Requests have moved from marketing to specification
Environmental claims used to arrive late in a project, usually as a packaging change. They now appear in the first brief, because a claim that cannot be substantiated is a retail risk rather than a selling point.
Three areas buyers can actually control
- Packaging: recycled content, plastic reduction, recyclability of the finished pack
- Materials: recycled fibre, plant-based fillers, reduced material weight
- Process: energy use, waste handling and documented supplier standards
Ask for evidence that matches the claim
For each claim, ask what would be tested and which document would prove it. Biodegradability, recycled content and compostability each have their own test basis and their own limits in a landfill environment — a supplier that describes limitations clearly is usually more reliable than one that agrees to every term.
Cost and schedule reality
Sustainable options are rarely a drop-in substitution. Material availability, tooling adjustments and print registration can all shift, and some materials need different handling on the line. Phase the change: prove one element at a time so that a packaging issue does not delay the whole launch.
