Sustainable Packaging for Small Businesses

Small businesses, especially startups, are often overwhelmed by packaging choices. Larger companies have different needs, budgets, and storage capabilities, leaving smaller brands unsure where to start.

HexcelPack makes it simple. Our sustainable packaging solutions offer the same performance and protection larger companies rely on, but in quantities and formats perfect for small businesses. In this article, we explore options for new e-commerce vendors, Etsy shops, and other small brands with lower-volume packing needs. You’ll learn:

• Why sustainable packaging is replacing traditional plastic
• How HexcelPack benefits small businesses with limited budgets
• Different ways to order HexcelPack sustainable packaging for small businesses

Our goal is to help you build your business with packaging that supports your bottom line and the planet.

Protection Without Plastic

First, let’s talk about why sustainable packaging is replacing plastic for businesses of all sizes. Research over the last few decades is indisputable: plastic packaging is bad for the earth and unhealthy for humans too. Depending on the type, plastic can take decades, or even centuries, to break down, leaving behind chemicals and microplastics that are harmful to wildlife and humans.

Microplastics have been found on all seven continents, including Antarctica. These particles are carried by wind, water, and precipitation. These tiny pieces of broken down plastic not only hurt animals, they are linked to a wide range of health problems in humans, including cardiovascular disease.

How do all these microplastics wind up in the ground anyway? Unfortunately, many types of plastic, including common old-fashioned packaging like plastic bubble, are not recyclable. Or, they’re only able to be recycled at special facilities that are inaccessible to most communities.

Sustainable packaging is the clear alternative. It’s curbside recyclable, compostable, and made from renewable materials with less environmental impact. It also provides safer handling for you and your customers. 

Additional Benefits of Using HexcelPack Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable packaging, like kraft paper products from HexcelPack, is not just environmentally friendly, it’s in demand from consumers and being legislated by governments in the United States and abroad. 

Meeting Customer Expectations

More consumers, especially younger generations, prefer brands that use eco-friendly packaging. Many are willing to pay more for sustainable options, and they often choose businesses that prioritize environmentally responsible materials.

If you want to stay competitive as a small business, offering sustainable packaging can help you attract and retain customers.

Protecting Merchandise and Your Profits

HexcelPack sustainable packaging helps reduce product damage and returns thanks to its efficient cushioning. This benefit is critical for small businesses selling handmade or one-of-a-kind items like jewelry, art, and home goods.

A high return rate is costly. Refunds, replacements, lost inventory, and negative reviews can all impact your bottom line. Using HexcelPack’s protective wraps and void fill helps:

• Reduce breakage
• Improve customer satisfaction
• Protect profitability

Because our products don’t flatten or lose cushioning over time, you can often use less material while improving protection.

Staying Compliant with New Legislation

Earlier, we mentioned the health hazards of plastic packaging. Those risks are being recognized worldwide, and laws are being put in place to protect consumers and the planet.

States like Oregon have already enacted legislation to increase recycling infrastructure and limit single-use plastics. It’s expected that many more US states will follow suit.

In the European Union, similar regulations are being phased in. This means that if you ship overseas, or if you intend to as your business grows, you will need to be compliant with these new rules governing packing materials. This is yet another opportunity to get ahead of your competition by already using sustainable packaging. 

How to Purchase HexcelPack in Low MOQs

We understand that small businesses don’t usually need the quantity of packing materials that larger companies order. You might be operating out of a small office or even from your home. If you’re not doing the kind of packing and shipping volume that necessitates a pallet of paper packaging, you can still order HexcelPack products in lower minimum order quantities (MOQs) that suit your needs.

Our online storefront offers free shipping on all orders within the continental United States. There, you can purchase HexaFil™ void fill and HexcelWrap® product wrap to protect your merchandise. Both are made of recyclable kraft paper and outperform traditional plastic bubble by maintaining structure and cushioning. The honeycomb-slit design locks together naturally without tape or adhesives, and both products are available in natural and white colors, various widths, and easy manual dispensing options.

Want to reduce waste even more while saving on shipping costs? Try our Hexcel'Ope™ protective mailer, available in two sizes. Like HexaFil™ and HexcelWrap®, this cushioning envelope uses an innovative slit-paper design that turns every two-dimensional mailer into 3D protection for fragile items. Contact our team at HexcelPack to order this product. 

Questions? Our Experts Can Customize Packaging for Your Small Business

Whether you’re just starting up or you’re a small business in growth mode, HexcelPack’s experts are here to help. We can customize packaging products and dispensing for your one-of-a-kind business model.

To minimize returns for damage, improve customer satisfaction, and eliminate plastic waste in your shipping, reach out to HexcelPack today for sustainable packaging solutions that also help grow your profits.