Consumers are increasingly saying no to plastic packaging – but they’re not always sure which kind to reject. While the anti-plastics movement is undeniably gaining ground, flexible packaging is trending as well. Which leads many consumers, brand owners and packaging designers to wonder: just how eco-friendly are pouches?
A circle of confusion
“Wait. Aren’t pouches usually marked with that recycling symbol?” We hear you. And we hate to disappoint you – and the majority of consumers, by the way – but the so-called Green Dot doesn’t indicate recyclability. It merely serves as a trademark for companies who collect, sort and recycle household packaging in general. It doesn’t mean the packaging itself is made of recycled material, and it doesn’t guarantee the packaging will be recycled either.
That said, pouch packaging isn’t entirely without environmental advantages. What’s more, recycling technologies dedicated to flexible packaging actually do exist.
The environmental advantages of pouch packaging
Pouches aren’t as detrimental to the environment as the anti-plastics movement would like us to believe. Their low weight and flexibility, for one, means less carbon is emitted during transport.
Must-read: Why brand owners love pouches