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The state of the environment has become a topic of concern for governments, businesses, and the general public. Several factors such as threatened food security, extreme weather conditions, and a substantial amount of emission in the open air have now made it necessary for everyone to contribute to saving the environment.

Having that said, some businesses find it hard to become environmentally sustainable. It is especially true if you are a small business, and you have to manage your business operations with limited resources.

Here are some ways you can be environmentally sustainable.

Choosing a local supplier

Difficulty related to sustainable packaging arises mainly due to where it comes from rather than the material itself. Even if the packaging products you use are made of sustainable materials, the environmental advantage of using these products will be negated quickly if you have to get them from companies located in distant parts of the world. This situation will be even more unfavorable if these products have to travel back to their country of origin.

The best way to mitigate this disadvantage is to partner with a local packaging supplier. Businesses working in North America will benefit from a supplier situated in Canada in a better way compared to ones in Asia or South America. Selecting the right supplier will help you reduce the carbon footprint of your company quite significantly.

Other advantages of working with a local supplier include smoother operations management, lower transit fees, and quicker and robust communication.

Opting for recyclable materials

Using recyclable materials for product packaging is another quite crucial requirement. Unfortunately, companies fail to keep up with this commitment because it is either too complicated or too expensive. More typically, smaller companies usually end up buying non-sustainable materials due to affordability concerns. In many cases, business owners or managers are not well-aware of which packaging materials are recyclable.

The thing is, choosing sustainable packaging materials for product packaging is easier than it seems. First and foremost, you have to identify the type of recyclable materials available in your area. Most boxes are made of corrugated cardboard, which is highly recyclable. The best thing about recycling is that it renews the material, after which it becomes ready to produce new boxes or packaging wraps. You also have to encourage your customers to play their part in the recycling process by throwing used packaging materials in dedicated cans and bins.

Smart packaging products

The above mention tips help solve a significant part of the sustainability issue. However, you may have to do even more. You can pay attention to the best packaging technology that could help you become sustainable in the future as well.

Smart packaging is an interesting movement that has emerged over the last decade. A lot of work is being done to find the best packaging solutions that help save the environment in an even better way. Other benefits of smart packaging apart from environmental benefits include extended shelf life of food products and better user engagement.

If you have any concerns in this regard, you may want to discuss them with your packaging vendor.