The Journey Towards Sustainable Packaging at Angling Direct

The push for environmental sustainability has never been more pertinent. The very nature we enjoy as anglers is under threat, and it's time to take action. At Angling Direct, we've understood this and embarked on an ambitious journey, rethinking our packaging strategy, questioning industry standards, and focusing on reducing environmental impact.

Through design innovation and strategic changes, we've prioritised sustainability, working towards our goal to reduce harmful and unnecessary packaging across our own brand; Advanta Fishing Tackle.

The Art of Thoughtful Design

Design plays a crucial role in our sustainable transition. We study every product, its packaging needs, and environmental repercussions. Our objective isn't merely to create visually appealing packaging but to create designs that are space, cost, and environmentally efficient.

Think about it. An item's packaging doesn't just occupy a spot on a shelf; it takes up space when in transit, contributing to CO2 emissions. So, we've focused on using recycled and recyclable materials, over harmful substances like plastic and polystyrene, without compromising on what YOU, the angler needs.

Our Green Milestones

We've achieved several notable milestones on our path to sustainability:

1. Advanta Feeders Project:

Ditching the industry standard of single-use blister packs, we chose to package our Advanta feeders in shelf display boxes, 95% of which were recycled and entirely recyclable, saving over 20,000 blister packs from entering our supply chain.

2. Advanta EVA Luggage Project:

Bucking the trend of full-colour printed boxes for luggage, we chose not to use any packaging at all. This allowed consumers to interact directly with our products, preventing 7000 boxes from entering our supply chain in one year.

3. Advanta Carp Rigs Project:

In stark contrast to conventional plastic and blister packaging, we opted for fully recyclable packaging made entirely from recycled card for our own brand carp rigs.

4. Advanta Pick and Mix Baits Project:

We renovated our loose baits area in 2022, introducing new signage, product offers, and pricing strategy. Customers now bring their own containers, reducing plastic bag usage. For customers who forget their containers, we offer biodegradable bags, saving 62,200 single-use plastic bags from entering our supply chain.

5. Advent Calendars Project:

We revamped the packaging for our popular Advent calendars for 2022, replacing plastic insert bags with small card envelopes made from recycled materials. This simple change prevented 107,000 single-use plastic bags from entering our supply chain.

6. Advanta PVA System Project:

We have successfully reduced the plastic usage in our PVA range. The main PVA system tubing is now designed for multiple uses, refillable with new PVA material as needed, reducing waste. Collaborating with UBQ, we have replaced some plastic components with recycled materials. The end caps and plunger inside the tube are now from UBQ material and 100% recycled plastics. While we continue to explore more sustainable options for the plastic tube, these efforts signify significant progress in our mission to decrease plastic waste.

Sustainable Packaging: Plan, Process, and Performance

Planning Through Design

An experienced, knowledgeable design team is crucial to achieving packaging reduction. A custom-sized box can reduce material usage, enhance transit/storage efficiency, and reduce or eliminate the need for void fill. Integrated fittings and cradles can further minimise the overall footprint.

Process Through Material Analysis

By 'light-weighting'—using thinner, lighter, or different grades of material—we can reduce overall weight and material use. However, this cannot compromise the packaging's performance as we want anglers to benefit from Advanta tackle.

If material reduction leads to more transit damage, it’s counterproductive, increasing costs, environmental footprint, and unsellable stock. We are working on creating a careful balance between cutting unnecessary material and upkeep high quality for fans of Advanta.

Performance Analysis

Finally, scrutinising packaging performance can identify areas for improvement. For example, using foam inserts can provide necessary product protection but replacing foam with shredded cardboard also increases the level of protection of your fishing tackle in transit and is easier to recycle!

The Sustainable Packaging Revolution

Reducing packaging isn't just about being green, it also reduces storage requirements, transit costs, and CO2 emissions. This is why we are encouraging other major fishing tackle brands to reduce their packaging too. With the savings we make from these reductions, we can pass on to anglers buying tackle!

Advanta and Angling Direct's own products are just the first steps. We hope we can provide our customers with more sustainable brands in the future.

Angling Direct typically receives a weekly shipment of 7 pallets of fishing tackle from Korda. Prior to implementing the Korda Waste Initiative, each of these pallets would typically consist of 30 cardboard boxes, each sealed with 1.4 meters of tape. This added up to 210 cardboard boxes and 294 meters of tape used every week.

Through the adoption of reusable totes for transporting their fishing tackle to Angling Direct's headquarters, Korda has achieved a remarkable reduction. They are now able to save an impressive 1176 meters of tape each month, which is equivalent to the height of 18,092 Korda Tackle Boxes!

At Angling Direct, our commitment to sustainable packaging isn't merely a corporate goal; it's a heartfelt commitment to protecting the natural world that we, as anglers, cherish. But we're not stopping here. We're continually evolving our strategies, seeking new ways to lessen our environmental impact further.

So, next time you're out on the water, casting your line in the tranquillity of nature, remember that every choice we make, no matter how small, contributes to preserving these precious moments. By choosing products with sustainable packaging, we're not just casting our lines into the water; we're casting our votes for a greener, more sustainable future.

And remember, the journey towards sustainable packaging isn't a solo trip; it's a shared expedition. Let's reel in the era of sustainable packaging together, one eco-friendly product at a time!

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