Top 5 reasons why businesses are sourcing their sustainable packaging locally now
Being a socially responsible company takes on many forms. It could mean employing sustainable and greener habits, having local employees, making sure the products are ethically tested and manufactured, giving back to charities, and benefitting your local area.
Out of all these, a factor that is often overlooked where a business gets its resources. Supplies from other parts of the world such as China are considered cheaper than those present here in the West, and for that businesses make logical financial decisions to purchase from there. This may be beneficial for the businesses at the moment, but what they do not see are the repercussions that international shipping has for the future. Today, we share the top 5 reasons why businesses are sourcing their sustainable packaging locally and why your business should too.
1. Carbon footprint reduction
The global packaging market is worth more than 5 billion euros and the air miles and road miles are staggering. “Transport is responsible for a huge chunk of the UK’s carbon emissions and the levels are actually increasing,” Muna Suleiman from Friends of the Earth says.
Compared to international couriers, local couriers are the most efficient choice for small to medium businesses. This is because their orders spend the least amount of time possible on the road, giving off less CO2 on the road as much as possible. Co2 in the air increases air pollution and contributes highly to climate change. This graph shows the annual emissions of CO2 compared with human emissions. Emissions rose slowly to about 5 billion tons a year in the mid-20th century before skyrocketing to more than 35 billion tons per year by the end of the century.
2. Faster and flexible shipping
Local sourcing companies travel less distance from your business, which means faster turn-around rates from the minute you ordered the packaging. Sourcing locally also means the operating hours of the service match your timezone, so if there are any concerns or changes to your order, finding solutions to these will be feasible as the sourcing company is not as far from yours. Although changes are not ideal, local sourcing saves both parties time and energy fixing unforeseen problems compared to getting an international supplier.
3. Lower shipping costs
Local services travel less time on the road and use less gas, so ultimately they charge less for shipping than international sourcing agents. It is also worth to mention that international shipping often includes a foreign customs fee on top of the shipping rates. Another advantage is that most local sourcing services offer free shipping if a minimum order quantity is agreed on. This is extremely convenient for both the sourcing company and the business as it is cost-effective.
4. Helps the local economy
Local businesses bring in the “multiplier effect,” to the local economy. In this context, UK-based manufacturers help the UK economy grow altogether. They promote in-house jobs and encourages money to be spent on local services in the area such as transport, shopping, and the food and drinks industry. According to Small Businesses Administration, from 2000 to 2017, 8.4 million net new jobs were created by small businesses. Businesses that needs packaging should opt for local suppliers as it will benefit them, and their local economy in the long run.
5. Encourages consumers to become more sustainable
To make a real impact on the environment and economy, change needs to be introduced to consumers. Solutions can start from the way businesses package and speak about their product and packaging. By having local sourcing and being transparent about it, businesses set up an intangible platform that reminds their consumers to shop ethically and mindfully, as well as encourage them to recycle their packaging efficiently after.
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