Ecodesign in plastic packaging has become essential for companies with ethical and social responsibility.
What are their key aspects, and how does it promote circularity?
Find it out in this article!
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Ecodesign in plastic packaging is not a trend but a paradigm shift in the commercial and packaging world, aimed at enhancing the connection between companies and the environment.
This popular concept refers to the process to design in plastic packaging keeping in mind the entire environmental impact over its lifecycle.
Focusing in this way of designing means considering various factors, from material selection and minimizing resources use in production to recyclability and reduction of waste generation.
Sustainable design is a key strategy for implementing circular economy principles, aiming to design products that are not only sustainable in their use but also contribute to a broader system of regeneration and resource reuse.
The relationship between eco-design and circularity is fundamental in the context of sustainability and resource management sought by companies to create packaging to be more respectful to the environment.
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Together, these approaches promote a more sustainable and responsible future in consumption and production because both seek to minimize environmental impact and maximize efficient resource use.
While eco-design focuses on creating products with a lower environmental impact, the circular economy provides the framework for a system where products, materials, and resources remain in use as long as possible.
For eco-design to meet circular economy requirements, it must incorporate highly relevant aspects. Let's take a look at them.
It is important to use and incorporate materials that are recyclable to ensure that the design is genuinely sustainable.
This significantly reduces waste, which also implies potential cost savings.
Designing packaging with, for example, a single material makes it easier to recycle and avoids contamination of recycling streams.
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In this area, it is essential for consumers to have the necessary information to recycle easily. Clear instructions and labels play a fundamental role.
Eco-design also emphasizes reducing the weight and volume of packaging, prioritizing efficiency and optimization in storage and transport spaces.
Lower weight and volume means better optimization of square footage in warehouses or vehicles, significantly reducing the carbon footprint.
Sustainable product design aims to create packaging that is sturdy, effective, and extends its useful life, preventing waste and accumulation of trash on the planet.
This focuses on multifunctional designs that prioritize durability.
Pursuing new eco-design techniques requires the use of innovative technologies that consume less energy and resources for design and manufacturing.
Artificial Intelligence, monitoring, data analysis, and 3D technologies support sustainable processes during the design and production of eco-friendly packaging.
Without any doubt, eco-design in the development of circular packaging offers a series of benefits that can significantly impact companies and the environment.
Contrary to what many believe, sustainable design is increasingly used due to its significant advantages for companies in terms of social acceptance, cost reduction, and regulatory compliance.
As previously mentioned, eco-design aims to save on materials through reduction and optimization.
This derives into reduced weight and volume of packaging, benefiting companies that may acquire more economical packaging and optimize shipments.
Additionally, there is significant savings in waste management and efficiency throughout the supply chain, resulting in lower transportation and storage costs.
Companies that implement eco-design and sustainability practices are perceived as responsible, environmentally committed companies, which tends to attract a larger consumer base.
This responsibility leads to greater competitiveness and beneficial differentiation within the market.
Companies that choose eco-design and circularity are adapting to current environmental regulations, both national and international.
It is important to note that an increasing number of governments are establishing rules requiring the use of recyclable packaging and banning plastics that hinder the circular economy.
Working under eco-design parameters positions a company in today’s market with values such as environmental and civil responsibility.
In addition to benefiting from enhanced reputation, it can also lead to cost reductions in materials, storage, and product handling. Approaching design from a sustainability perspective attracts conscientious consumers, always keeping any relevant regulations in mind.
At APS, we develop our industrial plastic packaging with two essential aspects in mind. On the one hand, the performance and mechanical characteristics of the packaging, aiming to reduce weight as much as possible, adjusting geometries to maximize mechanical and logistical optimization. On the other hand, ensuring preservation, protection, and interaction with the contained product.
CAD design simulations, CAE testing, and internal lab trials allow us to analyze packaging performance to ensure its proper industrialization. The reliability of our industrial packaging is guaranteed by ADR certification – UN marking – tested in independent laboratories.
Keep learning: UN approved plastic packaging… Is it necessary? Why?
Product development at APS involves integrating environmental criteria into plastic packaging design to minimize impact throughout its lifecycle, from technology and material selection to end-of-life disposal and recyclability. With advanced design, simulation, and prototyping tools, we minimize costs and streamline the industrialization and marketing of new packaging developments.
Based on sustainability criteria and parameters in our design, we strive to offer our clients several benefits, both economically and in terms of environmental responsibility, including:
In short, gradually incorporating sustainability aspects in the design of plastic packaging not only provides certain economic benefits and compliance with strict regulations but also fosters innovation and supports the circular economy.
At Alcion Packaging Solutions, we approach our designs with innovation and according to UNE:166002 standards, aiming to achieve sustainability in our plastic packaging solutions for the industrial sector.
This year 2020 brings new features in the design concept of plastic packaging in ALCION and our Technical Design Team works together with the other areas in the development of complete ranges of plastic packaging and their accessories, caps, plugs and seals, addressed covering the agrochemical, cosmetics and industrial products (household, adhesives, automotive...) markets, and is an important part within our Committee on Product Development and R+D + i.
With regards to the Design area, we take a step further along 2020 in customer service to be able to offer our expertise to facilitate our renders in a realistic scenario and to show a preview of the final product with a new software. We can mecanise molds and work 3D modeling for their development with the support of our own die casting area and the experience in mold construction for so many years. In addition, the new digital tools we use allow us to unify the necessary technical information for all other areas.
ALCION PACKAGING SOLUTIONS can boast a magnificent reputation in the sector at national, European and global level, being one of the companies with a large experience in the sector. Plastic packaging manufactured by ALCION has a good reputation on the market being solid, durable and mainly reliable products.
Listening to our customers, adapting ourselves to their needs and designs, offering a recognized quality, durability and good finishes in our packaging .. those are the aspects that have always directed ALCION, that have made us stand out and have managed to stay along 75 years in the market. An increasingly demanding market, very industrial, but more environmentally friendly that needs the adaptation of agile and modern design systems to develop ever more and more sustainable and functional, environmentally friendly packaging that reduces the use of resources.
ALCION PACKAGING SOLUTIONS…Sustainable safety
