Inside The Minds Of UK Customers, Sustainability Reemphasized And Redefined Post-Pandemic
Who can forget the years 2020- 2021, the years etched in history as the years when a global pandemic hit the globe hard and the world transformed, tough to say but yes, for good in a few cases. On of the good changes that we observed after the pandemic was a subtle change in the mindsets of people regarding sustainability. Today, its no longer a buzzword but the driving force behind everything good that is happening inside and around us. In this article we will explore and discuss how sustainability has considerably changed the minds of people in the UK and how sustainability has been reemphasized and redefined. We will also discuss what are the significant changes that have been taking place and what can we look forward to with the world embracing these changes with open arms.
The Changes in the Packaging Industry Post-Pandemic
The global pandemic left the world in a state where rethinking and an observation to get the solution to a number of issues was of ultimate importance. As the pandemic hit and the businesses were partially or completely shut down, restrictions imposed, businesses had to think about different ways to sustain and at the same time maintain their profits. The packaging industry too started to embrace sustainable packaging as people became conscious not only about their health but about the environment too and therefore can the trend of eco- friendly and biodegradable packaging materials which included biodegradable bubble wrap roll made from cornstarch, recycled paper, etc. Here are a few changes that we will be discussing in the subsequent paragraphs.
1. Enhanced Hygiene and Safety Measures
Pandemic made hygiene and well being a top priority by the people specially in countries like UK and the US which had a comparatively less population and the hygiene was easier to maintain. The government, the general population, the businesses, and everyone else work together to sanitize and clean up the area. All this also included practices such as contactless delivery and sanitising them whenever received from outside.
2. Emphasis on Sustainable Practices
The pandemic acted as a catalyst in compelling the world to switch to eco- friendly and sustainable methods of packaging as everything which was not eco- friendly gathered attention such as the plastic carrier bags and alternatives to all these were found in the form of eco- friendly paper bags made from recycled paper and bagasse.
3. E-commerce Explosion
As going outside was against the law during the pandemic, the e-commerce sector got bigger. This led to an increased manufacturing of the packaging products. These materials have been renders more compact, economically viable, and environmentally friendly in order to reduce the additional costs relating to packing, sanitizing, and transporting the products.
4. A Resilient Supply Chain
A resilient supply chain was set up by many packaging companies and therefore to source all sort of packaging materials, they were produced on a good scale and in variety of materials which included items like the postal bag, small and big cardboard boxes, thermocol sheets, etc.
5. Consumer Engagement and Transparency
With the help of Pandemic, the packaging industry was able to concentrate more on the needs of the consumer, and businesses starting to be open about their efforts to use environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging, which was well-receive by the general public. People starting to become aware of the environmental problems and health problems that those non-eco-friendly products’ manufacture, use, and eventual disposal were bringing about. The world was already looking forward to this shift, which was vital but was not first met with such open arms.
Summing Up
The world has gone through a number of changes and one of them is the move towards a sustainable future. The pandemic brought a massive change in the mindset and the lifestyle of people. There have been initiatives to live more sustainably and protect the environment for both current and future generations. During this time, the e-commerce sector got bigger and was successful to the fullest, bringing all of your necessities to your doorsteps. It was therefore crucial that eco-friendly and sustainable practices got along as soon as feasible.
