How on-site waste management can help your packaging company go green

Are you looking to help your packaging company go green? The best way to move forward is to customise your on-site waste management processes. First, find a waste management company like Mpact Waste Management to work with you for solutions that will cut costs, generate revenue, and safeguard the health of all.

What does “going green” mean for packaging companies?

Going green means taking steps in your processes and products that will result in a more positive impact on the environment and the sustainability of your activities. It can include things like using recyclable materials, processing your waste responsibly and using ethical sources for your raw materials. Energy-efficient processes and machinery can contribute, as can using renewable energy sources.

What are the benefits of going green for packaging companies in South Africa?

Going green not only benefits the environment, but also helps your community as it can create jobs, contribute towards a circular economy, and reduce greenhouse gases. Sustainable projects include recycling solutions from sourcing materials through to the final product. It helps reduce waste to landfill and can even help you make more money as a company.

7 steps to going green for packaging companies

It may seem like an insurmountable challenge to go green when you are a packaging company, but the truth is you are a key player in a more sustainable economy. Products produced in the local market are packaged using the products you produce, whether plastic bottles, boxes, plastics, or other forms of packaging.

If you take steps to make your products and the way they are created greener, your efforts have a knock-on effect for your customers and the community around you. Here are 7 things you can do to go greener as a packaging company in South Africa.

1. Use recyclable materials for your packaging products and projects

   Volumes of superfluous products are finding their way to our landfills. The packaging industry has the advantage of a clear first step to making their business greener: using recyclable materials in the packaging products they produce. You may be more surprised than most to find out already how much packaging in South Africa is made from recycled materials.

   Embracing sustainable packaging has the potential to help businesses reduce cost by avoiding emission and disposal levies, and to increase turnover by meeting growing consumer demand for products that are sustainable and have a reduced environmental impact.

   Your packaging company can consider creating recyclable alternatives to the current products you produce for packaging. Taking steps towards making such products could be easier than you expect. You can partner with converters like Mpact Corrugated, Detpak, Mpact Plastics and Mpact Plastic Containers to find creative ways that will benefit the planet while still getting your product to market effectively.

2. Implement responsible ways of reducing energy use during production

   A primary cause of many of the world’s difficulties is the overuse of fossil fuels. Using renewable sources of energy, such as wind, water, and solar power, offers a sustainable solution for manufacturers. Many businesses in the packaging industry, have opted to use a measure of renewable energy in their manufacturing processes, including operations within the Mpact Group.

3. Apply sustainable waste management solutions and use recycling

   Not all waste management solutions are alike. Consider more effective waste management solutions that are more beneficial to the environment and the community. Waste material can be processed in ways that won’t result in fuller landfills and dirtier oceans.

   Start by partnering with a waste management company that offers recycling services and owns recycling facilities. Recycling doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. Our teams can sort your waste on site to separate recyclable materials from toxic materials and other forms of rubbish. We will make sure they go back into the economy and that as little as possible will end up going to landfill. Check out our full range of services here.

4. Work with responsible resource suppliers that apply ethical practices

   Do you know where the resources you use in production come from?

   Working with manufacturers that prioritise sustainability is a smart move. Packaging companies should look for manufacturers and raw material suppliers that share like-minded principles. These should include responsible practices in how resources are planted, treated, processed, harvested, and transported – for example, FSC-certified paper.

   Lastly, find out about your suppliers’ use of sustainable methods, materials, and greener energy solutions. Your manufacturing partner should use manufacturing processes that align with your sustainability goals. A big question to ask is what they are doing to minimise their ecological and carbon footprint.

5. Develop innovative sustainable packaging solutions

   Any sustainable packaging strategy should seek to make the best use of environmentally friendly practices and processes. This could include reducing the consumption of water in your manufacturing process, reducing emissions, and preferring sustainably sourced material as an input into production.

   Importantly, you can educate your creative team on sustainable design practices that ensures they create innovative designs and products that will, not only delight your customers, but are designed with circularity in mind. This type packaging will be more easily recycled, which increases the certainty that it is recycled at the end of its life.

6. Audit your on-site waste management systems

   An audit of your on-site waste management will include an on-site assessment. The idea behind an on-site audit is to identify and to track the quantity and types of waste your company produces. This includes the processes from generation to disposal.

   On-site waste streams can often be messy and mismanaged. There may be gaps in the process that a reliable service provider can see as an opportunity to help your business reach its waste reduction goals. Choose a waste management company who can offer you tailored solutions to your packaging company’s unique waste challenges. Did you know that we offer a free waste audit?

7. Work with an effective on-site waste management company

   A reputable waste management business will assess how your business processes waste. We can help you with the disposal, recycling, and more efficient management of waste. If you produce hazardous waste, we can help you dispose of it ethically and responsibly.

   Our waste management service is underpinned by over 30 years of experience and partnerships that can make all the difference. We also recycle every material where possible to boost your recycling rate and benefit your sustainability indicators. Contact us today for a free on-site assessment.