The world produces 381 million tons of plastic waste yearly, with 50% of this being single-use. This is set to double by 2034.
The magnitude of this issue and the harmful impact on the environment is something people are becoming more aware of. Eight in 10 consumers are trying to reduce their plastic waste and half would be willing to pay high prices for eco-friendly packaging, according to research from YouGov.
The UK Government have made great strides on rectifying this ever-increasing issue with the introduction of Plastic Packaging Tax. This bill, which comes into effect next week, means businesses will have to pay tax for any plastic packaging made in the UK or imported which does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic.
With an increase in eco-conscious consumers and the risk of having to pay heavy tax bills on their products, brands will need to act quickly and adapt their suppliers accordingly.
Today, we shine a light on the eco-friendly packaging businesses that can lead these brands in the right direction.
Noissue was founded in 2017 by Josh Bowden and Audie Gruar. Whilst working on a previous endeavour, they came to realise the lack of options for sustainable packaging and decided to take it upon themselves to do something about this.
Now four years later, their packaging platform has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round, with the raise being used to grow the team globally, invest in the platform’s technology, and localise its supply chain.
They offer a variety of sustainable packaging options – from tissues and stickers to boxes and bags. Their simple online design platform (just upload your logo to get started) caters to all sizes making it accessible for all businesses to use.
Founded by the Ferd Group in Norway in the 1950s, Elopak now sell 14 billion cartons every year to over 70 countries. Their carbon-based packaging is made using renewable, recyclable and sustainably sourced material, making them a great alternative to plastic bottles.
Their Pure-Pak Imagine carton was the winner of a WorldStar 2022 Packaging Award and named as the perfect low carbon, circular economy approach to packaging.
The Tiny Box Company was founded in 2007 by Rachel Watkyn when she was searching for recycled and ethical packaging for her jewellery range and realised there was no one meeting the demand.
It took just 12 months for Rachel to capture the attention of Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones on BBC’s Dragons Den who recognised her innovative idea and invested in her business.
Fast-forward to the present and Rachel now stocks over 700 products including jewellery boxes, gift boxes, recycled presentation boxes, gift bags, recycled carrier bags and other recycled gift packaging. With no minimum order, they cater for retailers, wholesalers, corporate gifts and events, weddings and anyone else who has packaging needs.
Originally founded in 1991, PakTech has since risen as an eco-friendly brand. Using 100% recycled plastic sourced from waste to produce all their packaging, so far have kept more than 45 kilograms of plastic out of landfills and waterways.
The firm has also created Pak-to-Pak handles which are created from discarded PakTech handles, as well as launching recycling programs across North America and Australia to ensure they’re being disposed of correctly.
Last year, PakTech were named as one of the top 10 innovative food packaging brands to watch and supplying big name brands such as Pepsi and Heinz, there’s no doubt they’re an industry leader.
The idea of Paperfoam was born in the 1990s. Mark Geerts (who went on to become CEO) was working at an IT company when potato processing company Avebe asked them to take part in a bioplastic development project.
This led to the creation of Paperfoam’s sustainable packaging that is eco-friendly during its entire lifecycle. Made from industrial potato starch and cellulose fibers, it is 100% biodegradable and compostable.
These natural ingredients are injected into custom moulds and baked into a shape fitting the product. Their client list spans a variety of verticals, including brands like Pukka, T-Mobile and Veuve Cliquot.
If you’re a sustainable packaging brand in need of a PR strategy, please get in touch today to see how our team of experts can help you achieve your business goals.
