Minimizing Damage Risks in Green Packaging
Recent research found that the vast majority of companies have, or are developing, some type of sustainable packaging policy.
But even though there’s a heightened awareness and lots of interest, green packaging remains poorly understood.
Fortunately, a new three-part online series by Nancy Parmer shines a spotlight on the issue, promising to address the fundamental concerns surrounding sustainable packaging and its role in the green supply chain.
Parmer, who is senior director of sustainability, customer solutions group, at UPS, says the series will dissect each of these three key green packaging strategies:
- minimizing the damage risks
- incorporating appropriate sustainable packaging materials
- maximizing the product-to-package ratio.
In the first installment, published last week, Parmer tackles how to minimize damage risks. It’s a thought-provoking article because as she says, “Most shippers – e-tailers and otherwise – don’t make the crucial connection between minimizing damages and green packaging.”
Stop to think about it for a minute, and you’ll realize the connection is obvious: Damaged products add to your environmental footprint because they have to be returned and then re-shipped.
To mitigate this risk, Parmer advises
- using the right damage-resistant packaging (both box and shipping filler), and
- testing before you ship a new product line or use a new mode of transport.
Like most business sustainability strategies, this one boils down to striking a balance between what’s green (recycled materials, smaller size, lighter weight, etc.) and optimal function (in this case, damage protection of your product).
See the full article, “Strategies for Integrating Green Packaging,” for more details. It’s chock-full of solid recommendations, and be sure to check back for more information in the second and third parts of the series.
