Sustainable Packaging Defined
What Is Sustainability in Packaging?
First and foremost, packaging must perform in terms of containing and protecting the product, providing information to the consumer, and supporting your marketing strategy, all within an acceptable budget. After meeting the basic functional requirements of packaging, the extent to which it is sustainable depends on many elements.
What is the best, most sustainable package for your product? “It depends” is frequently the answer. It depends on the product, the consumer, your business, and your organization’s sustainability goals.
Why is Sustainable Packaging so Challenging?
Sustainability encompasses the entire life cycle of a package from its development to its disposal. Failure at any point along the way can send you back to the drawing board. And just about anything you can think of can cause a failure, from recycling issues to a design consumers don’t like.
Innovative R&D might create an easily recyclable package, but if it doesn’t conform to brand standards or survive the journey to the customer, it will be a no-go. You may have found the perfect sustainable container for your product, but then discover it can’t be produced within budget.
This is a complex process requiring expertise in product development, package design and engineering, marketing, consumer insights, and recycling. Developing a package that meets the objectives at every stage starts with turning your business questions into research questions. Asking the right questions, finding insights, and developing actionable strategies and recommendations, requires a blend of the expertise in many of the fields above.

The demand for sustainable packaging has
grown so fast there’s no one path forward
With our expertise in product and packaging innovation, sustainability, and recycling, Insight + Action, LLC can help you figure it all out and launch your new products and packaging with confidence.