Some call it the ‘Blue Planet effect’, but whatever sparked the change in consumer attitudes to plastic, businesses have had to take note. Greenwashing aside, there are many companies doing what they can to solve our climate woes – many starting with consumer packaging.

The stats show us why. 67% of customers want the products they buy to be in recyclable packaging and 83% of younger consumers are willing to pay more for an item with sustainable packaging. But alongside sustainability, you also need practicality. Packaging that fails to protect the goods inside is never going to be an eco-friendly option.

Here’s how two big-name brands are tackling the problem.

Heinz: Heinz has announced the launch of the world’s first ketchup in 100% recyclable paper bottles. The bottles will be made from sustainable-sourced wood and customers have been assured that it will not alter the taste. While Heinz isn’t the first company to explore the use of paper bottles, it’s the first to try to fill them with condiments.

IKEA: For a company that gets through 920,000 tonnes of packaging material a year, transitioning to entirely non-plastic consumer packaging is no small ambition. But this is exactly what IKEA is aiming to do. The company has already made progress to ensure that less than 10% of its total packaging material consists of plastics. However, it has now pledged to entirely phase out plastic packaging from its new range by 2025 and its running range by 2028.

Are these companies doing everything they can to protect the planet and mitigate against climate change? As always, the power lies in the hands of the consumer.