Sustainable packaging is becoming a top priority for brands and consumers-now more than ever.
With the increasing awareness of environmental issues such as carbon footprint and global warming, consumers are increasingly turning their loyalty to eco-friendly paper alternatives, one of which is kraft paper.
McDonald’s announced that its packaging will be 100% renewable and recyclable by 2025.
Millennials are pushing brands and consumers to be socially and environmentally responsible.
Obviously, the term “environmental packaging” is obviously not just a buzzword. In fact, it is no longer necessary to implement environmentally friendly packaging in brand operations, which is a necessity.
From straws to plastic bags, there are more and more restrictions on plastics across the world, especially on mass-used, everyday products. Given the possibility of buying the eco version of the same product, people seem to appreciate and choose it over the standard version.
One of the growing trends is the use of kraft paper as an increasingly popular packaging and wrapping method.
What impact does it have on the environment? What makes it a popular packaging method for businesses and consumers? As kraft paper is most commonly used in the packaging industry, in this article, you will learn more about eco-friendly kraft paper packaging.
What is sustainable packaging?
Sustainable packaging is packaging that, over time, reduces its environmental footprint.
This can happen in a number of ways:
- Ingredients: Using raw 100% recycled or raw materials
- Production process: By minimizing the production process, supply chain, and carbon footprint
- Reusability: Creating a circular economy around the packaging, extending its lifecycle and usability.
It’s simple to say that sustainable packaging is entirely about the environment. It also should take into consideration economic and social factors.
For example, plant-based packaging may seem like a viable option. But quite often that means clearing endangered rainforests to grow crops.
Eco packaging needs to consider the economic factor. It needs to be priced competitively over traditional oil-based/single-use packaging options.
So yes, the definitions can get a bit messy at times!
Labeling something ‘eco-friendly’ doesn’t mean that it’s sustainable. Similarly, labeling something as sustainable doesn’t mean that it’s ethical.
Eco packaging requires more analysis and documentation to look at packaging design, material selection, processing, and life cycle. This is not just a vague “green movement” that many businesses and companies have been trying to include over the past few years.
Companies implementing these environmental initiatives are reducing their carbon footprint, using more recycled materials, and reusing more packaging components. They often encourage suppliers, contract packers, and distributors to do the same.
Kraft Paper
Kraft paper is 100% sustainable and one of the most popular packaging materials in the world. Compared with ordinary paper, the production of kraft paper is more sustainable. Kraft paper is made of all-natural ingredients, such as the pulp of various woods, while ordinary paper uses specific wood. Bleaching is also not involved (not necessarily), which can maintain the strength of the paper and reduce manufacturing costs. Kraft paper is also a lightweight packaging material that helps maintain low transportation costs.
In the Kraft Paper department, there are two big categories to consider:
Virgin Natural Kraft Paper
Virgin natural kraft paper is the heavy lifter of the paper world. Its clean and durable fiber content and its low cost make it an ideal option for heavy-duty applications that require a high level of tear resistance. Plus, it’s perfect for printing as well, so it’s perfect for branded packaging and protective layering, wrapping, pallet interleaving, carrier sheets, and dunnage.
Virgin Kraft paper is a perfect packing pager. It’s clean and smooth to the touch, ideal for void fill and protection in packaging easily scratchable items.
Virgin Kraft is as versatile as Recycled Kraft, with the same industrial and household applications, but with added strength for higher protective needs.
Natural Recycled Kraft Paper
Although not as strong and tear-resistant as virgin natural kraft, natural recycled kraft paper is a more environmentally friendly option, and still carries enough strength to do an excellent job with dunnage and void fill applications, as liners for trays, boxes, and bottom wrap for newspapers. Both virgin and recycled kraft paper come standard in weights from 30# to 70#.
Why choose kraft paper for packaging
Let’s summarize the advantages of kraft paper!
Recyclable
Most of the paper packaging that is available in the stores is recyclable.
Recycling of paper packaging is more comfortable than plastic packaging.
Even some types of paper are used for the packaging can get into its original form after recycling it again and again.
Good Printing Performance
The paper packaging is considered best to give an excellent printing performance.
As compared to the plastic packaging the paper packaging can provide impressive printing results.
Stronger than paper
First and foremost, kraft paper is stronger, due to its reduced lignin content and high sulfur ratio. It also doesn’t involve extensive bleaching, which decreases the paper’s strength and increases manufacturing costs.
Since it doesn’t add much weight to the package, using kraft wrapping paper keeps shipping costs down.
Cheaper than plastic
The cost of packaging adds to the final cost of any product, which ultimately affects how your product will compete with the rest of the market. Kraft paper packaging is less expensive than plastic packaging. It also weighs less than packaging products that include features like zip closures. The weight of the packaging determines the cost of shipping, which also affects the final consumer price.
More recyclable than plastic
Both paper and plastic are easily recyclable, but paper has an environmental edge because it also quickly decomposes if it’s thrown away instead of recycled. Therefore, you don’t have to depend on the consumer to make a good environmental choice; kraft paper is environmentally low-impact whether it’s recycled or sent to a landfill.
Durable material & Saves space
Kraft paper packaging with a window relative to the width of the wear rate is relatively low, can be stored for a long time, after a long time will not decay, easy to save. Kraft paper boxes can be folded at will and can occupy fewer places.
Conclusion
In this article, you saw the current state of sustainable packaging and how your small brand can start using it to build a better relationship with eco-minded customers.
With a global shift toward fighting climate change, the way we approach packaging is set to grow and change. Rather than being an alternative option, sustainable packaging is only going to become more important.
