Yesterday we looked at ways to make your marketing effort more environmentally friendly. Typically, direct mail is one area where smarter processes can help your company get a lot greener. Perhaps even more challenging is product packaging. Consumers know wasteful packaging when they see it and they’re gravitating toward companies that demonstrate more thoughtful package design.
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If you’re considering making changes to your product packaging, here are some tips for more reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable methods.
Think smaller—Reducing excess packaging results in lighter and smaller shipments that are more efficient to transport. Besides being greener, smaller packages also allow more product to fit on retail shelves, on shipping pallets, and in warehouses.
Watch fillers—Filler is the material inside a package to protect the product. Try using biodegradable packing materials.
Experiment with reusables—If your product can be sold in packaging that’s reusable, consider setting up a program for consumers to return or reuse the container. Reusables are also a great way to keep your product top-of-mind, since customers will think about the item before and after it’s consumed.
Of course, reexamining shipping processes is also a good idea. More efficient shipping has a significant impact on your company’s carbon footprint.
If you can’t do it all right now, set goals that can be measured over the long-term. Strive for more efficient direct mail marketing processes, then look at packaging and transportation. These are all investments that will pay off for the long-term—not just for your business but for the customers and communities you serve.