How to Reduce Waste With Smart Packaging Strategies in E-Commerce

With drop-shipping services becoming increasingly popular, the spotlight has been on packaging waste and ways companies can focus on more sustainable packaging practices and options.

Marketing efforts using elaborate packaging elements coupled with social media trends — like the famous unboxing trend — are some causes of packaging waste in e-commerce. Thankfully, smart packaging for e-commerce provides various ways to reduce packaging waste while still maintaining the quality of your business’s branding. Switching to smart packaging options can also boost your brand as you grow your reputation as a sustainably-minded business.

Discover how your e-commerce business can incorporate smart and sustainable packaging options into your operations.

The Problem With Packaging Waste in E-Commerce

The popularity of online shopping and delivery has exponentially increased the amount of packaging materials e-commerce businesses use, directly leading to waste once consumers discard the packaging. E-commerce companies globally used around 2.1 billion pounds of plastic packaging in 2019. By 2025, the figure is expected to grow to 4.5 billion pounds.

One of the most significant concerns around packaging waste is its environmental impact. Excessive packaging waste ends up in landfills and adds to these environmental concerns:

What Causes Packaging Waste?

Several issues contribute to packaging waste, from ineffective materials to consumer trends:

  • Using nonrecyclable materials: Overusing nonrecyclable materials, such as plastic, plays a significant role in the growing volume of packaging waste.
  • Over-packaging: Inefficient packaging designs use excess materials that customers discard after unboxing the product.
  • Consumer expectations and trends: Consumer trends and expectations, such as social media unboxing videos, can contribute to package waste. Thankfully, trends are shifting toward a greater desire from customers for eco-friendly packaging options and sustainable practices.

How to Reduce Packaging Waste

Innovative smart packaging solutions for e-commerce have made it possible to start reducing packaging waste. Smart packaging is a holistic approach that includes several principles, such as prioritizing designs for efficiency and using eco-friendly packaging materials.

Here are some strategies and practices your e-commerce business can adopt for reducing packaging waste:

1. Prioritizing Design Efficiency

Focusing on design efficiency is an excellent way for your e-commerce company to reduce packaging waste. During the design stage, your team can explore more intuitive designs to fit each specific product properly. Smarter designs can also optimize protective packaging so that you need fewer layers.

minimalist approach to your designs can help you strip down your packaging to the essentials, with an emphasis on functionality and product protection. You can also make your design more efficient by using lighter materials that reduce shipping costs and material use.

2. Using Sustainable Materials

Another powerful way to reduce waste is to choose recyclable, biodegradable or compostable materials for all your company’s packaging needs. Your e-commerce company can achieve this goal by using materials like recycled paper and corrugated cardboard.

3. Leveraging Multi-Use Packaging

Multi-use packaging can eliminate single-use materials. These designs ensure that your customer can use and reuse your packaging — whether for returns, decorative purposes or storage. This strategy also promotes the circular economy approach, where we conserve raw materials by finding ways to reuse, repurpose and recycle.

4. Incorporating Technology in Packaging

Integrating technology in your approach to smart packaging can help your e-commerce business take sustainability to the next level. There are various ways to reduce packaging waste by adding technology to your processes:

  • Tracking and inventory software: Smart labels with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags eliminate the need to print extra materials for inventory and tracking purposes. RFID tags allow you to track products automatically as they move along the supply chain. Smart labels also make tracking and inventory processes more accurate and efficient. Additionally, smart inventory software can help you avoid packaging waste associated with overproduction.
  • QR codes: QR codes also save on packaging waste, as they reduce the amount of materials needed to add extra items to your packaging, such as brochures or pamphlets. Customers can simply scan the QR code to navigate your website or social media channels and find information about your company and product. You could even have additional information on your sustainability efforts!
  • Automated tasks: If it’s possible for your e-commerce company, having machines that automate the packaging process can greatly reduce waste. Most machines are guided by software that can custom-create boxes using exact measurements so that no material is wasted.
  • Design software: The right design software can help you optimize your designs and make them product-specific to eliminate unnecessary waste in e-commerce packaging.

Benefits of Reducing Waste With Smart Packaging

Focusing on smart packaging leads to environmental and cost-saving advantages:

  • Environmental impact: The greatest benefit of prioritizing smart packaging is its positive environmental impact, which includes conserving natural resources and reducing landfill waste, pollution and your carbon footprint.
  • Cost savings: Prioritizing waste reduction also offers various long-term savings for your e-commerce business. Through smart designs, you use fewer materials, which is already cost-effective. This also has an amazing domino effect — you will have less post-production waste, which saves on disposal costs.
  • Enhanced brand image: Committing to reducing packaging waste shows your company’s dedication to lowering its carbon footprint. This can boost your name as a leader in eco-friendly and innovative sustainable products, giving your e-commerce business a competitive edge.
  • Fulfilling customer expectations: More and more customers are choosing brands that are committed to eco-friendly products and practices. Offering your customers smart packaging is an excellent way to show that you value their desire for sustainable options.

Get Smart Packaging Solutions for E-Commerce From Great Northern Fiber Interior Packaging

Embracing smart packaging solutions is an effective method for making your e-commerce business more sustainably minded. By adopting smart packaging practices, you set your brand apart by providing eco-friendly packaging that your customers can reuse and recycle.

At Fiber Interior Packaging, we offer biodegradable fiber packaging that helps our clients — including e-commerce businesses — prioritize eco-friendly, minimalistic packaging. We value sustainability and will go above and beyond to help your brand custom-fit our fiber interior packaging to the shape and size of your product. Our fiber interior packaging is durable and offers reliable protection while your products are shipped.

We can work together to make your packaging a durable, cost-effective and sustainable alternative to other options. Contact Fiber Interior Packaging online today, or call us at 888-925-1645 to learn more about our packaging solutions.