In a survey of more than 130 brand owners, it was unsurprising yet encouraging to see that 96% of respondents report that sustainability is at least somewhat important to their companies’ sourcing of printed labels and packaging. Additionally, nearly half (46%) indicated packaging sustainability is essential, while 40% stated sustainability is very important (Figure 1). With consumer demands, retailer mandates, and potential legislation aimed at improving the environmental friendliness of packaging, brands are prioritizing sustainability. But, as they continue to push for a more eco-conscious package, it will be beneficial for package printers and converters to help them understand the many different forms sustainability can take.
The survey, which was part of NAPCO Research’s 2024 report Digital Packaging: The Pursuit of Prosperity, also revealed the sustainability attributes brand owners are focusing on. When asked to select their top three considerations for sustainable packaging, recyclability was firmly at the top of the list, selected by 60% of brand owner respondents (Figure 2). This is unsurprising, given the heightened lens placed on recyclability in the sustainability equation. As retailers implement their own sustainability goals and mandates, increased recyclability of packaging materials is often a top priority, and from a consumer perspective, recycling discarded packaging is a tangible way they can participate in reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfills.
Read the rest of this feature on Packaging Impressions.
