facilitating stacking and efficient space sizing during transportation.

Packaging guidelines have also been laid down by certain governments, demoting the use of single-use plastic. The aim of such initiatives is to promote returnable packaging that offers a longer lifespan and can be recycled towards the end of its lifecycle.

Cost Reduction

Reusable packaging is both environment-friendly and cost-efficient. By reducing the repeated need to manufacture single-use packaging, companies can save the cost of raw material, energy, and labor. Since reusable packaging is designed for repeated use, it is stronger and more durable than single-use packaging. Thus, it prevents damages to the product and reduces losses.

Applications of Reusable Packaging

Reusable packaging has its applications in both commercial and household spectrums. In the commercial arena, it is widely used for delivering ingredients/raw materials to the processing unit, and transporting subcomponents to the facility for assembling.

Another application is the work in process sites where products/materials are constantly transported to different sites or manufacturing units, or even to temporary storage units before processing.

Finished goods, to be transported to consumers, have the same application. These are distributed through distribution networks or directly.

Reusable packaging has unlimited benefits to offer, especially in industrial use where packaging & transportation of raw material, ingredients, and products play a major role. Responsible specialty film producers like Cosmo Films have already taken a step forward to tackle environmental concerns by producing recyclable & reusable, high-quality films. As a world-renowned organization, it has actively promoted sustainability by enabling a circular economy for flexible packaging.