| Packaging is cheap and disposable, right? | | | | - Recycle packaging – most people |
| Not so today. Most companies, large and small, | | | | automatically think of recycling when it comes to |
| have an outlook on the environment and many | | | | corporate environmental policy and many |
| public owned corporations are being encouraged | | | | companies have office paper recycling schemes. |
| by their Customers, shareholders, government | | | | However, recycling packaging still uses energy. |
| and pressure groups to be ‘greener’ or | | | | Reducing and reusing packaging are better for the |
| more environmentally responsible. | | | | environment, and should be prioritised. |
| Reducing packaging and waste is often high on | | | | - Replace packaging – if essential, you may still |
| the corporate agenda and plays a key part in a | | | | be able to make improvements in your choice of |
| company’s environmental impact. To save on | | | | packaging materials. Generally, plastic is more |
| packaging, simply remember the 4 R’s below, | | | | difficult to reuse and recycle, due to local facilities |
| reduce, reuse, recycle and replace, and this will | | | | being weighted towards paper, cardboard and |
| help you to make progress on reducing your | | | | glass. Not all plastics are accepted at recycling |
| packaging impact and meeting your corporate | | | | centres either. Paper and cardboard packaging can |
| responsibility needs: | | | | also be easily made from recycled paper pulp, or |
| Remember the Packaging 4 R’s | | | | sustainable sources. If you want to prevent your |
| - Reduce packaging – the obvious step. Initially, | | | | packaging material from ending up in land fill, |
| review the overall weight or bulk of packaging | | | | review your options, especially regarding plastics. |
| used. See if you can redesign a product to use | | | | E.g. a single sheet, cardboard packaging insert for |
| less packaging e.g. increasing the case count from | | | | a box might replace a plastic vacuum formed |
| 6 to 12 would use half as many boxes. Although | | | | tray. |
| these would be bigger the packaging weight would | | | | Whilst Davpack is a major UK packaging materials |
| not increase proportionately. | | | | supplier, we believe that companies and individuals |
| | | | | should make informed choices about the |
| - Reuse packaging – whether it’s a | | | | packaging products they use. If we all remember |
| cardboard box or a jiffy mailing bag, many | | | | the 4 R’s, the impact of packaging waste |
| packaging supplies can be reused. Not only is this | | | | could be reduced. |
| environmentally preferable, it saves you money | | | | For more information about packaging supplies or |
| too. The key to a successful reuse policy is in | | | | to buy packaging online, why not visit the |
| educating goods-in staff to open packaging | | | | Davpack online superstore, or call 01332 821 200 |
| carefully. Designate a suitable packaging storage | | | | and speak to one of our experts…....we supply |
| area and then recycling instead of using new | | | | UK packaging materials fast and have a wide |
| packaging materials. | | | | range in stock, so you can make the right choice. |