Paper bags

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https://www.thebusinesspickle.com/pickles/packaging

Key finding

Paper bags

have a higher carbon footprint than plastic bags

Paper bag production requires more raw materials and energy and produces more waste than the equivalent process for plastic bags. A UK study stated that a paper bag must be used at least three times to decrease its impact on the environment to match that of a plastic bag used just once.

Related Facts & Findings

From topics:

Packaging

Review

your internal processes

Whatever systems your packaging fits into, you can take steps to track and ensure that the systems are working properly. If you find they aren’t functioning as well as they could, identify the pain points and work to reduce them. Reliable data is invaluable here.

Help your customers

change their behaviours and give clear directions

Clear communication to customers about what to do with the packaging after they use it will help to make your chosen packaging system more effective in practice.

Upstream Innovation

A guide by the Ellen Macarthur Foundation

This is one example of how businesses are innovating and moving towards circularity in their packaging. Globally recognised frameworks and certifications are readily available and can help your business to set the course to improve your packaging.

Getting out of this Pickle

Step back and ask yourself these questions:

What were the reasons for choosing a certain set of materials, a supplier, or a system? Do the reasons for these decisions still stand, or is there room to move? What aspects of your current packaging are the most environmentally costly? What aspects are the simplest to improve? Are there components in your current packaging that could be removed altogether?