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Sustainable packaging: an environmental and profit benefit
With growing environmental awareness and pressure from regulators, sustainable packaging has become a necessity for businesses around the world. Well-designed and executed sustainable packaging not only contributes to environmental protection, but also translates into tangible business benefits, including improved brand reputation, increased customer satisfaction and potentially higher profits.
Sustainable packaging – that is, packaging that minimizes environmental impact at every stage of its life cycle, from production to use to disposal – is becoming an increasingly important part of companies’ business strategies. They are responding to growing customer expectations and regulatory pressure, but they also bring tangible business benefits.
Advantages of sustainable packaging
The first and most important advantage of sustainable packaging is its positive impact on the environment. By reducing the consumption of raw materials, reducing waste generation and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable packaging contributes to fighting global warming and protecting our planet.
But sustainable packaging also brings business benefits. They improve a brand’s reputation, which is especially important in the face of customers’ growing environmental awareness. Companies that opt for sustainable packaging can therefore expect an improved image and greater customer loyalty.
New technologies and materials
Technological developments have made it possible to create packaging that is not only more sustainable, but also more efficient and attractive to customers. The use of new biodegradable materials, such as PLA (polylactic acid) and PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates), makes it possible to produce packaging that can be composted or recycled after use instead of going to landfill.
Also, technologies such as 3D printing and biotechnology are making it possible to produce packaging with less environmental impact. 3D printing allows for the production of customized packaging, which reduces waste. Biotechnology, meanwhile, makes it possible to use microorganisms to produce bio-based plastics that can replace traditional petroleum-based plastics.
Sustainable packaging and profits
One of the most important arguments for sustainable packaging is its potential to increase profits. Improved brand image and greater customer loyalty translate into increased sales. In addition, material-efficient packaging reduces production costs. And in the long run, sustainable packaging can help reduce regulatory risk and associated costs.
At the operational level, too, sustainable packaging can bring benefits. By reducing waste, facilitating logistics and improving process efficiency, they can help reduce operating costs.
It can be concluded that sustainable packaging is not only an answer to environmental challenges, but also a real opportunity to increase profits. In an era of increasing competition and pressure from customers and regulators, sustainable packaging is becoming not only a necessity, but also an opportunity to gain a competitive edge.
The Norwegian and EEA funds represent Norway's contribution to a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.
Through the Norwegian and EEA Funds, Norway contributes to reducing social and economic inequalities and strengthening bilateral relations with beneficiary countries from Central and Southern Europe and the Baltic Sea area.
Norway cooperates closely with the EU under the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA).
Together with other donors, Norway provided €3.3 billion in successive fund programmes between 1994 and 2014.
The Norwegian funds are exclusively funded by Norway and are available in the countries that joined the EU after 2003. The Norwegian funds for 2014-2021 amount to €1.25 billion.