Eco-Friendly Retail Packaging

I know, it seems like a very weird entry, but one of the things I do is sell retail packaging. In becoming the Marketing Manager at Barr Display, one of the things that has fallen into my lap is determining what products will be carried in our line of products. Then it is my job to determine how they will be marketed in both our print catalog and online.

As with every aspect of my world, it is my goal to paint it green. I think the more we put out there products that are available that are eco-friendly, the more people will realize that they actually have options that are environmentally responsible. It is also my belief, that many people want to be green, but just don't know how. And that is where I come in.

One of the product lines that needed to be re-vamped for competitive pricing purposes, was retail packaging. This includes the boxes, gift wrap, and shopping bags that a business might use to get you out of the store with your purchased goods. Sure... we are seeing the mass transition from "paper or plastic" to "I have my own thank you", but that's the grocery store. Now, if you are like me, I take my bags into every store. Even a clothing store. Why not?

Not all customers find carrying their own bag into your lingerie or hockey card store as pleasurable as I would, and that's ok as long as retailers can offer something eco-friendly. To my wild surprise, our current retail packaging line-up is in stellar position to take over the retail packaging world. Our boxes are made from 100% recycled board, our tissue paper is made from minimum 25% recycled fibers and some with 100%, our gift bags are made with between 50% and 100% post consumer content and all materials that are printed are printed with soy based inks for easy return to the Earth during the breakdown process. Even some of our plastic bags offer 25% post consumer waste and I have found that all of my manufacturers recycle what they can in the plants, as well as follow as many green practices as they possibly can.

So... how do I explain to the customers of the world why my packaging costs $5-$30 more per case than some of my competitors? Well, if the above hasn't convinced them, then how about this: All of my manufacturers are good ole' US of A manufactures. I can go to China and get my boxes and bags, just like everyone else seems to be. In one case, I received pricing back for the basic items and my cost was half. Half! And that includes putting it in a container and shipping it for 40 days, via freight liner to my door. However, not only were these boxes not made of any recycled materials, but they were not even recyclable. What a waste! All of my products are 100% recyclable.

If you are choosing items for your retail space, think about what you can truly offer to your customers as well as to yourself.