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Across many industries, companies are now adopting sustainable practices as part of their message to help keep the environment clean, and the jewelry industry is no different. With the advancement of technology, innovation, and the growing awareness of what traditional packaging can do to the environment, it has never been a better time to make a positive impact. In fact, according to a report by Future Market Insights, the global market for paperboard jewelry boxes, a popular eco-friendly option, is expected to grow from $84.5 million in 2024 to $118.6 million by 2034, reflecting a significant shift towards sustainable packaging solutions in the jewelry industry.
Eco-friendly packaging not only helps the environment by reducing waste, carbon footprint, and global impact but also contributes to a positive brand image, added value perception, and innovation that will further push the jewelry industry onto a better path of sustainability. So, in this quick guide, we will show you how to achieve sustainable, eco-friendly jewelry packaging.
Sustainable Materials for Jewelry Packaging
To begin, let’s look at the alternatives you can use instead of traditional plastics, foams, and synthetic materials that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and introduce extremely harmful waste to the environment. Effective alternatives available to you include;
- Recycled Paper and Corrugated Cardboard: An affordable and versatile way to begin your sustainability initiative. Recycling is critical in creating a circular economy and giving a second life to discarded materials without compromising aesthetic appeal.
- Biodegradable Plastics: Unlike traditional plastics, biodegradable plastics can break down much faster when disposed of without releasing harmful chemicals into the environment. They offer similar attributes to traditional plastics but are generally more expensive, as the raw materials incur a higher production cost.
- Organic Fabrics: Luxurious cotton, hemp, and other linens are another way to serve an eco-friendly initiative without compromising the elegant appeal of your packaging. Unlike synthetic materials that require many harmful chemicals to produce, organic fabrics are natural and reusable but come at a higher cost.
- Innovative Materials: We mentioned innovation and technology earlier in this article and meant it! Recent experimentation with other eco-friendly materials, such as mycelium and seaweed, are just a few making waves in the packaging industry.
- Mycelium is derived from fungi and is a low-cost, low-energy, and even more eco-friendly alternative to synthetic materials and organic fabrics.
- Seaweed is another alternative to traditional plastics that is even more eco-friendly than biodegradable plastics. However, with how new seaweed is as a packaging alternative, manual processes and scaling are an issue, contributing to a higher cost than other options.
Eco-Friendly Jewelry Packaging Design Ideas
With eco-friendly materials in mind, the next things you need to consider are the design choices of your packaging. By combining sustainable materials with smart design decisions, you can further contribute to a healthier environment.
Go Minimalist
Simple and elegant designs that maximize impact while using fewer materials are an option to consider. If done correctly, a minimalist approach to packaging will reduce packaging waste and voids while still maintaining a high-end, luxurious aesthetic. An example of minimalist design is stylish cardstock with a tasteful logo that directs the focus on the product while maintaining an elegant way to display your jewelry.
Design for Reusability
Reusable packaging is an excellent way for brands to contribute to sustainability. By designing an aesthetically pleasing package that can be used multiple times, companies can make an impact by discouraging single-use packaging and reducing waste while also generating brand awareness through customers’ repeated use of their branded boxes.
Choose Eco-Conscious Design Elements
The more nuanced choices in which you create your package also contribute to sustainability. Some examples of these nuanced choices include;
- Using natural dyes and non-toxic inks over traditional inks when printing on a package for a vibrant yet eco-friendly way to display your designs.
- Using recycled or upcycled decorative elements instead of virgin materials.
- Using fully recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable materials instead of combining several materials that may or may not be environmentally friendly.
Jewelry Brands that are Making a Difference
One company isn’t going to significantly impact the environmental issues caused by packaging. It will take a concerted effort from brands across the industry to make an impact. Below are just a few brands taking steps toward a more sustainable initiative.
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth is a jewelry brand dedicated to sustainability, from the pieces it makes to its packaging. Its mission is to promote sustainable practices by using recycled precious metals, traceable diamonds, recycled packaging materials, and renewable energy.
Catori Life
With eco-friendly, biodegradable, and recyclable packaging and the use of recycled metals, Catori Life gives back to the planet with every sale. Along with its sustainable practices, Catori Life aims to plant ten trees with each piece of jewelry and give back 1% of its annual revenue to environmental causes.
Mejuri
Mejuri is a jewelry brand that has adopted fully recyclable and reusable bags and a reduced packaging option for online purchases. With 95% of its gold and 92% of its silver sourced from ethical recycled suppliers, Mejuri is a powerhouse in the jewelry industry when it comes to sustainability.
The Future of Jewelry is Sustainability
As the jewelry industry continues to evolve and develop in the direction of sustainability, custom eco-friendly jewelry packaging and other practices are only becoming more commonplace. New technologies, such as nanotechnology and smart packaging, are on the horizon, and adopting an eco-friendly initiative has never been more accessible.
With the standardization of sustainability and the advancing of technology come long-term benefits that will see brands prosper. Adopting sustainable practices may be expensive initially, but the growing consumer demand and the inherent optimizations of adopting an eco-friendly initiative will save your company a lot of money in the long run! So, if you’re wondering when you should begin your journey for a more sustainable business, the answer is now!