How Packaging Can Drive
the Circular Economy
The circular economy refers to an economic model or system designed to use resources more efficiently, minimize waste generation and environmental impact, and maximize the value of materials and products by keeping them in circulation for as long as possible. It is contrary to our current linear economy, which uses the traditional model of material extraction, production, consumption, and waste disposal.
In the circular economy, materials and products flow within a closed loop: manufacturing, consumption, recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing. Circular economic systems extend the life of products through reuse, refurbishment, recycling, and composting. The goal is to maximize the value of resources, eliminate waste and pollution, preserve ecosystems, and regenerate nature.
Through the use of sustainable practices like recyclable materials (e.g., paper and pulp-based, glass, metal, and certain types of plastic), renewable materials (bio-based resins), post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, refillable and reusable models, and compostable materials, packaging can help enable and drive the circular economy.
These sustainable and circular packaging strategies lengthen product lifecycles, reduce waste, lower the use of virgin materials, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and return nutrients to the soil.
Why Circularity Matters
Moving from a linear economy to a circular economy offers numerous advantages. Extending the life and value of resources reduces the need for extracting raw materials, conserving finite resources like fossil fuels, minerals, and water.
The circular economy can strengthen the resiliency of supply chains, reducing the dependency on limited resources and lessening the risks associated with resource scarcity, price volatility, market disruptions, and geopolitical conflicts.
Circular practices minimize waste generation, pollution, and habitat destruction (e.g., landfills, polluted waterways). Maintaining biodiversity and natural ecosystems contributes to the health of the planet.
Circular economy principles promote energy efficiency and help mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with resource extraction, production, transportation, and waste disposal.
Circular business models create new economic opportunities through innovation, job creation, and cost savings. They also promote social equity by improving public access to resources and services and supporting community-based recycling programs.
Circular Packaging Strategies
Regulatory policies like extended producer responsibility (EPR) drive the adoption of circular packaging strategies. Furthermore, consumer research shows shoppers prefer sustainable packaging and are willing to pay more for it.
Circular packaging strategies begin at the package design phase. Brand owners can avoid single-use packaging and choose lighter-weight materials, fewer packaging components, recyclable materials, PCR content, refillable and reusable container options, and compostable materials.
At Berlin Packaging, we partner with our customers to create packaging solutions that optimize sustainability, brand impact, performance, cost, and material availability. We are committed to leading the future of sustainable packaging and accelerating the circular economy through our C.O.R.E. (Circularity, Optimization, Reuse & Refill, Environmental Services) model approach. Here are some examples of our sustainability work and circular solutions with customers:
Brand owners are turning to ocean-bound plastic (a type of PCR plastic) for environmental conservation and consumer demand for sustainable products. Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging's innovation and design center, partnered with DevaCurl, a hair care brand, to integrate 50% ocean-bound recycled HDPE in their bottles and 100% PCR plastic in the bottle caps. For Kenra Professional's Sugar Beach shampoo and conditioner packaging, the Studio team engineered sleek custom bottles made with 100% ocean-bound recycled plastic.
We worked with Babo Botanicals, a plant-based personal care brand, to create custom hair care and body care packaging made of 100% PCR content, followed by refill pouches with 30% PCR content. The packaging updates support the brand's goal of reducing virgin plastic usage by 75% by 2025.
Studio One Eleven partnered with Wholesome Sweeteners to create a teardrop-shaped plastic bottle with an embossed leaf. The new bottle is recyclable and contains up to 30% plant-based PET, which reduces its carbon footprint compared to traditional fossil fuel-based PET plastic.
Auto care brand Turtle Wax enlisted Studio One Eleven to revamp their packaging. The Studio team rebranded three sizes of trigger-spray bottles while reducing material use and adding recycled content PET. The new bottles incorporate 30% PCR PET plastic, saving more than 116,000 lbs. of virgin resin annually. New, lighter-weight preforms cut resin use by 20% for a yearly savings of 62,000 lbs. of plastic.
We worked with Fig.1 to create refillable and reusable packaging for the brand's entire line of skin care products. The collection uses our Airglass Slim Refill line, which protects the product's active ingredients and optimizes shelf life. When the products are empty, consumers can purchase refill cartridges to reuse their beautiful glass bottles. Recently, Fig.1's refillable packaging was honored as a finalist for the 2024 Sustainable Packaging Coalition Innovator Award.
Explore related topics: Life-Cycle Assessment, Ocean-Bound Plastic, PCR Content, Container Deposit/Refund Programs, Refillable & Reusable Packaging, Mechanical and Advanced Recycling, Compostable Packaging, and Bioplastic