These sustainability trends may impact your business.

In this issue, I’ll explain reverse material substitution, greenwashing and other key sustainability trends and how Oxyjen can help you effectively market your company’s sustainability efforts and progress.

Last year I spoke at MinnPack, a manufacturing trade show at the Minneapolis Convention Center, about how marketing and design can positively impact sustainability reporting.

Documenting a company’s environmental, health and sustainability (ESG) efforts in sustainability reports is no longer an exception in any industry. It is now the norm, with customers, investors and vendors seeking documentation of efforts to meet – and exceed – sustainability standards and expectations.

To stay current with ever-evolving standards and best practices for my clients, I do a lot of research. I recently came across this great Packaging Digest article by Robert Lillenfeld of Sustainable Packaging Research, Information and Networking Group (SPRING). These are his four predictions for the packaging industry in 2023:*

1. Reverse material substitution will continue to grow.

The biggest trend that I see is the “paperization” of consumer packaging. In other words,  plastics are being replaced by paper, primarily because of consumer perceptions and desires regarding the renewability and recyclability advantages of paper versus polyolefins and PET.

2. The benefits and interest in compostable packaging will continue to fall.

The facts are finally catching up to the fiction: (1) the levels of home composting in the U.S. are not impactful; (2) industrial composting is still in its infancy; (3) packaging and food service items are not always well received by industrial facilities; and (4) composting both “bio” and legacy plastics is a non-circular activity that results in the production of greenhouse gases and little else.

3. Europe will continue to ride and lead the anti-greenwashing wave.

Per the dissatisfaction with compostability and other environmental claims, or “greenwashing,” we are starting to see regulatory rumblings at the U.S.Federal Trade Commission, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) taking a surprising lead. For reference, in March of last year, the SEC proposed new climate-related disclosure requirements for public companies. Proposed rule amendments require public companies to provide certain climate-related financial data, and greenhouse gas emissions insights, in public disclosure filings.

4. Secondary packaging will become a new pressure point.

The EU also wants to tackle over-packaging. Proposed draft regulations state that starting in 2030, “each packaging unit will have to be reduced to its minimum size in terms of weight, volume and packaging layers, for example by limiting empty space.” Under these proposals, EU member states must reduce packaging waste per capita by 15% by 2040 vs. 2018.

Sustainability is also a priority at Oxyjen Design.

These are some of the ways we are investing in sustainability to best help our clients and ensure we provide you with the information and guidance you can rely on:

1. Oxyjen Design is now a 1% for the Planet business member. https://onepercentfortheplanet.org/
2. As the owner, I am taking a Green Marketing Academy course. I will then be certified in green marketing so I can offer clients expert sustainability marketing guidance and best practices. Learn more about the course here: https://greenmarketingacademy.com/
3. Oxyjen joined Ridwell! https://www.ridwell.com/  Have you heard of it? This company takes hard-to-recycle items (that usually have to go to a recycling center or transfer station) and takes them to be recycled or reused by local partners dedicated to reducing waste. Together, Ridwell members save tons from landfills every year to support our community, keep our oceans clean and build a brighter future.
4. On a personal level, I am president of my local lake association, where we are partnering with another organization to start a rain garden program with city officials.

Have you incorporated any new sustainable initiatives at your company? I would love to hear what you are doing and would be interested in highlighting your efforts for future issues. And if you want to learn about how to successfully incorporate sustainability into your marketing strategy in an authentic way, please reach out.

Let’s start that conversation!