Companies around the world are now focusing on working towards building their sustainability strategy and reducing the impact of their products on the environment.
Below are some of the companies pioneering the sustainability drive and refreshing their products to tackle climate change and align their brands with an environmentally conscious consumer demand.
1. Pringles in Partnership with Tesco- Packaging Makeover
The famous Pringles can is getting a green makeover this year. This is the first packaging makeover for the Pringles can since it's launch in 1967. The packaging was originally made of foil, paper, board, metal and plastic.
The new cans are made of recycled paper and will be implemented across supermarkets in East Anglia. They have set this up as a trial to begin with to get feedback from consumers and if it works for people and retail brands. The main focus of this packaging will be ensure the crisp stay fresh for long and does not break the crisp & the packaging should be ecofriendly.
This has been part of Kellog's pledge towards building a sustainable company who aim to get all their packaging recyclable, reusable and compostable by end of 2025.
2. Carlsberg- Green Fibre Bottle
Carlsberg are working on developing the world's first paper beer bottle. This will be manufactured from sustainably sourced wood fibre which is 100% recyclable.
Although made from wood fibre they have an inner barrier to be able to hold beer within these bottles. Currently they use an inner plastic film as the barrier. The plan to test the barrier and work towards a plastic free solution is ongoing. This project has been underway since 2015 in collaboration with experts ecoXpac and researchers from Danish Technical Institute.
They are doing the best they can as a beer company to reduce their environmental footprint.
3. Lego- Plants made from real plants
The Danish toy company manufacturers have started making the botanical elements with it's toy range from sugar cane. This initiative is part of the sustainability drive announced in 2015. This project is part of a collaboration with World Wildlife Fund and the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance. They are working towards their target for 2030 to research and have robust sustainable green product which replaces plastic.
4. The Body Shop
The Body Shop brand are tackling plastic crisis in a unique way. The have setup the Community Trade and they use the recycled plastic supplied from Bangalore, India. They support the marginalised waste pickers across the city by working with a local organisation know as " Green Force". Along with dealing with the plastic waste they make sure to provide the waste pickers with fair pay, sanitary working condition and initiatives to recognise their efforts towards the society. Consumers can also return empty glass tubs, tubes across the Body Shop stores.
5. Lush
Lush have also been a green company focusing on using vegan friendly products, standing for the right of animals and planet. They avoid using ingredients like palm oil in their products. They have a wide range of products which consumers can take home without any packaging. The lush black pots are a brand signature now and brand followers instantly relate and recognise with those black recyclable pots. Consumers can return the empty pots to the store and get a free face mask in return.
The above examples show us how brands are innovating their products and trying to cater to a consumer group who are aware of the impact of products on the environment, climate and people. There is a real sense of collaboration between consumers, industries, senior leadership teams, large & small scale industries & research institutes to work collaboratively to solve the biggest challenges facing the earth. Many of the brands have set themselves with target to go green within a certain deadline goes to show the urgency of the issue due to government regulations, guidelines & growing demand from consumers in form of climate change protest all over the world.
Have you come across any brands who are going above and beyond to protect the environment? Or do you think many of the brands are just green washing their campaigns? Do share your feedback and ideas in the comments section below.
I am impressed with the LEGO initiative, I hadn't heard about that! I admit that there is a feeling of suspicion when the big brands start advertising their eco-friendly packaging and ingredients, but I suppose we should give them the benefit of the doubt. If we have grown up using those brands anyway, why not give them a chance to improve?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Yes I do agree with your view about big brands green washing campaigns. As consumers we need to be more aware if they are genuinely trying to reduce environmental impact or if it is a brand promotion activity.
Delete