Can sustainable packaging be cost-effective?

According to a 2019 consumer opinion survey conducted by online company Nielsen, more than 60% of respondents have a preference for sustainable products, including packaging. The widespread use of plastic is due to the low cost of production and high reliability of the material, however, after a single use, it usually ends up in a landfill, ruining nature. This problem is solved by modern technological packaging material that combines economic benefits for the manufacturer of goods and care for the environment.

The NTL-Upakovka company produces packaging made of biodegradable plastic, which, after use, decomposes into substances that do not harm the environment. At the same time, the material has all the properties characteristic of the usual polymer packaging. In addition, the enterprise has a full cycle of processing and recycling.

Economic benefit for business

Eco-friendly packaging is economically attractive to businesses for a number of reasons, including:

• Eco-friendly reputation. As people’s awareness of environmental pollution grows among consumers, there is a growing demand for environmentally friendly products made from renewable, recyclable and degradable resources.
• Green packaging innovations aim to reduce the weight and volume of packaging materials, resulting in less waste and savings in shipping and storage.

Perspectives

Despite the fact that in the conditions of the modern packaging market in Russia, the production of environmentally friendly products still costs 15-20% more than the usual packaging materials, an increase in production volumes and innovative solutions outline the prospects for reducing the cost of packaging products.
State support of companies that care about the environment is also important in this matter. This practice is observed all over the world. For example, green businesses in the United States are eligible for a range of grants, subsidies, and funding programs. Since Russia is following the path of development of Western countries and is already developing projects to support eco-business, including within the framework of the national project “Ecology”, this suggests that soon the cost of biodegradable packaging will be commensurate with counterparts made from non-recyclable and non-degradable plastic.