Everywhere we look there is a huge shift to all things “green.” Whether it is green homes, green cars or greener day-to-day practices, the “live green” mentality is here to stay. This eco-friendly trend has also spread to the CPG industry with the introduction of sustainable packaging. And, while it is obviously a positive shift to transform our current practices to become more environmentally sound, is sustainable packaging truly sustainable?
The most recent trend in sustainable CPG packaging is to use compostable materials that look and act as a plastic but are made from sugar cane waste or corn oil. Because the packaging is derived from natural materials, it can be placed in compost recycle bins or home compost piles. While this seems like a wonderful idea on the surface because these are natural materials versus plastic, are we now growing crops strictly for packaging? And, if so, is that a problem?
The ability to eliminate the creation of plastic and replace plastic use by natural materials is a huge step in the right direction. Even if crops are being grown for the sole purpose of replacing plastic, the ability to eliminate the need to produce an unnatural material creates a closed loop circle where a product is completely sustainable on its own (i.e. growing corn to make corn oil to create biodegradable/compostable replacement plastic materials only to compost them and start the process over).
If CPG manufacturers can piggy-back on this emerging trend and package products in compostable, green packaging, this can be used as a competitive advantage since today, many consumers are extremely environmentally conscious of what they purchase.
Many shoppers purchase soaps containing no phosphates or entire household cleaning product lines that contain all natural ingredients. For a manufacturer to have products packaged in compostable materials would open the doors to a growing population of eco-consumers while being an environmentally kind company.
As the green movement continues, it’s safe to say we will also see a significant green shift within the CPG industry. The ability to use green materials for packaging and offer those products to the masses can be beneficial for consumers and manufacturers alike, especially in a time when people are hyper-conscious about the sustainability of the products they purchase.
