Sustainable Cannabis Packaging is taking the industry by storm and creating an awareness among businesses, as well as consumers, of the risks posed by unnecessary overuse of plastic packaging. As we move towards a greener future, collaborative efforts will be the only way to successfully reduce worldwide pollution.

Since its legalization, the cannabis industry has not been able to fully transition to eco packaging due to strict child resistant closure and exit container requirements. However, new developments for green packaging materials or alternatives are enabling marijuana companies to source environmentally friendly products that also adhere to state mandates and regulations.

What is Sustainable Packaging?

Eco-friendly cannabis packaging is defined by several specific features, requiring that products are beneficial, safe, and healthy for communities throughout their life cycle. A standard criteria for performance must be met, as well as be sourced, manufactured, and discarded using renewable energy sources.

Laws created for child-proof containers are meant to ensure that intoxicating substances are kept well out of reach from minors. However, these safety precautions have subsequently created a detrimental excess of plastic waste from single use and individually packaged products. In recent years, climate change has become a major political issue and as it stands, 80% of people feel that companies should focus on stocking sustainable product packaging and eco-friendly containers in order to successfully wage the war on plastic.

Technologies are still in their early stages, but new materials such as reclaimed ocean plastics and biodegradable resins have already made their way onto the list of sustainable weed packaging trends 2020. We are excited to offer wholesale eco-friendly packaging, for all your premium cannabis products.

Sustainable Packaging Materials

Can the marijuana industry go greener?

Consumers today are committed to sustainability, as shown by numerous studies, yet the packaging end makes it a high impact industry on the environmental front. The marijuana industry and cannabis companies are being incentivized to reduce their brand’s carbon footprint and begin to implement eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Over 99% of plastic is produced using chemicals from fossil fuels, which then releases carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Additionally, the incineration process and landfill buildup resulting from excessive plastic also releases carbon dioxide and other hazardous discharge. Carbon emissions have shown to be a significant contributor to developing cancer and respiratory diseases, according to a collaborative scientific study in 2019. Green packaging options reduce the need for virgin plastic production, help to reverse our ecological imprint, and benefit the overall health of consumers.

A. Biodegradable Plastics

Eco friendly plastic is becoming more and more popular for a handful of reasons; most notably, plastic that biodegrades is made from plant-based compounds which reduces carbon emissions during production.  Bio-based products contain natural materials, do not release harmful toxins, and are capable of fully degrading within a year, making them a suitable option eco-friendly packaging.

So, the more the cannabis industry utilizes bioplastics, the faster the entire country will be able to constructively cut down its carbon discharge. Our new line of biodegradable packaging is among the first-ever to be introduced to the marijuana market and is aimed at offsetting the proportion of plastic joint tubes currently being produced.

B. Hemp Plastics

Hemp plastics are made of hemp polymers, which are not only ecological and renewable but highly durable, making it a suitable eco packaging material. Sustainable hemp packaging is the future of industrial packaging and a huge step towards easing environmental distress. Hemp crops do not need excessive water, pesticides, or soil nutrients, which means they are ecologically conservative in more ways than one.

 Additionally, hemp is capable of quick and efficient biodegradation, able to decompose over a maximum period of 6 months, making it an environmentally friendly packaging solution. We offer a variety of hemp products, which can be found over at our hemp packaging collection.

C. 100% Recyclable Plastic

Recycling poses huge advantages in helping reduce virgin plastic production, as well as cut down on oil usage, carbon emissions, and overall quantity of waste buildup. Until 2017, America sent roughly half of its overall recycled plastic products to China, but since then, hordes of materials have been piling up and the U.S. does not have the proper systems in place to handle the influx of such mass quantities.

However, as more recycling plants are established, positive implications can be expected, such as new jobs and cleaner environmental conditions throughout the country. Successfully recycling plastic involves three overarching steps:

1. Avoid plastic whenever possible
2. Intercept plastic waste
3. Redesign the material itself

These tactics are used to successfully recycle plastic that has been left to disintegrate on our beaches, oceans, and other natural environments. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the primary plastic resin that companies seek out in order to reclaim it. That is because recycling HDPE is cost-effective and simple, compared to that of other plastic resins. We have several reclaimed containers in our recyclable packaging collection that are brand new to the marijuana market. Our products are certified to meet all marketplace standards for social, environmental, and legal compliance.

Products with Sustainable Packaging

• Eco Friendly Bags

Whether you’re looking for ASTM approved child-resistant mylar bags, tamper evident exit bags, or reusable tote bags, we’ve got you covered with environmentally friendly packaging options. Our sustainable bags can be made to be recyclable, come in bulk and are available in any size imaginable, ranging between one-gram bags all the way up to hefty 56-gram bags.

• Eco Friendly Boxes

Our child resistant edible and joint boxes come in a sleek white design, able to fit pre rolled joints up to 78mm long. Each sustainable box features a hinged lid closure which makes them not only secure, but airtight, keeping all your cannabis products fresh. Made from tin, our eco friendly joint boxes have been certified to be 100% recyclable and a great choice for eco packaging.

• Eco Friendly Containers

Our container selection is one of the most eclectic of any other marijuana packaging supplier, and we just introduced two brand new items to our inventory. We now have hemp push down and turn containers, as well as biodegradable pop top containers! Both eco friendly containers are certified child resistant and capable of naturally degrading once disposed of, rather than ending up in a landfill.

• Eco Friendly Caps

These eco friendly caps are a dually sustainable product, because they are made from recycled ocean plastic and can be re-recycled due to their 100% HDPE (#2 recyclable) material. One size fits all with these versatile caps, as they are compatible with an assortment of our glass or plastic jars. These caps meet sustainable child resistant packaging requirements, which will automatically apply to any jar they are paired with.

• Eco Friendly Tubes

New eco friendly tubes are booming in popularity among sustainably minded consumers who love taking a pre rolled joint with them wherever they go. We now offer reclaimed ocean plastic joint tubes, as well as fully bioplastic tubes that are made to be environmentally conscious and a eco-friendly cannabis packaging product from the time they are manufactured, until they are discarded.

Advantages of Sustainable Packaging

1. Resources

Eco friendly packaging helps to reduce the use of non-renewable resources, such as electricity, minerals, and groundwater. Conservation of non-renewable resources is extremely important if we are to ensure that they don’t run out, because we do not currently have the technology to synthetically produce them. Utilizing green packaging will simultaneously conserve crucial resources and give them an opportunity to begin their natural formation processes.

2. Optimal Return on Investment (ROI)

Currently, most marijuana processors and retailers shy away from sustainable cannabis packaging for small businesses because it costs slightly more than traditional PET plastic. Although, if businesses make the switch to green packaging, production will begin to increase, and cost will go down as a result of higher manufacturing volume. Surveys indicate that millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable goods, so by implementing eco packaging businesses will be able to expand product lines, as well customer market and sales revenue.

Sustainable Packaging Solutions

Scientists estimate that annual worldwide plastic production is roughly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population, which is at 7.8 billion people according to current data. The cannabis industry is set up to be at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge technology and environmentally friendly packaging to reduce those figures and at Marijuana Packaging, our mission is to set the example for our fellow packaging suppliers.

Our company understands that recyclable cannabis packaging is not simply a trend but is here to stay. Customers have been focusing more and more on triple-bottom-line companies as they see brands reflecting conscious efforts towards a sustainable business model and consideration towards the environment. Compliant, high-quality, sustainable cannabis packaging solutions is guaranteed to bolster your customer attentiveness, loyalty and brand reputation.

We aim to help businesses transition to plastic free packaging seamlessly; our sustainable weed packaging comes in an assortment of shapes and sizes and we even offer options for customizations! Our wholesale inventory of eco-friendly containers includes everything from jars, bottles, tubes, vials, mylar bags and more.