10 tendencias en envases sostenibles

Hoy en día, la sostenibilidad es cada vez más común. Muchas industrias buscan métodos más ecológicos de hacer negocios. Lo mismo ocurre con los envases sostenibles. Con la creciente concienciación mundial hacia las prácticas sostenibles, no es de extrañar que la demanda de envases sostenibles por parte de los consumidores crezca a un ritmo sin precedentes. Según las últimas estadísticas sobre envases sostenibles, el 66% de todos los consumidores estadounidenses, y el 80% de los adultos menores de 34 años, están dispuestos a pagar una prima por productos sostenibles. Participar en la economía circular no es solo una forma de sentirse bien, sino también un buen negocio que ayuda a superar a la competencia. Los métodos han cambiado mucho a lo largo de los años. En este blog, veremos algunas de las tendencias en envases sostenibles que podemos esperar para 2025.

Tendencias en envases sostenibles

Además del reciclaje, las empresas están utilizando a gran escala otras tendencias de envasado sostenible. Estas son las diez tendencias de envasado sostenible que están por llegar en 2025:

1. Carbon labelling: This is an added label to the product, providing the consumer with additional information on the climate impact of what they consume. This helps consumers become more aware of the impact their choices make. Oatly’s carbon labels on oat milk, show the carbon footprint for transparency.
2. Double-sided labels: Another waste reduction strategy is the use of double-sided labels. By printing on the reverse side of a transparent laminate, brands can eliminate the need for a second pressure-sensitive facestock on clear packaging. This approach not only reduces the amount of material used, but also makes packaging more aesthetically pleasing and informative for consumers. Clean beauty brands like REN Skincare adopting double-sided labels to combine elegance and sustainability.
3. Lightweighting and downsizing: Lightweighting involves using thinner containers and labels, reducing the material used compared to conventional methods. For instance, Coca-Cola’s lightweight PET bottles that use less plastic while ensuring durability. Downsizing, on the other hand, involves decreasing the overall size and volume of product packaging. This strategy can help eliminate excess waste in the circular economy, especially for products vulnerable to expiration or environmental degradation. It is important to communicate this strategy effectively to consumers, who might otherwise misunderstand the intent behind smaller packaging sizes.
4. Bioplastics & biodegradable material: These materials are replacing unsustainable plastics and other materials that cannot be reused. This category includes bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable packaging options made from renewable resources such as rice husks, corn, cotton, and wood. Recently, innovative solutions like mushroom-based packaging and seaweed or algae-derived materials have gained traction. These materials not only come from sustainable sources but also return safely to the earth through composting or biodegradation, offering a circular solution to waste. Avani’s cassava-based plastic bags, Evocative’s mushroom packaging and Notpla’s seaweed-based sachets, which were used for condiments and drinks at the London Marathon. In this blog, you will discover 10 types of biodegradable materials for packaging.
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5. ‍Flexible packaging: Flexible packaging is an efficient and cost-effective option made from materials like plastic, paper and foil. It accommodates various products and offers easy customization, making it a popular choice in sustainable packaging. KIND Bars’ recyclable flexible packaging, designed for both aesthetics and sustainability.

6. Refillable/reusable packaging: This pertains to packaging that can be reused by companies after the empty packaging is returned by the customer. This trend of designing for reusability harks back to an era when milkmen delivered fresh milk in reusable jars. This practice is making a comeback, especially in specialty beauty, personal care, and beverage markets. For instance, Loop’s reusable packaging program with brands like Häagen-Dazs for ice cream tubs. Reusable packaging not only looks good, but also appeals to eco-conscious consumers, who are willing to pay a premium for products that help alleviate the guilt of packaging waste that shopping often entails. By being able to reuse the packaging multiple times, the environmental impact can be reduced greatly.

7. Labels for reusable packaging: when it comes to reusable packaging, the labels need to be as durable as the containers themselves. Brands, like Hydroflask and S’well for instance, are now designing pressure-sensitive labels built to last far longer than labels on single-use plastics. These labels, which withstand repeated use, are not only good for the environment, but also provide consumers with the necessary product information over an extended period of time.
8. Smarter waste reduction techniques: Companies are adopting innovative solutions to reduce packaging waste, such as linerless labels and advanced laminate technologies. Linerless labels, used by brands like Unilever in food packaging, help minimize adhesive waste and reduce material usage. While they may not suit every brand or product, particularly those with faster production lines, they offer a practical waste-reduction option for slower line speeds without compromising packaging effectiveness.
9. Circular packaging platforms: Brands are also exploring circular packaging platforms like Loop and Olive. These programs enable packaging exchanges between brands and their customers, promoting a zero-waste ideal. By reusing or recycling packaging materials, these platforms help to reduce waste and extend the lifespan of packaging materials, contributing to a more sustainable economy.
10. Designing for end-of-life: brands are increasingly focusing on ensuring their packaging materials are compatible with recycling practices. For instance, combining paper packaging with plastic containers might seem like a good idea, but it can hinder recycling efforts. By considering the end-of-life of packaging materials, brands can ensure they are contributing to a truly circular economy.

¿Por qué surgen tendencias de envasado sostenible?

Las tendencias en envases sostenibles están impulsadas por la urgente necesidad de proteger el medio ambiente. El cambio climático se ha convertido en una crisis mundial, y la sostenibilidad es ahora una prioridad tanto para las empresas como para los consumidores. Dado que las empresas de consumo contribuyen en un 25% a las emisiones mundiales, mejorar la sostenibilidad de los envases es un paso fundamental para reducir el impacto ambiental.

Principales tendencias en envases sostenibles

El reciclaje ha sido durante mucho tiempo la piedra angular de los envases sostenibles, pero ya no basta por sí solo. Las tendencias emergentes incluyen la sustitución de plásticos por papel, la adopción de materiales reutilizables y la incorporación de opciones renovables y biodegradables. Las 7R del envasado sostenible ofrecen un marco completo para mejorar la sostenibilidad:

-Refuse: Avoid unsustainable packaging.

-Reduce: Use fewer materials or opt for eco-friendly options.

-Reuse: Repurpose materials whenever possible.

-Renew: Use renewable resources in packaging.

-Recycle: Ensure materials can re-enter the supply chain.

-Replace: Swap out harmful materials for sustainable alternatives.

-Rethink: Redesign packaging to minimize environmental impact.

Merece la pena invertir en tendencias de envasado sostenible

Si su empresa necesita envases sostenibles, es esencial invertir con cuidado y asociarse con expertos especializados en soluciones ecológicas. Tanto si se trata de envases de cold seal en cold seal como de envases de cartón, la elección correcta depende de su producto y sus objetivos. A pesar de los avances en envases ecológicos, los materiales reciclables siguen siendo una piedra angular de la sostenibilidad. Con el aumento de las tasas de reciclaje, los productos fabricados con materiales reciclados post-consumo (PCW) o post-consumo (PCR) son más accesibles que nunca. Muchas marcas apuestan ahora por los plásticos reciclados por sus ventajas medioambientales y su gran atractivo para el consumidor. El sector de los envases está experimentando una transformación, en la que la sostenibilidad impulsa la innovación y las expectativas de los consumidores. Las técnicas más inteligentes de reducción de residuos, los diseños reutilizables, los materiales de origen biológico y la mejora de la reciclabilidad están dando forma a un futuro más ecológico. Al adoptar estas tendencias, las empresas pueden alinearse con los valores de los consumidores y contribuir a un planeta más sano.