Go Green for Less – The Economic and Environmental Advantages of Aluminum Packaging for Your Business

In the ever-evolving world of consumer packaging, if there’s one trend business leaders have been keen to make a permanent fixture, it’s sustainable packaging.

With so much talk on climate change, eco-friendliness, and sustainability in general, industry leaders have been keen to explore all avenues when it comes to making their businesses sustainable, as well as profitable. For many, it all starts with packaging.

No matter which products you sell, packaging is an integral part of any business strategy. For decades, plastic ruled the roost and was the packaging material of choice by a country mile. Today however, as plastic is gradually being phased out of packaging, it’s important to find more sustainable solutions. You yourself may have noticed more of your purchases arriving in sustainable packaging such as paper and cardboard. There’s one material, however, that stands head and shoulders above the rest, and that one material is aluminum.

Aluminum is sustainable, eco-friendly, affordable, and very economic. From a business standpoint, you couldn’t really ask for more. Here’s a look at the economic and environmental benefits of aluminum packaging for your business.

Economic Benefits of Aluminum Packaging

• • Reduced transportation and logistical costs

• • Lighter in weight

• • Greater use of space

• • Increased shelf life and product longevity

• • Improved brand awareness and company reputation

• • Readily available and affordable

As we can see from the above, aluminum packaging offers a number of economic benefits compared with other packaging materials out there, including plastic. Let’s explore how switching to aluminum packaging can help save your business money.

Reduced Transportation and Logistical Costs

One of the primary ways in which aluminum packaging can help keep your business expenses down is through reduced transportation, shipping, and logistical costs.

Most shipping/delivery companies will charge by weight. The heavier the packages they’re shipping for you, the more they will have to charge. This comes down to things such as fuel consumption. Particularly now, with fuel prices being as volatile as they are, heavier packaging can really drive up freight and shipping costs.

Aluminum packaging is considerably lighter in weight than cardboard, glass, plastic, and other composite materials, meaning you’ll pay less to ship your products to your customers.

Less Spoilage and Increased Shelf Life

Many industries, including food and beverage, beauty and cosmetics, and health, fitness, and pharmaceuticals have now shifted almost exclusively to aluminum packaging for their products. This is largely due to aluminum’s protective, preservative qualities.

Aluminum protects against moisture, sunlight, dirt, germs, bacteria, humidity, and other environmental factors that can cause product spoilage. This means that the products stored within, which could be prone to spoilage, will be preserved, resulting in extended shelf lives and longevity, and less waste.

Readily Available and Affordable

Aluminum is one of the most sustainable materials in the world. It’s the most recycled material on the planet and has a recyclability rate of 100%. This means that it is readily available.

The rarer a material is, the more expensive it becomes. As aluminum is so readily available, it’s easy to source, and can also be purchased for very low prices. Add to this, other factors like those highlighted above, and it’s easy to understand why companies looking to save money on packaging, are embracing aluminum with open arms.

Sustainable Benefits of Aluminum Packaging

• • 100% recyclable

• • Lower carbon emissions

• • Much safer alternative to plastic

• • Less spoilage and waste

• • Requires 95% less energy to recycle

• • Minimizes waste

As well as helping your business to reduce its packaging costs, and thereby saving you a considerable amount of money in the process, aluminum packaging also allows you to help save the planet.

Below we’re going to highlight a select few of the most prominent environmental benefits of using aluminum packaging for your business.

Infinitely Recyclable

Unlike other common packaging materials such as plastic, and even glass and cardboard, aluminum is a material that can be recycled infinitely, with no loss of structural integrity.

The fact that it can be reused over and over again reduces the need for new raw material extraction. This helps to conserve natural resources and reduce carbon emissions as well.

Very Energy Efficient

Another reason why so many governments and organizations are pushing to make aluminum packaging the gold-standard of packaging is its energy efficiency.

Aluminum packaging uses more than 95% less energy when recycled, compared with being produced from new raw materials. This, again, preserves natural resources and lowers carbon emissions. It also makes aluminum more eco-friendly than glass and cardboard, and certainly than plastic.

Kinder to the Environment

One of the primary reasons why plastic packaging is gradually being phased out and banned across the globe is because it is so harmful to the environment. Plastic contains ‘forever chemicals’ that can gradually leach into the environment and pollute their surroundings. Plastic also never fully breaks down, which is why so many of our oceans and waterways are facing such serious plastic pollution issues.

Aluminum packaging, however, is natural and is much kinder to the environment. As it’s recycled so readily, far less finds its way to landfill as it is. When it does, it doesn’t pose the same environmental risks as plastic.

More Readily Recycled

Around the world, aluminum packaging is recycled at a much higher rate than other packaging materials such as plastic, cardboard, and glass. This again makes it perfect for environmentally conscious businesses looking to play their part in the battle against climate change.