Is Sustainable Packaging More Expensive

As sustainability becomes a greater priority for consumers and businesses alike, many brands are rethinking their packaging. But for any business considering their margins as well as their carbon footprint, one common concern remains: is sustainable packaging more expensive?

While some eco-friendly packaging materials may come with a higher unit cost, many businesses find that sustainable choices offer greater value over time - through waste reduction, improved brand loyalty and long-term cost savings.

In this guide, we explore what affects the cost of sustainable packaging, how ASC Direct offers you ways to keep your costs down and why you should adopt environmentally friendly packaging to benefit your business.

What Affects the Cost of Sustainable Packaging Materials

Many businesses assume that switching to eco-friendly packaging will mean a steep increase in costs. In reality, that isn’t always the case - and in some situations, sustainable options are priced similarly or even lower than traditional packaging.

Materials like recycled paper, corrugated cardboard and paper-based fillers are now widely available at scale, which helps keep prices competitive. Because these are produced using existing recycled content - rather than virgin materials, the associated raw material and processing costs are often lower and more stable, especially as global demand shifts towards more sustainable options.

However, where higher costs do appear, they’re usually linked to:

Innovation and material development

Some newer materials, such as bioplastics or starch-based compostables, are still in the early stages of large-scale production. Their development has involved additional research and refinement, which can drive up short-term costs until supply chains mature.

Sourcing and supply limitations

Materials like biodegradable plastics or certified compostable packaging are less common than their traditional counterparts. That limited availability means prices may fluctuate more, particularly when demand spikes or raw materials are in short supply.

What’s often overlooked is how these costs play out over the entire lifecycle of the packaging. Eco-friendly packaging can reduce your waste disposal costs, lower storage and transport fees (through smarter, lighter design - we'll touch on how we can help you with this shortly) and increase customer loyalty due to stronger brand alignment with sustainability values.

What Are the Benefits of Investing in More Sustainable Packaging?

Even when unit costs are slightly higher, businesses often find that more environmentally friendly packaging pays off in other ways:

Reduced waste and operational savings

Well-designed sustainable packaging often reduces the need for secondary fillers or oversized boxes, helping cut material usage and save space in transit and storage.

Stronger brand perception

Using eco-friendly materials communicates a clear brand message. Consumers increasingly prefer brands that use sustainable products and packaging - and many are willing to pay a premium for them.

Long-term compliance and flexibility

Regulations on packaging waste and carbon emissions are changing. By adopting sustainable packaging solutions now, you are getting ahead and making sure your business supply chain is future-proofed.

Customer loyalty

Customers who share your environmental values are more likely to return and recommend your brand, leading to stronger long-term relationships and retention.

How ASC Direct help you reduce your environmental impact - and packaging costs

Sustainable packaging costs are influenced not just by the materials used, but by how responsibly and efficiently they are sourced, processed and applied. At ASC Direct, we’ve taken steps across every part of our supply chain to reduce waste and keep costs down - for us and for our customers.

Material selection and sourcing

Some sustainable packaging materials - such as biodegradable plastics or FSC-certified cardboard can involve higher sourcing or processing costs. But our approach to waste reduction helps minimise this impact. We recycle all of our own offcuts during production, and we work with suppliers committed to creating packaging materials from recycled paper fibres, reducing reliance on virgin materials. You can read more about our eco initiatives here.

The efficiency of packaging design

Overly large or poorly shaped boxes increase material use, drive up shipping costs and generate more waste. That’s why we developed our Box Builder tool so customers can create packaging that fits their products exactly. By letting you specify the exact dimensions, style and strength of your cardboard box, you can create tighter, smarter designs that use less cardboard and less filler while offering better protection in transit. This helps bring down your unit costs and makes for more sustainable packaging with less waste across the board.

The scale and flexibility of supply

Many sustainable packaging materials are competitively priced when ordered in bulk. We offer businesses the flexibility to order as few as 25 boxes, with discounts for larger orders. This helps reduce both overordering and storage waste. By keeping production in-house and using recyclable materials throughout, we’re able to supply cost-effective sustainable packaging solutions to companies of all sizes without inflating costs.

Shop More Sustainable Packaging with ASC Direct

Sustainable packaging doesn’t have to mean higher costs - and with ASC Direct, it can offer real savings and value. Our range of recyclable, biodegradable and custom-size packaging helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint and meet customer expectations without overextending their budget.

Call us on 0800 0731 126 or use our Box Builder tool to start creating packaging that fits your product and your sustainability goals.

James Palfrey-Smith is the Commercial Manager at ASC Direct with extensive experience in both operations and sales. James is passionate about solving packaging problems, delivering fast customer support, and building lasting relationships. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and skiing. A fan of real ale and business podcasts, he continuously seeks personal and professional growth.

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