Mobile AR Product Packaging: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Product packaging plays a large role in marketing, but also greatly affects sustainability. Today, customers care deeply about a brand’s environmental practices. So, companies must find a way to maximize their product’s attractiveness while minimizing waste.   

Instead of avoiding the issue, companies have found that they can develop a better relationship with their customers by embracing accountability for their carbon footprint.

The good news is that Mobile Augmented Reality has provided businesses multiple ways to limit their packaging waste while also engaging the customer.

The 3R’s of Mobile AR

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has promoted a rule of thumb called the Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. 

Read on to learn how the use of Mobile AR supports the Three R’s, making product packaging more sustainable for the planet.

Reduce

One of the biggest benefits of our digital world is not needing so many physical items to create or promote a product. Much like a customer being able to try on virtual glasses by using their phone’s camera with AR, companies can use 3D AR in early design stages when developing their ideas.

Instead of using so much paper, ink, and 3D printing materials during the research and development process, the products and designs can be rendered digitally. Virtual work empowers businesses to more effectively communicate these ideas with anyone. A manufacturer across the world can now view an Augmented Reality version of the product instead of waiting for a shipment. 

Every stage of development necessitates near-constant changes and editing. While normally this would create an enormous amount of waste and effort, a digital rendering can be edited without needing to print one sample.

Also, when it comes to a brand’s connected packaging, there’s only so much information that can fit on a label. A Mobile AR QR code on the packaging can give the customer access to all the information they seek. So, the packing itself on the product can be reduced. 

Basically, by using AR to digitize normal business practices, the business can save long-term while at the same time enabling sustainable practices.

Reuse

Reusing is all about not throwing something away that is still usable and starting over unnecessarily. This idea can apply to a business’s ad campaign being reflected in its products’ packaging. 

Normally, as soon as an ad campaign changes, the packaging becomes out of date. However, companies can use an existing QR code on their packaging for a whole new experience. 

By reusing the same QR code, you can use the same inventory or same design in different campaigns. Connected packaging makes transitions to new campaigns waste-free. 

Recycle

The laws and resources for recycling can vary from country to country and state to state. It can be difficult for a consumer to sort out exactly what to do with their waste.

Mobile AR is in a prime position to educate the customer on how to properly recycle their product in their region. Instead of attempting to list detailed recycling instructions on the packaging, it can direct to online information.

By taking this extra step, the customer sees how much the business cares about sustainability.

Mobile AR is all about providing a fun, engaging way for a customer to interact with a product. So, why not provide that same level of enthusiasm for recycling? 

By creatively reaching the consumer through AR and the right message, the packaging will be recycled more often than otherwise. For example, a fun instructional AR video on the packaging would promote recycling more than a simple, 2D recycling symbol. 

Mobile Augmented Reality Solution Providers

If you want to improve your product packaging by reducing, reusing, and recycling through Mobile AR, Aircards can help. We’ll help you reduce your carbon footprint and enjoy long-term savings (as well as increased profits!). It’s a win for you, your customers, and the environment.

Contact Aircards today for a free demo and consultation. 

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