In the retail industry, we tend to think of “eco-friendly” as a more expensive way to go. Doesn’t that term mean organic this-and-that, higher-priced goods that are sustainably produced, and generally paying more but getting less?

This couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to the innovative eco-friendly packaging options available today. You can:

• Recoup lost margins
• Innovate to win
• Avoid common packaging frustrations
• Accelerate lead times
• Reduce waste
• Attract eco-minded consumers

And you can do it all while saving money up front. Sound too good to be true? You could be forgiven for thinking inside the box (or jug, or can, or other rigid container). Boxes, bottles, and rigid packaging have been retail’s comfort zone for decades. Not anymore.

A Cost-Saving Alternative to Expensive Rigid Packaging

If you’re hoping to reduce material costs and recoup margins, flexible packaging options like eco-friendly stand up pouches are the future. Stand up pouches beat out rigid containers with a long list of cost-saving benefits:

• Weigh 85-90% less (reducing shipping costs)
• Require 95% less material to make (reducing manufacturing costs)
• Ship flat, store flat, and dispose flat (reduced warehousing costs…and try shipping 10,000 laundry detergent jugs on one pallet!)
• Fully pre-printable (no need for a separate labeling operation)
• Available NOW (avoid costly delays due to supply chain bottlenecks)
• Cost less per unit than rigid options

The comparison isn’t particularly close. Flexible, eco-friendly stand up pouches are simply more affordable in every way for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and resellers who are closely watching their bottom line.

Eco-Friendly Stand Up Pouches Reduce Waste

This is the best part! By switching over to flexible packaging, not only are you saving money but you’re helping the environment. You can use 100% recyclable stand up pouches, of course, but that’s only part of the story.

The reality is that, in spite of best intentions, much of your product’s packaging will end up in landfills. There simply isn’t enough capacity in the recycling industry to process all recyclable plastics since China stopped purchasing our plastic waste — and consumers aren’t perfect, either. Meanwhile, landfills in the U.S. are filling up. The EPA reports that 146.1 million tons of trash — half of all municipal solid waste — ended up in a landfill in 2018 (their latest report).

This is far less concerning with a flat-disposing flexible pouch because it will take up virtually no space in a landfill when compared with a rigid plastic jug. Modern consumers are prioritizing eco-friendly packaging, and eco-friendly stand up pouches are your ticket to a positive impact that won’t break the bank.

The Biodegradable Stand Up Pouch is Here…and It’s Right On Time

Another option that can even further reduce the waste impact of your packaging is to opt for biodegradables. A plethora of exciting compostable and biodegradable stand up pouch options have hit the market, giving your brand and your customers new opportunities to reduce environmental impact. Check out this quick list of pros and cons, though, because these won’t be right for every product. Liquids in particular are still not ideal for compostables, for the same reasons they biodegrade.

If you’re working with powdered or granular products (think flour, spices, rice, cereal…), however, the biodegradable stand up pouch is a really hot ticket. Younger demographics and green-minded audiences love knowing that your product won’t contribute to the waste system because it returns to the earth!

Get in touch with ABC Packaging — Stand Up Pouches today for a fast track quote on the latest innovations in flexible packaging and start saving money.