World Environment Day: Rethink Packaging With the 7 R’s

As climate change is impacting the planet even more harshly than before, and the economic degradation is increasing, the idea of sustainable packaging has become more significant than ever. The traditional linear economy keeps its focus mainly on the 'take-make-waste' approach, while, on the other hand, the circular economy is mostly directed towards 'reduce, reuse, and recycle'. 

To comprehend the circular economy deeply, we must first understand the idea behind the 7 R's: Reevaluate, Renew, Reduce, Remove, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot. As World Environment Day approaches, as brand owners, everyone must strive towards using packaging that supports green initiatives. Let's dive into the blog for complete insights!

The Concept Of A Circular Economy

As World Environment Day is almost around the corner, understanding the idea behind a circular economy is quite significant. The circular economy concept stems from a regenerative model that is designed to limit waste and keep resources secured for a longer time. 

It motivates everyone to shift from a culture that promotes waste towards a society that opts for sustainable options and cares about the planet. It is rather a holistic approach that does not solely revolve around recycling. A circular economy keeps its focus on the life cycle of the product until it is fully consumed & recycled.

The 7 R’s

Below are the meanings and concepts behind the powerful 7 R’s framework. Let's dive in!

1. Re-Evaluate 

The first phase of the 7 R's is to rewire your thinking and reevaluate your past decisions regarding disposing of packaging. Instead of buying plastic packaging and throwing away the wrappers, do something better, not only for your community but also for the whole planet. If all of us re-evaluate our actions, choose greener packaging solutions, and move towards sustainability, our society can transform significantly.

2. Renew

The second stage of the 7 R's is the renewal stage. In this phase, you should start including materials that can be renewed and replace plastic packaging or any other harmful materials that can damage the planet. For instance, start using paper from certified forests, renewable energy powering packaging solutions, or plant-based plastics.

As a brand owner, it is your responsibility to share the material being used with your customers and explain any charges that come along with it.

3. Reduce

Let us move on to the third step of the 7 R's strategy: to simply reduce! If you don't need labels, just don't buy them. You can save money, time, and even your effort if you stop purchasing things blindly. Sometimes we even buy extra food that we have to throw away. As a brand owner, sometimes we have to buy bulk packaging but later redesign the boxes that go to waste. 

Before finalizing any decision, just think: is it sustainable? Do I really need it right now? If not, then stop your purchase and secure the planet. Another step that you can take is to buy things from local vendors; this can even help reduce your carbon footprint.

4. Remove

To support the circular economy, the next thing you can do is to remove excess packaging & unnecessary materials. Switching to designs that use minimalist printing, reducing the layers of packaging & replacing the usage of plastics with other eco-friendly materials.

5. Reuse

Wherever a product has a longer shelf life and is stored properly, it will likely impact the planet less. By designing packaging that enables multiple usages, you should keep in mind to make it more durable, safe, and hygienic.

6. Recycle

The next step is to recycle the materials so they can be used for an extended period of time. If your packaging material aligns well with the local kerbside recycling system, then it can be the best option for your brand as well. Some of the recyclable packaging materials include glass packaging, pulp packaging, wood-based packaging, kraft wrapping paper, poly mailers, etc.

7. Rot

The last and final step towards a circular economy is composting. Usually, when a packaging material is contaminated with oil or food scraps, it is not possible to recycle it anymore. Packaging material can only be composted if it is nutrient-contaminated, for instance, from oil or grease. 

Additionally, it can be composted if it is certified home compostable or if it meets all the preconditions that are required to compost it. For example, it has product protection on it. You can easily compost bagasse boxes, paper bags & compostable mailers. On the other hand, bioplastics, cellophane, and coated cardboard packaging are non-compostable.

Strategic Plan For 7 R's

Here is a strategic step-by-step plan to follow the sustainability framework: 

• Create a waste map, signaling LER codes, so you might know where to prevent and reuse the material/packaging.

• Target and keep the record percentage of all the products that go into the market, for instance, %reuse, %recycled, and %recovered.

• Sign a contract and communicate with waste management companies, and seek active reporting from them.

• Share half-yearly KPIs and the percentage of recycled products with stakeholders.

The Significance of the 7 R's

Businesses that are equipped with the 7 R's sustainability framework usually witness the following benefits in their businesses:

1. Usually, there's a low material cost due to recycled material and low waste.

2. Improved public perception among sustainability-conscious consumers.

3. Enhanced compliance with government regulations and standards.

Wrap Up

The 7 R's framework is a great strategy to protect the planet with better decision-making. As a brand owner, you need to reevaluate your choices, remove what's extra, reuse your materials, recycle packaging, keep a track, renew the material & compost what cannot go to rot. 

Here at Global Custom Packaging, we encourage and support brands that want to follow the 7 R's framework. This World Environment Day, let's strive for a greener USA. Check out our custom eco-friendly mailer boxes on our website.

Thank you for reading our blog!