SPECIALIZED STARTUP SUPPORT
At PFP, we’re directly familiar with the unique additional challenges that come with launching and building a sustainable startup or small business — especially for those in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) space. These often include:
Tight budgets & funding timelines
Regulation, certifications and compliance concerns
Overwhelming vendor options
Common misconceptions about ‘sustainability’
Building brand recognition
Thinly-spread leadership & busy staff
Our startup and small business-scale partners continue to successfully navigate many of these obstacles, using our expert consultation and in-house R&D capabilities as their guide.
Even beyond the scope of our own contracted customers, our goal is to support, educate, and act as a catalyst for innovation in the broader packaging industry.
Sure, that sounds great. But what does it actually mean?
Official PFP customer or not, we’d love to be a part of your small businesses’ discussions around sustainable fiber packaging options and the specific design needs of your customers.
Even for Earth-friendly organizations with the best of intentions, there are myriad myths about sustainability and biodegradability that can be dangerously easy to fall victim to.
A basic understanding of the consumer packaging and alternative fiber world, paired with access to current information about evolving regulation and consumer priorities, can make or break how your small business can market its investment in sustainability to its target customers.
Let’s look at an example.
Imagine that a local coffee shop customer stops by to pick up a morning latte for herself and a few lucky coworkers on the way to the office each week. To avoid spilling, they often use a cup carrier to safely transport the drinks.
To reflect the growing public awareness and passion around plastic pollution, let’s say they also generally try to avoid using plastic straws, and carry a reusable water bottle every day.
Now, this customer may have noticed the unique golden-beige coloration of the carriers and asked what they were made of all on their own…
But the reality is, they probably didn’t think twice.
However, if they’d been proactively informed by the coffee shop about the fact that the carriers are fully biodegradable and made using wheat fiber agricultural waste from crops in the region, they’d likely feel even better buying coffee there —and maybe do it more often.
Eventually, the customer brings up the cup carriers to their colleagues in the break room. Their peers are intrigued by the context and feel compelled to pop over and check out the coffee shop one day on their lunch break. Some of them are just as passionate about sustainability as the usual customer.
Suddenly, the coffee shop’s additional investment in the wheat-based carriers has become a marketable feature of the customer experience (and maybeeven landed a few new regulars)!
For small businesses like the coffee shop, an authentic and tangible commitment to Earth-friendly practices is on its own a marketable quality. When well-informed customers can physically see and hold the investment your business is making in that mission, it speaks 10,000 words.
Simply put, we appreciate your recognition that not all vendors are the same, and your research and vendor choices matter immensely. We are here to serve as your external expert sounding board, even if you ultimately decide to partner with someone else.
Overwhelmed by the different varieties of agricultural fiber?
Feeling stressed about ongoing changes in plastic waste and packaging regulation?
Wrapping your head around the differences between wood vs. post-consumer recycled vs. alternative fiber packaging options?
Struggling to find side-by-side vendor pricing comparisons or unique customization options for your brand?
Running into frustratingly-slow turnaround times in your current vendor testing and development process?
Confused about the landscape and efficacy of the broader sustainable packaging market?
Bring on all the questions — we’re here to help!