Do you care for eco-friendly ink & packaging?
I had quite a rude shock a few weeks into using the cosmetics from Zuii Organic. No, there wasn’t any problem with their products but I started noticing that the words on the packaging were fading! I had initially thought they used poor quality ink and it was only much later that I realized that they are most likely using water soluble ink since the company is into organic products and are likely using environmentally friendly packaging.
Non-VOC packaging that are eco friendly
Since then, I’ve gotten used to seeing faded ink on the packaging of natural or organic skin care products I use. It’s not a pretty sight of course but I like the idea that these companies care for the environment enough and are making an active attempt to use inks that do not release volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) into the air. In the ink used in usual packaging of most commercial products, I understand that they are most likely petroleum based, which releases VOC’s that travel into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. Companies that are eco friendly on the other hand, typically choose water soluble inks or vegetable inks on their packaging.
Cost of being eco friendly
But I did wonder how much the typical consumer cares about such details. Personally, I’ve always seen skin care products in terms of its efficacy and while I am concern about the packaging, but I’ve never thought in terms of how earth friendly they are. I guess I just take our environment for granted and have no idea that such little details can help save our earth. Plus, I am under the impression that such eco friendly inks and packaging materials maybe more costly. If so, are these cost being transferred to the consumer?
Do you care?
What about you? Do you care about your product packaging – in terms of how eco friendly they are? Or do you just think in terms of storage, convenience and hygiene when it comes to product packaging? And do would you mind if the ink on your product packaging fades off?
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Usually I’m more concerned abt storage and hygiene. Seems the fading ink would stain my fingers when gripping the bottle, which would result in contamination and the hassle of having to clean them off before applying.
Yes actually fading ink will bug me and I’ve realised that anything with an “eco-friendly” tag usually costs more hence the inks and packaging are likely to cost more for the manufacturer and ultimately us as consumers.
For me, I see the price as a whole thing. So if the product is still affordable for my level of income, and the product is good, I will not mind buying.
I am more mindful of advertisement heavy products though. Cos the transfer of ad costs are much higher, imo. Plus, ads harm the environment too.
I try to be as green as I can afford to. And do not mind fading ink, as I would have copied down any soooo important details, or taken a picture of it already.
Eco friendly ink is nice, but what is even better is recyclable/reusable packaging. I’d pick recyclable packaging over eco friendly ink anytime – but of course recyclable packaging + ecofriendly ink is the best!
hmm.. this is a tough call. I think I would be pretty upset if it cost alot and there was ink all over the bottle and it smudge or faded away. I can totally tolerate fading ink after a few months. i guess it depends!
Yes, that was my first thought too when I saw the fading words…did they get into my hands!
If that’s the case, I really can do without the eco friendly tag. I’m just interested in the product and its delivery.
Yeah, you have a good point about advertising. Lots of what we’re paying for goes into their branding. And like you, I don’t really mind the fading ink as long as I’m happy with the product efficacy.
Actually I sometimes don’t know how this recyclable/reusable packaging works. Except for TBS, I’ve never recycled anything else even thought they state so. When I’m done with the product, the empty container goes into the bin, unless I recycle it for other purposes because the actual product do not come in refillable formats.
I was slightly appalled when I didn’t know it’s water soluble ink. But now that I do, I don’t mind it…
I guess I wouldn’t mind the eco friendly ink, but that’s pretty minor when I’m looking to try out a product. It’s a nice thought to have eco friendly ink on a product, but I’m not sure I’d want it to fade from the packaging; it might bother me.
I try looking for products which have recycled materials in their packaging, or packaging that can be recycled.
Sometimes I even look into what the company does to aid the environment.
I think more consumers increasingly prefer to buy from companies with some level of social responsibility and are not just looking after their bottom line.
Thanks for this article…it was really timely, for i had been wondering why the words on True Beauty’s cleansers have been totally wiped off, haha…i had actually thought to myself, “wow, the cleanser quite strong eh, can even remove the ink from the botthle”, haha…now, i feel kinda foolish…thanks again… ?
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As long as I like the product, i don’t really care what kind of packaging they use.
I didn’t even know about this eco-friendly ink thing. Thanks for the info. For me, it is a plus if it is but the product is first and foremost the consideration.
However, I do make it a point to recycle my empty bottles. So a little disappointed with the True Beauty ones as they don’t seem recycleable. Strangly, the ink on mine hasn’t faded at all, probably as they don’t come in much contact with water.
Haha…I was like you too about the Zuii products and thought it was lousy ink. So you use the cleanser from True Beauty? Do you like it? I love the cleanser – initially using the balancing and now using the moisturizing one.
That’s a good analogy! ?
Yup, probably cos you keep it dry. Mine is wet most of the time.
So for the empty bottles, you see them to keep other products I guess? I remember bringing mine bottle to TBS many years ago for refills.
Frankly, I do mind that the ink runs because I want to know the Ingredients and the usage instructions from time to time. Perhaps, the manufacturer can continue to use the eco-friendly ink and at the same time, laminate it to prevent the ‘running’?
Btw, I love to recycle my bottles? What is the best way to remove the sticky element after we peel the stickers?
Use alcohol. I use that to remove. And in the worst case, I use cleansing oil. I heard cooking oil can do the trick too.
Zuii packaging is just cheap, there’s nothing natural about the packaging, guess why the print comes off. Also check out fig+sage article on zuii not being USDA certified