Every company has one goal above all else: to make money. They may advertise their business as a great contributor to society through charity, career opportunities, etc., but these aspects come secondary to generating profit. This emphasis on money has led to many companies in the past choosing the most cost-effective ways to package and sell their products instead of the most eco-friendly ones. However, technological improvements in reusable containers and an increased concern for the environment by the public has resulted in “green” and profitable policies being identical. Thus, companies should adopt environmentally friendly packaging since this inevitably leads to greater profit due to reduced costs and more customers.
Utilizing reusable packaging instead of continuously buying or producing nonreusable packaging is a straightforward way for any company to cut costs. For example, Walmart boxes are made to be reused many times over, with some containers even having the phrase “Each box costs the company an average $1.00” on its sides. While there are obvious ecological advantages to Walmart’s reusable boxes, the company itself benefits greatly by reusing boxes instead of purchasing new ones. Reusable packaging is not the only way companies have reduced their waste; in fact, many corporations have worked towards using less materials in their containers. One instance of this is bubble wrap being used in less and less packages and is instead reserved for fragile items. The lower number of resources used for product containers results in lower costs for the company and reduced pollution for the environment. Technological advancement has also led to more readily available “green” materials (such as recycled plastic and biodegradable substances) that produce less pollution than traditional raw materials (such as polyester and Styrofoam). The reduced cost for producing these environmentally friendly containers is not the only benefit for businesses.
In addition to diminished expenses from eco-friendly packaging, companies can expect more profit from consumers who care about the environment. Suppose a news article revealed that Tide bottles of laundry detergent generated significantly more waste than bottles from competitors. People concerned with environmental issues would react to this news by purchasing other detergent bottles, resulting in Tide losing out on a lot of potential revenue. Now imagine if Tide had much more eco-friendly packaging practices compared to its competitors. This would result in Tide earning more income from “green” consumers, as well as potential free advertising from reports showing how much better their bottles are for the environment.
Overall, companies must adopt eco-friendly policies if they are to compete with other businesses. They can not afford to waste money, materials, or potential customers sticking to outdated practices that harm the planet. Even if an organization did not actually care about the environment, they would still be motivated to pursue “green” policies that reduce their manufacturing expenses and increase the quantity of consumers willing to buy the company’s product. Throwing away a plastic container carelessly hurts both the environment and an organization’s profits. That fact ensures businesses will not only do the smart thing; they will do the right thing too.
Matthew Ribar
Rio Salado College