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Current Challenges in Cannabis Packaging

Many of the challenges facing the packaging of products in the cannabis industry are similar to those faced by other industries. For instance, many products are still packaged using conventional materials and methods that lack sustainability, such as plastics and other materials which are difficult to recycle or made in ways that waste energy and resources.

In addition, the cannabis industry is also subject to strict legal and regulatory requirements, due to the nature of the products involved. All cannabis products have to be labeled and packaged with great care, with appropriate safety and health information displayed on every item. In addition, various childproof measures may also be used on certain types of marijuana products.

This industry also faces great demand from its consumers to invest in sustainable and eco-friendly packaging alternatives. Surveys and studies show a great deal of crossover between groups of people who use cannabis and those who care about the environment, and the typical cannabis consumer will usually prefer to buy from brands who use eco-friendly packing.

Sustainable Packaging Innovations in the Cannabis Industry

So, how can the cannabis industry keep up with consumer demands and provide environmentally-friendly packaging solutions without compromising on product quality or public safety? Well, there are multiple sustainable packaging innovations that businesses in this industry can utilize, including:

Biodegradable and compostable packaging materials

One of the best options for packaging cannabis products is biodegradable or compostable packaging materials. These materials, as the name implies, are able to biodegrade naturally much faster than conventional packing materials, and some can even be placed in compost mounds and bins to degrade alongside organic materials, like food waste.

Typically made from plant-based plastics or bio-based polymers, compostable packaging materials are very beneficial for the environment and almost entirely eco-friendly, but may still contain inks and pigments that will not degrade completely. In addition, the cost of these materials can be a limiting factor for some brands in the cannabis industry.

Recyclable packaging solutions

If compostable or biodegradable packaging materials are not feasible or too costly for certain brands, a simpler, cheaper, and more accessible alternative could be recyclable materials. These materials, including the likes of glass, aluminum, paper, and card can simply be placed in recycling containers and reused again and again, with each material being repurposed into other forms of packaging or other products in the future.

This is one of the better options for marijuana products in general, due to the way in which certain products have to be packaged. If you walk into a typical recreational marijuana dispensary, for example, you may notice a lot of glass bottles containing various oils and concentrates; using recyclable glasses and plastics is an ideal way to preserve these products and deliver them to consumers in a safe and sustainable way.

Renewable and alternative packaging materials

Another option for packaging cannabis products in a sustainable and eco-friendly way would be to utilize renewable packaging materials or natural, alternative materials. Popular examples could include the likes of hemp (which has played a huge part in marijuana history) as well as bamboo and even mushroom or mycelium based packaging.

There are many benefits to be gleaned from working with these interesting alternative materials, but they do have some downsides. Notably, certain materials could interfere with the flavors or aromas of certain cannabis products, making them unsuitable for use in this industry. Thorough testing would be required to determine which materials will work and which have to be ruled out.

Minimalist and lightweight packaging designs

Another very simple way in which cannabis brands and producers can instantly minimize their carbon footprint and cut down on the amount of waste they produce is to adjust their packaging and product designs, opting for more minimalist, lightweight designs and cutting away any unnecessary clutter.

Often, products feature excessive amounts of packaging, with multiple boxes, bags, tabs, labels, and inserts all included. Brands in the cannabis industry, and other industries, can look at their current packaging designs and find areas where those designs may be altered or improved to cut down on the amount of material needed. This not only benefits the planet, but also saves the company money.

Benefits and Future Outlook

Clearly, the environmental benefits of sustainable packaging cannot be understated, and it’s crucial for growing industries, like the cannabis industry, to understand and embrace new methods of packaging to prevent the industry from causing unnecessary ecological harm.

With cannabis users generally favoring sustainable packaging and measures, hopes are high that the industry will respond with a gradual shift towards sustainability. This won’t only benefit the environment, but also the businesses themselves, which should see greater support from customers and reduced packaging costs, too.

Plus, with new, alternative packaging methods (like mushroom packaging) emerging all the time, some cannabis brands may even discover entirely novel and eco-friendly ways to package and share their products with the world.

Conclusion

To sum up, as the cannabis industry evolves and increases in size, the onus is on cannabis companies to consider how they want to package their products and what sort of impact they want to have on the world around them. 

Those that invest in and prioritize sustainable packaging solutions could surge ahead of the competition, proving themselves to be green leaders in this rapidly-developing sector.