Innovative Eco-Friendly Solutions for Sustainability in the Packaging Industry

Introduction

In the last several years, the packaging business has rapidly increased its market value, giving it a more distinctive place in the global economy. Business strategists have been forced to come up with novel solutions (Fields & Atiku, 2017), initially employing naturally available materials and then employing increasingly complicated materials, to protect food products in boxes from organisms and toxins while allowing for long-term storage and transportation (Sumrin et al., 2021). The introduction of packaging in other sectors was made possible by the first success of using it to keep food safe. As a result of the increased need for packaging for the management of various product components, raw materials, and elements as well as for final customer delivery, packaging waste is generated at every stage of the process (Moustafa et al., 2019; Gheorghita et al., 2020). Together with each of the four “Ps” of the marketing mix—product, price, place, and promotion—the packaging is a fifth “P” since it plays a significant role in customer interactions, product differentiation, and the purchasing decisions of consumers. Packaging plays a crucial role in the transportation, storage, and preservation of products. Packaging, regardless of the product's quality at this point in the interaction, is the first factor that builds a bond between customers and any product (Dharmadhikari, 2012; Patel, 2023).

To meet packaging needs, various packing materials are utilized either exclusively or in conjunction with other materials. One of the main causes of needless packaging waste is makers' overuse of packing materials. The majority of this extra packaging is made of plastic, which degrades over time and requires a more difficult recycling procedure (Nguyen et al., 2020). Recycling plastic releases toxic gases into the atmosphere, making plastic an unsuitable material for packaging. The demand from customers for environmentally friendly packaging has surged as a result of customers' growing social responsibility and knowledge of the waste and pollution that excessive packaging causes (Rajesh & Shubhashini, 2021; Paparoidamins & Tran, 2019). As a result, packaging-related issues with waste handling and package innovation concepts connected to the environment are increasingly being included in academic and commercial research. Regrettably, some businesses still fail to recognize the advantages of eco-packaging and mistakenly believe it to be an extra expense (Singh et al., 2011). Package waste remains an issue in the social, economic, and environmental spheres even with the implementation of some package management programs. Even still, packing contributes to waste and has an immediate negative influence on the environment. In 2001, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released standards on increased responsibility for manufacturers, which required companies to redesign their products with recyclable and reusable materials. The advantages and disadvantages of environmentally friendly designs are also covered, however, this regulation is not yet in existence effectively (Ibrahim et al., 2023).