AN INDUSTRY-WIDE EFFORT TO REDUCE PACKAGING WASTE
Other electronics manufacturers are also working on the problem .
Sony no longer uses protective bags for components , and the company has modified packaging containers to make them reusable and increased their storage capacity .
Samsung announced last year that it will replace plastic packaging with sustainable materials like recycled paper and bioplastics that naturally degrade .
Enterprises of all types are developing new processes and technologies to decrease packaging , and industry watchers have praised leading companies , including Nestlé and Colgate , for creating innovative solutions that reduce packaging waste within their supply chains .
In 2019 , Nestlé launched a
packaging research institute to develop sustainable product packaging , like high-performance food-grade barrier paper , using reusable and compostable materials . And in an initiative to make the company ’ s entire consumer packaging recyclable , Colgate spent five years redesigning its containers and even toothpaste tubes so that they can go into the recycling bin . Taking that effort one step further ,
Colgate has shared its intellectual property with competitors in order to encourage industry-wide change .
Large companies like HP , Sony , Nestlé , and Colgate don ’ t take decisions to change their packaging lightly , and they must balance competing demands from consumers who want their products to arrive with less packaging but still in perfect condition .
“ We ’ re really paying attention to every aspect of the packaging life cycle , from sourcing and packaging design to utilizing materials that are not harmful for the environment ,” Troelsen says . “ We ’ re on a journey to move away from some traditional materials that are used in packaging , like plastics .”
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR PACKAGING INNOVATIONS
These efforts to cut down on packaging waste aren ’ t solely motivated by a desire to be better corporate citizens ; enterprises today have a compelling business case for minimizing packaging and prioritizing sustainability .
In many scenarios , sustainable innovations lead to cost savings . HP ’ s sustainability-focused redesign of its LaserJet M1005 printer , for instance , lowered the printer ’ s packaging weight by 13 % and eliminated 95 metric tons of plastic foam . More compact packaging also means reduced transport emissions and logistics costs , since more products can be loaded on each pallet . For example , the new design of the LaserJet M1005 means that 20 % more units fit on each pallet . And eliminating nonessential product items , such as plastic bags and manuals , lowers costs while increasing sustainability .
Troelsen says that while fiber-based replacements for plastic are slightly more expensive , designing more sustainable packaging often leads to weight reductions , which means the company is making the packaging switch at nearly cost parity for products like home printers .
This focus on reducing packaging is reverberating throughout the supply chain . Troelsen says that HP ’ s enterprise