Sourcing and support:
Sustainable packaging
for small businesses
Sustainable packaging isn't one-size-fits-all. I help small and medium CPG consumer brands in food, beauty, and wellness explore materials, formats, and sourcing options that balance environmental wishes with production realities, and budget.
BAD NEWS:
Sustainable packaging is mindbogglingly complex. Let's make it less so.
You want packaging that reflects your brand's values. All of us want to save the planet. Maybe you're trying to reduce material use, move away from plastic, find a better supplier, or figure out whether that "eco-friendly" alternative is actually a good fit for your product. What the heck even is eco friendly? Should it be plastic-free? Or should it be plastic and lowest carbon footprint? Should it be recycled material? Or recyclable?
But between conflicting claims, lots of science that doesn’t make sense, and things that sound good but aren’t really according to some other source? Exhausting. I'll help you sort through the options and make more informed packaging decisions.
EVEN WORSE:
That new cool innovation? Likely not available for you. (Sorry.)
Actually buying things that are sustainable? Not always accessible if you’re wanting to order more like 500, or even 5000 units, rather than 5 million units. Minimum order quantities or MOQ’s are the bane of the small entrepreneur, the big megaconglomerates get to have all the fun. Knowing where to start can be a challenge. But I do! I know all the good stuff, and know how to find the good stuff that’s available for the “little guys”.
Because more sustainable packaging isn't always the same thing as the newest, trendiest, or most heavily marketed material. The right choice depends on your product, supply chain, manufacturing process, budget, and what happens to the packaging after use.
BUT DON’T WORRY! I CAN HELP.
I know all the best vendors, understand the pros and cons of things, and can help make sense of it all.
Packaging sustainability review
Understand where your current packaging stands. We'll look at your existing packaging materials, formats, and production considerations to identify potential areas for improvement. You'll receive practical observations and opportunities to explore, not a carbon footprint number you won’t know what to do with. What about reuse, recycling, compostability, or disposal? And is it wishcycling or available and feasible for your customer base?
Material and format exploration
Explore options that make sense for your product. I'll help you sort through the options and make more informed packaging decisions. We’ll compare potential packaging materials and formats based on your requirements, including considerations such as functionality, production, cost, and environmental tradeoffs. Can the package use less material or eliminate unnecessary components? Can we switch out to a sustainable material over the existing?
Sourcing and supplier research
Find packaging options you can actually buy. Does the option make sense for your current volume and budget?Depending on your project, I'll help identify potential suppliers, packaging formats, and sourcing leads. We'll consider practical details such as minimum order quantities, typical price ranges, and whether an option is appropriate for your production needs.
Packaging strategy and next steps
Turn research into a clearer path forward. Does the packaging perform the job the product requires? You'll receive recommendations and practical next steps to help you continue on your journey, whether you want to DIY your ordering and procurement, or whether to continue on with my help. Are environmental claims accurate, supportable, and clear to customers?
What you’ll get:
Making Good Choices Report
Review of your current packaging and materials
Assessment of relevant environmental and practical considerations
Exploration of alternative packaging directions
Pros, limitations, and tradeoffs for each option
Cost ranges
Considerations around format, product protection, production, and MOQ
A PDF report you can take home and use
One 60-minute workshop call
Follow-up questions or clarifications
$1,100
Caveat: I am not an environmental scientist, or a product carbon footprint lifecycle analyst. I’m a packaging designer whose special interest happens to be sustainability.