The increase in consumer demand for greater transparency about product materials and logistics has put more eyes on brands’ sustainability practices than ever before. For manufacturers running printing, coding, and packaging lines, that pressure shows up directly on the production floor. Sustainability can often feel like a broad term, but it starts with small, practical swaps on the packaging line and investments that compound over time. Reducing waste, leveraging recycled material, and saving energy strengthens your brand by targeting a proven consumer priority. When done intentionally, it can benefit your company by improving efficiency and reducing expenses.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Why sustainability matters in manufacturing
- Quick ways to improve your operation’s sustainability
- Sustainability machine swaps
- Product highlight: Alliance SteelFlex Nano Machine Stretch Film
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How MarkPack partners with organizations to improve sustainability
Why Sustainability Matters in Manufacturing
Products that advertise sustainability claims are being held accountable for the production and logistics process of their product. A simple eco-friendly label claim is no longer enough. Customer are asking more questions about how an item was made, what it’s packaged in, and how organizations run the operations these products pass through. And the packaging industry is responding to this demand with initiatives like GS1 Sunrise 2027. This initiative is pushing retailers and manufacturers toward 2D barcodes for richer data tracking at the point of sale. This is one example of an industry-wide push for greater transparency across all touchpoints in logistics, including your marking, coding, and packaging lines.
Manufacturers have to consider how their packaging workflows run and whether they can make operational shifts, such as using recyclable materials or purchasing a solvent-free industrial printer. They have to evaluate their operations’ waste, energy use, and whether their equipment supports their bottom line and the environment. By implementing real action behind these considerations, you aren’t just answering consumer demand; you’ll also intentionally build a system that is viable and runs efficiently.
Here are a few benefits of adopting an eco-conscious production line:
- Reduce environmental impact
- Boost brand trust among customers
- Reduce energy-related costs
- Potentially qualify for tax incentives
- Increase company competitiveness
Quick Ways to Improve Your Operation’s Sustainability
At MarkPack, we work with manufacturers taking real action to reduce their footprint and boost sustainability, without sacrificing line performance. Here are a few quick ways to improve your sustainability that you can work toward right away.
Waste management
Fast-paced marking and coding lines often generate waste through misprinted codes that force a batch to be pulled and rerun, excess consumable storage, or excess packaging material. The cost and environmental impact of that waste can add up over time if it isn’t managed. Putting checks in place for your team and investing in equipment built to catch errors before they turn into waste can help you optimize material usage.
Swapping to recyclable materials
Packaging accounts for roughly 40% of the world’s plastic waste, and in the United States, packaging alone is responsible for 37% of plastic waste generated. Plastic fillers like bubble wrap can be swapped for a renewable alternative like kraft paper. Machines built for recyclable void-filling and cushioning can significantly cut your line’s hazardous waste output.
Investing in automation
Equipment that includes automatic features helps reduce waste and overusage of products. The technology can help control exactly how much ink solvent gets used per print or how much film gets pulled per pallet, preventing overusage and resulting in less wasted material.
Sustainability Machine Swaps
When considering machine investments or product swaps, it helps to understand the core demands and constraints of your operation to make a real impact on your line’s output. By identifying both sustainability and operational gaps, by evaluating budget, projected growth, downtime considerations, or where the most waste is, you can make an investment that improves both areas.
Here are MarkPack’s recommended products for an eco-conscious line:
- The MPERIA® Axian AX1000 is an energy-efficient swap with energy use of less than 25 watts. The small-character inkjet printer is known for its high-speed performance, with notable stats: it prints up to 3,000 characters per second and up to five lines at high speeds. It also includes solvent-free technology.
- RanPak’s cushioning and void-filler machines all run on environmentally friendly paper. The packaging is recyclable, renewable, and biodegradable, which helps your business reduce single-use plastic usage and landfill waste while building your brand reputation. Along with their sustainability badge, Ranpak machines are known for their efficiency and performance on fast-paced packaging floors.
- The Squid SQ-UVT uses advanced UV laser technology to create permanent, high-quality coding. Designed intentionally to eliminate the need for inks, ribbons, or replacement printheads, it helps cut consumable storage, plus production costs and downtime.
Product highlight: Alliance SteelFlex Nano Machine Stretch Film
Alliance SteelFlex Nano Machine Stretch Film optimizes packaging lines by helping companies significantly decrease their material usage while maintaining effective load containment. High-performing stretch film offers great puncture resistance and load containment with thinner film. Organizations can reduce their environmental impact by investing in the upfront cost of advanced technology to see the benefits of lower total cost compounded over time compared to conventional film.
When businesses use Alliance Stretch film, they see less film per pallet, which means:
- Lower plastic consumption
- Less waste entering the waste stream
- Fewer roll changes on the production floor
- Improved operational efficiency
Other benefits of Alliance Stretch film:
- Maintain existing containment levels while using significantly less film
- Increase containment by utilizing higher-performance resins and better film engineering
- Reduce product damage caused by unstable loads
- Reduce the environmental impact throughout the supply chain
Investing in new equipment only pays off if it’s integrated intentionally into your line. Nano stretch film performs best paired with the right wrapping technique and machine settings. Our MarkPack team recommends pairing your Nano Stretch Film with the Cousins Pilot Stretch Wrap Machine. This combination helps deliver both sustainability improvements and operational efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can sustainable packaging practices reduce operating costs?
A: Reducing unnecessary consumable usage, whether that is using high-performance film to reduce conventional film usage or swapping plastic material for a recyclable alternative, can help lower material-related expenses over time.
Q: What Michigan distributors carry sustainable packaging products?
A: MarkPack helps manufacturers source and integrate sustainable packaging materials and equipment, including paper-based cushioning and void-fill solutions, stretch film, and other packaging technologies designed to reduce organizations’ environmental impact. Connect with our team today to get a custom recommendation on sustainable investments based on your floor’s needs and goals.
Q: Is paper-based packaging actually as protective as bubble wrap or foam?
A: For most applications, yes. For example, Ranpak’s PadPak AJR reduces g-forces by up to 90% when a box is dropped. Paper cushioning systems like Ranpak’s allow operators to customize packaging for the most optimal protection by adjusting pad length and quantity to match the product and void space.
Q: Where can I buy Ranpak packaging equipment in Michigan?
A: Manufacturers looking for Ranpak equipment and packaging materials in Michigan can purchase through MarkPack, a select Ranpak distributor. MarkPack offers Ranpak cushioning and void-fill machines along with the compatible environmentally friendly paper needed for your operation.
Q: What equipment can help make my packaging line more sustainable?
A: Equipment such as energy-efficient inkjet printers, UV laser coders, and paper-based cushioning and void-fill machines can help manufacturers reduce energy use, consumable waste, or reliance on single-use plastics. MarkPack can help identify equipment swaps that align with your operation’s sustainability and performance goals.
How MarkPack Partners With Organizations To Improve Sustainability
These are just a few practical examples of how sustainability and profitability can work together to create long-term value. If you are looking to optimize your packaging process by swapping for a more sustainable alternative, connect with our team! At MarkPack, we help companies implement cornerstone pieces of operations, whether it is a new inkjet printer or Alliance Stretch Film. Our team understands the importance every material and machine plays to a seamless workflow, and investing money and time in an intentional transition must be done with consideration, research, and expert help.