Table Of Contents

What Is Sustainable Packaging And Why Is It Important?

Choosing The Right Sustainable Packaging For Your Business

Sustainable Packaging Solutions From Cliffe

Introduction: Packing For A Greener Future

Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container (FIBC) bags have been widely used in the logistics chain since the late 1950s. They carry bulk powdered and dry products. Typical loads include agricultural grains, cement, and paint pigments.

Recently, environmental awareness and packaging technology have both advanced. As a result, there is far greater focus on the environmental impact of everyday products. Much of this impact is linked to non-renewable materials. In addition, it relates to recycling challenges and rising levels of waste and pollution.

The UK market has seen an intensified focus on sustainable packaging. This shift is driven by both consumer demand and government regulations. The Plastic Packaging Tax and Extended Producer Responsibility guidelines have further encouraged businesses to seek greener options.

Making the switch can bring both environmental and financial benefits. These reach your business, your supply chain partners, and your customers. In this free guide from Cliffe Packaging, we explain the costs and benefits of moving to sustainable packaging. We also show how to make the best strategic procurement choices for your business.

What Is Sustainable Packaging and Why Is It Important?

Sustainable packaging has moved from a nice-to-have to a business essential. It protects your products, supports a circular economy, and helps you meet rising customer and regulatory expectations. The sections below explain what it means and why it matters for your business.

Defining Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable packaging is designed to minimise environmental impact across a product's life cycle. It uses strong, reusable materials with a high proportion of recyclable or biodegradable content.

This approach keeps packaging out of landfill. It also makes packaging easy to recycle or safely dispose of at end-of-life.

In addition, sustainable packaging supports lower carbon emissions. It contributes to a "circular economy", where products stay in use for longer, and waste is kept to a minimum.

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Key Benefits of Sustainable Packaging

  • Reduced impact on the environment.
  • Lower ecological footprint.
  • Improved brand image and customer loyalty.
  • Potential cost savings in the long term.
  • Compliance with current and future regulations.
  • Support for circular economy principles.

Environmental Benefits

 The environment is the primary beneficiary of sustainable packaging. Traditional polythene and plastic packaging are linked to many serious environmental problems.  

 These materials contribute significantly to environmental damage, including: 

  • Ocean pollution, as plastic waste accumulates in the seas 
  • Harm to marine life through ingestion 
  • Depletion of natural resources, due to heavy reliance on non-renewable materials 

The production of plastic packaging also carries a high environmental cost. Manufacturing these traditional materials involves substantial fossil fuel use. As a result, it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

However, production methods are improving. Innovations now reduce the environmental impact of packaging by using eco-friendly materials, while maintaining product strength and durability. Lighter packaging designs also cut fuel use during transport, lowering emissions further.

Furthermore, non-sustainable packaging generates a large amount of waste. This places a heavy burden on waste management systems. It also increases the costs of disposal and environmental clean-up.

By transitioning to sustainable packaging solutions, businesses can help mitigate these challenges. In doing so, they help preserve the planet for future generations.

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Regulatory Landscape

Businesses that delay adopting sustainable packaging now face growing financial implications. One leading example is the UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT).

The PPT applies to plastic packaging that contains less than 30% recycled material. From 1 April 2024, the tax rate rose to £217.85 per tonne.

The tax also affects UK importers and manufacturers who handle more than 10 tonnes of plastic packaging a year. This includes many construction contractors, wholesalers, and manufacturers.

Similar rules apply across the EU under extended producer responsibility (EPR). In short, these regulations make producers financially responsible for the full life cycle of their packaging.

Cost Advantages

 Investing in sustainable packaging can bring several financial benefits: 

Tax Exemption:

Using packaging with 30% or more recycled material exempts your business from PPT charges.

Lower Material Costs:

Recycled materials are often cheaper to buy and work with than virgin resources. These savings can then be passed on to customers.

Long-term Value:

Sustainable packaging often improves productivity and ecological sustainability over the long run.

Accreditation Support:

Sustainable packaging can support applications for environmental accreditations such as ISO 14001.

By embracing sustainable packaging, businesses can align their operations with their environmental responsibilities. At the same time, they can potentially improve their bottom line.

At Cliffe Packaging, we are committed to helping you navigate these changes. We will help you find the best sustainable solutions for your specific needs.

Choosing the Right Sustainable Packaging for Your Business

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Sustainable packaging is a booming sector, with a wide variety of products entering the market.

For users of bulk packaging, the key question is how to choose the right option. Companies have diverse needs and may require custom solutions. The right choice must suit the product, the value chain, and customers' expectations.

Some sustainable products are still relatively new. As a result, they have not yet been fully performance-tested against the plastic materials still in wide use.

However, improving sustainability cannot come at the expense of performance. Poor performance increases waste and drives up resource use. Custom packaging, such as FIBC solutions with tailored inner liners, can help. It addresses specific containment needs while maintaining both sustainability and performance.

So, what should you weigh up when "going green"? Consider these key factors:

  • Product type and functionality
  • Cost, including the long-term cost of ownership
  • Environmental impact and footprint
  • The full life cycle of the packaging
  • Access to expert advice

The framework below guides you towards an informed decision for your business.

Product type & functionality

The first factor to consider is the nature of the product being stored or transported.

For example, dried foodstuffs, photosensitive materials, and pharmaceutical components need high hygiene standards. They also need superior protection to maintain product integrity in transit and storage.

The challenge is to find sustainable packaging that meets or exceeds the performance of traditional options, while still reducing environmental impact.

 

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Cost considerations

Budget is a key factor in any packaging investment, and the cost of sustainable packaging varies widely.

In many cases, sustainable packaging is more expensive upfront. However, some sustainable options can cost less than plastic products.

A good approach is to consider the long-term cost of ownership. A sustainable FIBC bag costs more initially. Even so, benefits like recyclability, reduced plastic taxes, and eco-friendly branding can make it more cost-effective over time.

 

Environmental impact

Sustainable packaging covers a wide range of products. These run from fully biodegradable and recyclable materials to simply reducing plastic content.

Very few products can claim zero environmental harm. It is therefore important to assess the relative environmental footprint of different options and choose one that aligns with your sustainability objectives. Evaluate materials for their carbon footprint (including air miles for imports), recyclability, biodegradability, and reuse potential.

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The long perspective

It is essential to look at the complete life cycle of your packaging, from raw material extraction to disposal.

End-of-life is where sustainability matters most. Materials that are easy to recycle or compost are far kinder to the environment than those that are not. Clear disposal or recycling information on the packaging also helps customers recycle correctly.

Not all products are easy to recycle, even sustainable ones. In these cases, look for biodegradability. The most sustainable packaging breaks down naturally over time, without specialist equipment or composting stations.

 

Seeking expert advice

Eco-friendly packaging is a new field for many businesses.

As a result, it is often worth working with a knowledgeable and experienced sustainable packaging partner, such as Cliffe. A specialist can help you weigh your options and explain the regulatory, environmental, and cost implications of each product.

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Making The Switch

Bulk bags have been a staple in logistics for decades. However, their environmental impact is a growing concern.

This guide explores:

  • What sustainable packaging is, and why it is important
  • How to choose the right sustainable packaging for your business
  • Our best recommendations

You'll learn how to optimise your packaging while minimising your environmental footprint. Complete the form to receive your FREE guide today.

 

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Sustainable Packaging Solutions from Cliffe

We are proud to offer a range of sustainable, low-impact packaging solutions for powdered and bulk products.

Our bags offer outstanding load-bearing capability, from 500 kg to 2000 kg, with a volume capacity of up to 3 m³. As a result, they provide a safe, sustainable way to store and transport a wide variety of goods.

Our range includes:

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Bulk/FIBC bags, including specialist food-grade, antistatic, and PPT-compliant reduced-plastic bags

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Polythene packaging, including valve sacks, pallet covers, shrink film, temporary protective sheeting, and I'm green™ polythene products

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Paper sacks, layer boards, and top sheets

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Woven polypropylene sandbags

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Aluminium foil liners and laminated sacks

Recycled Content Packaging

All our plastic-based packaging can be made with a minimum of 30% recycled content. Some options use up to 100% recycled material.

This reduces demand for fresh materials, cuts petrochemical use, and helps divert waste from landfill. Recycled-content options include high-strength bulk bags, pallet wrap, and polythene valve sacks, among other quality products.

These products deliver the same performance and durability as their non-recycled equivalents. In short, you get sustainable packaging without compromising on quality.

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Sustainability Policy

At Cliffe Packaging, our sustainability policy reflects a strong commitment to responsible sourcing and sustainable manufacturing.

Wherever possible, we prioritise eco-friendly and recyclable materials. This helps our customers align procurement with their own sustainability goals.

We also run a comprehensive waste reduction and reuse strategy across our facility and offices. In addition, we use energy-efficient processes to reduce our environmental footprint.

Our commitment to high environmental standards is reflected in our ISO 14001 certification, which we received in February 2023.

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Next Steps

Thank you for downloading this guide. Please get in touch today to learn more about our range of green and sustainable packaging solutions for bulk products.

To open a credit account, please submit an application form. If you have any other questions, feel free to call one of our friendly teams on 0845 481 1200. We look forward to hearing from you.