Sustainable Packaging, Made Practical.
Empire EMCO helps manufacturers understand sustainable packaging, evaluate realistic rigid packaging strategies and make informed decisions based on sustainability, performance, cost, availability, manufacturability and supply-chain requirements.
What Is Sustainable Packaging?
Sustainable packaging considers environmental impact while still meeting the functional and commercial requirements of the package. Manufacturers may evaluate materials, recycled content, recyclability, package weight, manufacturing, transportation, product protection, availability, cost and end-of-life when comparing packaging options.
What Do You Need Help With?
You do not need to know the right resin, technology or recycled-content percentage before you begin. Start with the question you are trying to answer.
Understand Sustainable Packaging
Build a practical foundation in sustainability, recycling, circularity, recycled content, carbon concepts and other commonly used packaging terms.
Visit Sustainability Basics →Evaluate a Packaging Project
Organize your sustainability goals, current package, performance requirements and commercial priorities before comparing potential packaging strategies.
Use the Conversion Planner →Compare Packaging Options
Work with Empire EMCO to evaluate materials, components, suppliers, performance, availability, sourcing and supply-chain considerations.
Explore Packaging Support →What Can Manufacturers Evaluate?
Sustainable packaging is rarely one material or one percentage. The right approach depends on the product, package, operation, supply chain and sustainability objective.
Evaluate recycled-content levels while considering appearance, compatibility, performance, sourcing, availability, regulatory suitability and cost.
Explore whether material use or package weight can be reduced without compromising strength, product protection, filling-line performance or distribution.
Review the bottle, jar, closure, dispensing components, label, decoration and materials as one complete package.
Determine whether material combinations can be simplified while maintaining the function and performance required by the application.
Compare alternative materials, package structures and barrier technologies based on compatibility, shelf life and performance requirements.
Consider supplier capability, manufacturing location, lead times, documentation, availability and backup sourcing as part of the decision.
Evaluate the Whole Package.
A packaging change should support the sustainability objective without unintentionally creating a performance, manufacturing, cost, regulatory or supply problem.
Understand the Concepts Before Changing the Package.
Our manufacturer-focused Sustainability Basics resources explain complex sustainability terminology in practical packaging terms—what it means, why it matters and what manufacturers should evaluate before making a change.
Explore Sustainability Basics →How Empire EMCO Can Help
Moving from a sustainability goal to an actual packaging solution requires understanding the complete application.
Define the Challenge
- Review the current package
- Define sustainability objectives
- Identify performance requirements
- Clarify commercial constraints
- Identify sourcing and timing needs
Compare Practical Options
- Materials and recycled content
- Package and component design
- Lightweighting opportunities
- Barrier and material alternatives
- Supplier and sourcing options
Prepare for Conversion
- Samples and specifications
- Compatibility considerations
- Package performance requirements
- Supplier documentation
- Supply and implementation planning
Have a Sustainability Goal but Don't Know the Right Packaging Strategy?
Tell us about your current package, sustainability goals, performance requirements and commercial priorities. The planner helps organize the information needed to begin evaluating practical packaging strategies.
Sustainable Packaging FAQs
Where should a manufacturer start with sustainable packaging?
Start by defining the sustainability objective and the requirements the package must continue to meet. Then compare potential strategies against product compatibility, performance, cost, availability, manufacturability, regulatory requirements and supply continuity.
Is more recycled content always the better option?
Not necessarily. The appropriate recycled-content level can depend on the resin, product, package, appearance requirements, processing, regulatory suitability, availability, performance and cost.
Does sustainable packaging always cost more?
No. Cost depends on material, design, volume, tooling, manufacturing method, supplier, transportation, availability and other factors. Total packaging and operational cost should be evaluated rather than unit price alone.
Can Empire EMCO help compare sustainable packaging options?
Yes. Depending on the application, Empire EMCO can help evaluate materials, recycled-content options, package design, lightweighting, sourcing, supplier capabilities, availability and other considerations involved in a packaging conversion.
How do I know which sustainability strategy is right for my package?
Begin with the sustainability objective and the requirements that cannot change. Empire EMCO's Sustainability Simplified™ Packaging Conversion Planner can help organize your current package, performance requirements, sourcing needs and commercial priorities before potential packaging strategies are evaluated.
Have a Sustainability Question?
Talk with an Empire EMCO packaging expert about your current package, product requirements and sustainability goals.
Sustainability Simplified™ provides general packaging education and is not intended as legal, regulatory or environmental-claims advice. Requirements and appropriate packaging solutions may vary by product, material, application, market and jurisdiction.