The cannabis industry is responsible for a huge mountain of packaging waste, which is disposed of in the landfill for the most part. Smart cannabis businesses are teaming up with innovative weed packaging companies that are committed to delivering the right packaging solutions that combine the protection of the product with the reduction of the environmental impact.
Select Materials Which Are Actually Recycled
Recyclable materials differ in terms of their recyclability. While choosing a weed packaging company, the priority should be given to the partners who are aware of what materials are recycled by the recycling facilities. In terms of recycling, glass jars are the best for the success of cannabis, followed by aluminum cans and some types of plastic like PET (#1) and HDPE (#2).
Try to eliminate the use of mixed materials as much as you can. Using a combination of plastic lids and cardboard boxes for packaging creates incredible confusion in the sorting process, not only for consumers but also for recycling facilities.
Design Consumer-Friendly Packaging That Is Easy to Separate
The most eco-friendly packaging designs allow consumers to separate the different materials very quickly. Use water-soluble adhesives instead of permanent ones and make labels that can be easily removed without leaving any residue.
Think about the modular designs where the components can be snapped apart easily. The trusted weed packaging company will come up with products that can be separated into single-material components within seconds, not minutes.
Simplify Recycling Instructions
Proper waste disposal can be increased by as much as 60% if clear recycling guidance is provided. Use universal recycling signs to indicate simple, visual instructions on your custom cannabis packaging. Accompanying your specific packaging components with QR codes referencing a detailed disposal guide for them can be another step.
To be truly effective, sustainable design should be very clear in conveying recycling procedures at the point of disposal, precisely when the users require the information the most.
Find a Cannabis Recycler with Good Credentials
Waste from standard municipal recycling programs is responsible for the non-inclusiveness of cannabis packaging due to contamination concerns. Cannabis packaging in a progressive manner has gradually been improving its relationship with the recycling program, in which the containers contaminated with residue are disposed of in the safest way.
Find the local companies that manage the waste coming from the Cannabis industry and include their contact information on your packaging. Some brands are creating take-back programs where they ask customers to return empty containers to dispensaries for the proper recycling of the products.
Refillable Options Are Worth Considering
The most eco-friendly packaging is the one that has been used multiple times before going for recycling. Team up with your weed packaging company to design and manufacture long-lasting, refillable containers that customers are happy to store away. For example, glass jars with high-quality closures often become storage items in households even long after the cannabis is smoked.
The implementation of environmentally friendly packaging that prolongs product longevity leads to a lower overall carbon footprint more effectively than single-use recyclable options.
Count Your Commitment
The use of sustainable packaging is a commitment that has to be renewed regularly by both cannabis businesses and their packaging partners. Hire a weed packaging company that is involved in tracking recycling rates, investing in material innovation, and supporting the sustainable design initiatives of the industry as a whole.
The cannabis industry can become a role model for environmental conscientiousness. Businesses can literally change the packaging of the cannabis industry from a ‘packaging waste’ to a ‘green competitive advantage’ by giving first priority to the custom cannabis packaging that is really recyclable and promoting strong cannabis recycling programs.
