Eco-Friendly Postal Packaging in the UK

With sustainability at the forefront of society, supplying your customers with eco-friendly postal packaging has never been more important. An EU study in 2019 found that paper and cardboard accounted for 40.6% of all packaging waste, driving home how important it is that your packaging is eco-friendly.

E-commerce businesses now account for more than one-quarter of all retail sales in the UK. Sales from E-commerce businesses are expected to increase in the years ahead and could reach nearly one-third of all retail sales by 2024!

Online shopping has become a daily norm for millions of UK consumers, sometimes we order so much that we forget what’s inside the box when it arrives. With such a high level of online shopping activity, we have high expectations when it comes to quality, delivery, speed, and experience. To reach the ever-changing consumer demands, UK E-commerce businesses need to take these expectations into account.

Yet, a rise in E-commerce sales predicts a rise in packaging; which means the amount of waste is also set to increase.

We will have all received online orders and been shocked at the amount of packaging used and wasted. As the consumer’s demand for eco-friendly and sustainable packaging options rises, E-commerce businesses need to adapt quickly. Studies reveal that E-commerce consumers will stop purchasing from brands that do not conform to their morals and interests.  In other words, if a company is not eco-friendly they are willing to switch to a competitor who is.

75% of UK shoppers were left frustrated with excessive packaging and wanted retailers to reduce the volume of packaging used.

Choosing a sustainable packaging supplier has become more important than ever before. You can take many simple steps to act more sustainably, and choosing a sustainable packaging supplier is a step in the right direction.

What is eco-friendly packaging?

Sustainable, eco-friendly, going green, and environmentally friendly are phrases we hear thrown around a lot lately.

But what actually is eco-friendly packaging?

Sustainable packaging uses materials for packaging that have minimal environmental effects and produce a lower carbon footprint. There are a number of sustainable materials you can use and even some plastics can be used as sustainable packaging and reused by customers.

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition®, the leading voice on sustainable packaging, defines sustainable packaging based on criteria of:

  • Beneficial, safe, and healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle
  • Meets market criteria for performance and cost
  • Sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy
  • Optimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials
  • Manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices
  • Made from materials healthy throughout the life cycle
  • Physically designed to optimize materials and energy
  • Effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial closed-loop cycles

The most popular and recommended choice of material for sustainable packaging is corrugated cardboard. It can be easily recycled without its durability or performance being hindered. If any corrugated cardboard does end up at landfills it is biodegradable. So whether you’re shipping your products in small postal boxes or large double-wall boxes, it’s important to ensure that you’re using eco-friendly postal packaging.

How do you know if your supplier operates sustainably?

To find a reliable sustainable packaging supplier, you should look out for the company’s accreditations and environmental policy.

As part of our commitment to sustainability, we’re proud to be an FSC Certified manufacturer.

We comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. Actively seeking business solutions that help preserve our forests for the future. As part of our FSC certification, the cardboard we use to manufacture our Boxed-Up boxes is guaranteed to be made from a minimum of 70% recycled materials.

We source all of our materials from sustainable, ethical and responsible suppliers. This means you can know you are doing your part by buying boxes that have been responsibly produced to ensure a greener future.

Using packaging from an FSC-certified supplier will help you also appeal to the demand for sustainability.

What are the advantages of sustainable E-commerce packaging?

  • Increases your brand awareness

As both a marketing and branding tool for your business, your packaging presents your story.

Actions always speak louder than words, so a sustainable packaging design tells consumers that you truly care about the environment.

Sustainable packaging is one of the most noticeable ways of demonstrating to your customers that you are committed to protecting the environment. It has been said that customers consider companies who show they care for the environment to be more credible and trust them more.

  • Saves money

Sustainable packaging does not have to be expensive, it can in fact help you save money.

Sustainable packaging materials are normally lightweight and durable, and we all know the lighter the package, the less it costs to ship.

  • Decreases your carbon footprint

Using sustainable packaging materials is a great way to lower your carbon footprint.

Paper-based products are sustainable, as trees can be re-planted as materials are used. So this negates the effect of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Have a box size in mind and wish to find your desired size or our closest match?

Use our handy box-finder tool to find your perfect eco-friendly postal packaging box.