Awareness about corporate sustainability has been on the rise for years, but the events of 2020 have brought the need for concrete action to the forefront. Consumers are increasingly wary of halfhearted gestures on the part of companies: according to research, only 20 % of consumers trust brand sustainability claims. Opting for sustainable packaging with minimal environmental impact is one major step companies can take in the right direction. Here are some key questions to ask when selecting packaging products:

1. Are they safe for individuals, communities and the local environment throughout their lifecycle? Corporations need to be able to evaluate the impact of acquisition, manufacturing, transport, and disposal of the packaging they use at both an environmental and social level. 
2. Are they based on renewable and/or recyclable source materials? While plastics can be technically recyclable, studies tend to show that less than 10% actually are. Using 100 % recyclable materials, such as FSC-certified paper, encourages conservation of resources and reduces waste.
3. Are they manufactured using cleaner production practices? Cleaner production is a concept developed by the UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) that aims to minimize waste and emissions, ultimately reducing the environmental impact of industrial activities. 

AR Metallizing offers packaging products for a range of applications based on fully recyclable, FSC-certified metallized paper that combine sustainability and technical performance. To find out if metallized paper is right for your company, get in touch with our team.