How is the Sustainability of Cannabis Packaging Measured?

Social responsibility and sustainability are core tenets of the cannabis industry, but those can be nebulous terms — especially in the business world. How, exactly, is sustainability measured?

At Sana Packaging, we are passionate about helping the environment and our community through responsible, sustainable cannabis packaging. We’ve worked to devise ways to quantify our impact to ensure that we’re on the right track and to allow each of our clients to track their sustainability, too.

What is Sustainability in the Cannabis Industry?

First, we need to pinpoint what we mean when discussing sustainability in the cannabis sector. 

Simply put, cannabis sustainability refers to using environmentally responsible methods of cultivation, production, packaging, and distribution within the cannabis industry. We want to minimize our impact on the environment to ensure a brighter future for our companies, our customers, and the global community as a whole. 

At Sana Packaging, we focus on creating the most sustainable cannabis packages in the most eco-friendly ways possible. 

5 Ways to Measure the Sustainability of Cannabis Packaging Solutions  

There are several metrics that you — or your sustainable cannabis packaging supplier — can use to measure the sustainability of your cannabis packaging solutions and their overall impact on the environment. 

1. The CO2 Sequestered or Avoided in Cannabis Packaging

We can measure the sustainability of cannabis packages in terms of energy consumption and emissions. Avoiding virgin petroleum-based plastics in favor of recycled plastics  — including ocean-bound plastics — means avoiding significant carbon dioxide emissions. Sana Packaging uses an equation developed by our partner Oceanworks that leverages data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to estimate the difference our sustainable cannabis containers make in CO2 emissions. 

2. The kWh of Energy Saved for Cannabis Companies

We can also measure the sustainability of cannabis containers in terms of simple energy usage. Recycling petroleum-based ocean-bound plastic uses substantially less energy than manufacturing virgin plastic. As a result, using reclaimed plastic to package your cannabis products results in a lower overall footprint for your cannabis company. 

3. The Amount of Ocean-Bound Plastic Reclaimed For Sustainable Cannabis Packages

One of the most exciting things about reclaimed ocean-bound plastic is that it allows you to quantify your direct impact on the environment. Sana Packaging tracks the total amount of reclaimed ocean-bound plastic that we distribute to customers. As of mid-2024, we have already diverted more than 750,000 pounds of plastic from the world’s waterways! We also provide each client with statistics about how much plastic their orders have diverted from the ocean. 

4. The Weight of Hemp-Based Plastic Used for Cannabis Containers

We know our customers who use 100% plant-based hemp packaging for their cannabrands want to track their impact, too. Sana Packaging monitors the total weight of hemp-based plastic that all our clients have used, and we provide each of our customers with a breakdown of how many cases of product they have purchased. From here, it’s simple to calculate the total weight of hemp plastic used. This allows our customers to approximate how much earth-friendly hemp their companies have helped to grow, among other metrics.

5. The Pounds of Virgin Petroleum-Based Plastic Avoided

Avoiding virgin petroleum-based plastic, especially single-use conventional plastic, is at the core of Sana’s mission to provide sustainable cannabis packaging solutions. We use the two previous statistics, the amount of reclaimed ocean-bound plastic and plant-based hemp-based plastic our customers use, to estimate how much virgin petroleum-based plastic we and our clients have avoided producing. 

What Types of Sustainable Cannabis Packaging Materials Are Available?

Are you wondering if there are sustainable cannabis packaging solutions out there that are right for your company and your brand? With so many sustainable options for cannabis product packaging available today, you can definitely find eco-friendly packaging materials to suit your cannabis company. 

Plant Based Hemp Plastic Cannabis Packaging

Plant-based hemp plastic packaging combines hemp fiber and biobased binders to create 100% petroleum-free, plant-based plastic. It is strong, sturdy, reusable, and has a distinctive appearance that can help set your product apart on dispensary shelves, especially when paired with cannabis packaging customization. 

If you’re interested in petroleum-free packaging for your cannabis company, consider hemp containers. Sana Packaging offers a wide variety of hemp-based packaging for all types of cannabis products, from hemp pre roll tubes to hemp boxes. 

Post Consumer Recycled Plastic Cannabis Packaging

Reclaimed and recycled cannabis containers are a great option if you want to have a tangible impact on the health of our waterways and oceans. Reclaimed ocean-bound plastic harnesses the convenience of plastic without contributing to the glut of single-use plastic waste plaguing our planet — and actually helps to address the problem. 

Sana Packaging offers several different reclaimed ocean-bound plastic cannabis packaging options. Our ocean preroll tubes are a perennial bestseller, and we’ve recently introduced ocean preroll multipacks, too. We also offer ocean jars perfect for flower, edibles, and topicals so that you can package your cannabis company’s entire line of products in eco-friendly materials. 

How Can Your Cannabis Company Become More Sustainable?

Are you ready to make a difference in the environment through your cannabis company’s packaging choices? Switching to environmentally friendly cannabis packaging materials, like hemp plastic and reclaimed ocean-bound plastic, is the best way to have a measurable positive impact on the world around you. 

Once a recurring client, you can contribute to Sana Packaging’s customer donation campaign to make an even more significant difference. Since its inception, our clients have donated nearly $5,000 to initiatives dedicated to improving the world by caring for our communities and environment. We’re endlessly proud to work with such responsible, ethical companies. 

Make a Difference for the Environment with Sana Packaging

Contact Sana Packaging today for more information about what sets our product and business model apart or to request samples of our products.

We look forward to helping your cannabis company become more sustainable and make a measurable impact.