How Can Hybrid Packaging Enhance Sustainability for Retailers?

In today’s climate, sustainability is a constant topic of conversation in most industries, if not more in the retail sector. As more brands look to offset their carbon footprint and become more appealing to environmentally conscious consumers, hybrid packaging can help towards this goal.

What can hybrid packaging offer?

Hybrid packaging enables retailers to develop lightweight and potentially recyclable solutions. SML Group’s creative design team can ensure packaging durability, protecting goods from the factory to the store to the consumer, while doing our part to protect the environment.

How can sustainable packaging solutions save on material costs ?

Hybrid packaging can maintain the necessary characteristics of traditional packaging. Instead of virgin paper or plastic, other materials such as FSC™ paper or recycled polyester can be implemented. Retailers who consult with SML Group at the beginning stages of design can ensure optimum efficiency in the right sizing, best materials, and thorough testing and QC.

Aside from material costs, utlizing hybrid packaging can have a long-term impact on profits. By incentivizing greener choices and educating consumers on sustainable materials, customers will often choose the more environmentally friendly option even at the cost of slightly higher expenses, giving retailers a competitive advantage. In fact, according to a recent survey, nearly 90% of Gen X consumers said they would be willing to spend an extra 10% or more for sustainable products, compared to just over 34% two years ago.

What are some examples of sustainable packaging?

SML Group is already implementing sustainable packaging solutions; in 2019, we began producing our Eco RFID Inlays. Elsewhere, our sustainable RFID tags are made from reused plastic bottles or 100% FSC™ recycled paper.

SML Group’s inaugural EcoInspire™ Product Collection showcases a new generation of sustainable inlays that are PET free. PET is a common inlay component used as a carrier of the IC and aluminum antenna. Removing the PET allows the IC and antenna to be placed directly onto the paper, making the components easier to separate and also making the paper recyclable.

Retailers’ CSR responsibility

Making changes in areas such as packaging can have a wider impact on overall sustainability efforts. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an important factor in purchasing decisions and necessary for retailers and brands to keep at the forefront of their practices.

SML Group has established an ESG (environmental, social and governance) Working Group, consisting of a cross-functional team to accelerate progress and advise ESG best practices, governmental policies, goals, trends, and opportunities. Recently, SML released its own ESG Report 2021 as a means of transparency to showcase strategies, policies and performance in achieving sustainable development.

To find out how SML can help your brand implement hybrid packaging to support your sustainability initiatives, contact: https://www.sml.com/contact-us/