With so many CPG companies recognizing the need for a long-term sustainability plan, innovative initiatives specifically for CPG products have arisen. Some of the ways that CPG brands are becoming more environmentally friendly include:
Certified plastic neutral: Companies can gain a Plastic Neutral Certification by measuring and reducing their packaging and supply chain’s plastic use as much as possible. To offset the rest, they fund the removal of low-value plastic from landfills and incinerators for recycling.
Reusable, refillable bottles: Some companies create more sustainable packaging by manufacturing reusable glass bottles and providing refills. This is a common strategy for green cleaning companies, which may offer a concentrated liquid or dissolvable tablet that the consumer adds water to. Industries from beauty products to food and beverages have jumped on this trend by adding refill stations rather than individual packaging to the retail environment.
Design for recyclability: While many plastic bottles are recyclable, the recyclability doesn’t always extend to the caps, pumps and sprayer nozzles. Likewise, packages may contain some recyclable components like cardboard and feature a non-recyclable plastic film window. CPG brands can combat this by designing packaging that’s 100% circular and recyclable.
Sustainable production methods: The production methods for CPG products and their packaging can be both sustainable and cost-efficient. Sustainable manufacturing methods can minimize waste by using raw materials more effectively and reduce emissions, water usage and energy usage.
Reducing emissions: Besides reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in production, companies can also reduce emissions by optimizing their transportation logistics. For example, reducing the weight of the packaging can significantly lighten a transport truck’s load, which saves fuel. Likewise, optimizing shipping routes can also cut emissions while saving time.
Renewable and bio-based packaging materials: Replacing traditional packaging with materials like bamboo and bioplastics makes packaging biodegradable.
Compostable packaging materials: Certain packaging materials biodegrade even faster than most bio-based packaging, which means consumers can often compost them at home. This feature makes a clear connection with shoppers that your products will reduce their household waste generation.
Sustainable ingredient sourcing: Food, beverage and cosmetics CPG products often contain plant-based ingredients such as corn, palm oil, sugar and coconut oil. When these companies source their ingredients responsibly, they work with farmers who use sustainable agricultural methods and limit their environmental impact. This practice can even extend to the sourcing methods used for paper goods.