Small and medium-sized businesses face real challenges when it comes to managing costs, meeting customer expectations, and keeping operations efficient. Packaging is one of the most visible parts of your product, especially when selling online. It is also one of the most practical areas where you can reduce your environmental impact.
Choosing sustainable parcel packaging can help your business limit waste, manage shipping costs, and show customers that you take responsibility for what you send out.
What is Sustainable Packaging?
Small and medium-sized businesses face real challenges when it comes to managing costs, meeting customer expectations, and keeping operations efficient. Packaging is one of the most visible parts of your product, especially when selling online. It is also one of the most practical areas where you can reduce your environmental impact.
Choosing sustainable parcel packaging can help your business limit waste, manage shipping costs, and show customers that you take responsibility for what you send out, improving your reputation particularly amongst eco-conscious consumers.
Why Should SMEs Focus on Sustainable Packaging?
Meeting Customer Expectations
More than ever, consumers expect the businesses they support to prioritise sustainability. Packaging is one of the first physical interactions customers have with your brand, especially for online orders, and excessive, wasteful, or non-recyclable materials can leave a poor impression. Sustainable packaging can help build loyalty and trust, showing that you care about your impact.
Making better choices with packaging is one way to meet customer expectations without needing major changes to your operations.
You Could Be Affected by the Plastic Packaging Tax
If you use plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled content, your business could be liable for the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax. This legislation encourages the use of recycled plastics and applies to packaging manufactured in or imported into the UK.
Even smaller businesses may be affected if they manufacture or import packaging. The tax adds cost, so switching to packaging that avoids this requirement can protect your margins and reduce compliance risks.
Taking Responsibility Builds Trust
Sustainable practices help protect the environment and preserve biodiversity, and many businesses now feel a growing responsibility to play their part. Increasingly, consumers expect companies to act responsibly, especially when it comes to packaging.
If you are looking to build long-term relationships with customers, showing that you take these matters seriously can strengthen trust and encourage repeat business.
What are the 3 Rs of Sustainability?
The ‘Three Rs’ of sustainability are Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, which act as a helpful framework for packaging decisions:
Reduce: Use less material overall. This means fewer resources are needed to produce the packaging, which can also help lower costs and reduce carbon emissions, particularly during transport, where smaller, lighter parcels make a big difference.
Reuse: Consider packaging options that customers can return or use again. Some companies have introduced returnable packaging schemes to cut down on single-use waste. For example, this approach works especially well for subscription-based or repeat deliveries.
Recycle: Choose materials that are easy to recycle through common household waste streams and ensure they’re clearly labelled. Many customers want to dispose of packaging responsibly, but they need simple guidance. Even adding a clear recycling message or symbol directly on the parcel can make a big impact.
By applying these principles together, you can minimise waste across your supply chain.
Best Sustainable Packaging Options for Parcel Delivery
Here are some of the most effective sustainable packaging options worth considering for your parcels
Paper and Cardboard
For SMEs sending parcels, paper and cardboard are among the most effective and sustainable packaging materials available. Easily sourced from renewable resources, these materials are widely recyclable, biodegradable, and familiar to consumers, making them a practical and environmentally responsible choice.
Key Advantages of Corrugated Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard is particularly well-suited to parcel delivery. Comprising a fluted (zigzag) inner layer between two flat liners, it provides excellent strength and shock absorption throughout the delivery process. Some benefits include:
- Durable and protective: Able to withstand knocks and impacts during transit, making it ideal for protecting goods over long distances.
- Lightweight: Its structure keeps weight to a minimum, helping to reduce shipping costs and associated emissions.
- Cost-effective: Readily available and affordable, making it an ideal solution for small businesses looking to balance sustainability with their budget.
- Environmentally friendly: Fully recyclable and biodegradable, it aligns well with regulatory requirements and consumer expectations.
Other Paper-Based Options
- Cardboard sleeves: Suitable for flatter items such as clothing, books, and electronic gadgets.
- Padded paper envelopes: An eco-friendly alternative for lightweight, smaller items, like jewellery or cosmetics.
- Paper tape: A sustainable substitute for plastic tape, helping ensure the entire package remains recyclable.
Eco-Friendly Internal Cushioning and Protection
Sustainable packaging also extends to the internal protection used within parcels. Avoiding plastic-based fillers in favour of eco-conscious alternatives can significantly reduce environmental impact without compromising product safety. Consider using:
- Recycled paper cushioning: Shredded or crumpled paper offers excellent shock absorption and is fully recyclable.
- Corrugated cardboard inserts: Custom-fitted to hold products securely in place and prevent movement during transit.
- Biodegradable packing peanuts: Made from starch-based materials, these dissolve in water and can be used to protect goods inside packaging.
How to Sustainably Source Packaging Materials
It’s just as important to consider where your packaging comes from. Sourcing materials responsibly is one of the most effective ways to reduce your environmental impact from the outset. Here are a few ways to ensure your packaging is sustainably sourced:
- Sustainably sourced: Check for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified cardboard and paper, which confirms materials are harvested responsibly and not illegally.
- Recycled content: Choose packaging with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content to reduce reliance on virgin materials, which can be verified by third-party companies like Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR).
- Certified suppliers: Work with suppliers who can provide documentation to confirm how and where their materials are sourced. Ask for certifications like the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) or ISO 14001, which show environmental responsibility across the supply chain.
- Clear labelling: Use guidance like the On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) so customers know how to dispose of packaging properly.
Sustainable Parcel Delivery and Fulfilment Solutions
Packaging is only part of the picture. How you deliver your parcels also matters. Working with a delivery partner who understands sustainability can make a big difference.
Speedy Parcels offers a flexible, multi-carrier delivery solution that allows you to select the most efficient and suitable delivery method for each parcel. This means that our team can work with you to choose the most suitable carrier for your needs based on sustainability, speed, cost, or a balance of all three. Our team will help you find the right combination for your specific products and delivery volumes.
If you are looking to grow your business, Speedy Fulfil can also help you scale efficiently, with warehousing, packing, and fulfilment services that are designed to support your operation as it grows.
Get in touch to learn more about how we can support your packaging and delivery needs.
