Drive your business growth: 3 ways sustainable packaging can help

Welcome to the April edition of The Circular Newsletter! Here we’ll explore packaging industry trends, innovations and insights. We’ll also turn the spotlight on sustainability progress being made across the industry and share stories from our teammates and partners. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an edition!?

Did you know that packaging serves as the most likely and the most trusted source for consumers seeking to assess a product's environmental friendliness? Moreover, 62% of consumers indicate that sustainable packaging influences their perception of brands and products*.?

The data tells a clear story - sustainability matters to consumers now more than ever, and brands are working hard to respond to the call by implementing sustainability strategies across their enterprises. One prevalent and consumer-facing approach is the transition from plastic-based packaging to paper-based packaging, which presents numerous opportunities for business growth. Here are a few compelling reasons to embrace this shift.?

Sustainable packaging can positively impact consumer perception of your brand.?

In today's saturated market, shoppers are confronted with countless choices when making purchasing decisions. How can you distinguish your offering amidst this sea of options? One impactful option might be replacing your plastic packaging with paper-based packaging. Research suggests that consumer's sustainability demands are rising and that sustainability stands out as a critical driver of buyer intent, particularly among young consumers.??

Brands big and small are making the switch. In fact, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, a local Coca-Cola bottler serving Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City, has announced its intention to become the world's first bottler to replace plastic six-pack rings with WestRock's PETCollar? Shield Plus. Craft Breweries like Ska Brewing have also joined the movement and established themselves as leaders in the sustainability space, replacing plastic rings with WestRock's CanCollar?. An added advantage? Paper-based products like PETCollar? and CanCollar? allow for more printing and branding space than traditional plastic rings, which means you'll have more opportunities to implement the next item on our list: connected smart packaging.?

Connected packaging technology can help you educate your customers.?

According to a study released by Appetite Creative and Domino Printing Sciences, 88% of respondents claim that they're planning a connected packaging campaign in 2024. The benefits of connected packaging are easy to see. Not only does it allow brands to communicate directly with customers, it's also an opportunity for education.?

At WestRock, we work with customers directly to implement cutting-edge connected packaging opportunities. This includes our Scan.Learn.Recycle.? Program, where we work with pizza companies like Domino's to help spread the word about pizza box recycling.?

Customization, automation, and innovative scaling can increase efficiency?

The world moves fast, so it's important that your supply chain and manufacturing move faster. That's why we see ourselves not only as packagers, but as consultants. Our goal is to help you scale and automate as efficiently as possible, so you can meet both sustainability and growth targets.?

We've worked with rapidly growing businesses like Bobo's to help them expand production, increase efficiency and take their growth to the next level. We're also innovating in the automation space with machinery like Pak on Demand?, our recyclable mailer solution that has the capacity to increase productivity vs. manual packaging, and Box on Demand?, a right-size box solution that can be tailored to almost any size box and style.?

Embracing paper-based packaging represents a strategic move with the potential to significantly benefit your business. Let WestRock help you find the paper-based solutions that are right for you.?

What changes from plastic to paper packaging have you seen on store shelves? Share with us in the comments!?

WestRock in the News

Take a look at some of our most exciting updates from the last month:

WestRock Named to Fortune's list of America's Most Innovative Companies of 2024

Our team of innovators work to stretch the limits of paper, solving real-world problems through materials science, digital innovation, design, manufacturing and automation. It’s an honor to be recognized for our work to advance packaging innovation.

WestRock's VP of Internal Audit Shares AI Insights with The Wall Street Journal

We’re applying leading science and technology in the lab and deploying next-generation advancements throughout our company to optimize business processes and drive innovation. WestRock's VP of Internal Audit, Paul McClung, shared insights with The Wall Street Journal about how AI is transforming the audit process and delivering improved results.

References

1. *WestRock Sustainability Signals Study, March 2023

We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Circular Newsletter. Between issues, you can stay up to date with the latest WestRock news by following us on LinkedIn or by visiting our website.?