In a world where your munchies can be organic, why should your pre-rolls lag behind in the sustainability race?

Although cannabis products may not get a little green “Certified Organic” sticker anytime soon, the community has an opportunity to form deep connections with consumers, encourage adoption, and avoid repeating catastrophes other industries have inflicted on the world. As we look out at the kingdom that is the pre-roll sector, it’s hard not to evoke (and shake a grumpy fist at) others, including big tobacco. Realistically, that’s really what this article is about. Shaking our fists…while learning.

Browsing the local dispensary, you’ll notice businesses that use and market practices that support ecological, human, and economic health all the time. The more we see, the more we’re convinced that sustainability isn’t just beneficial, but becoming a necessity for business viability. Well, beyond even the various regulatory requirements amongst states. You should care because your customers care.

Cannabis consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their purchases. So much so that Brightfield Group even surveyed the topic last year, revealing that eco-friendly shopping preferences among marijuana consumers increased from 55.9% in 2022 to 57.1% in 2023.

Pre roll operators can leverage this trend and prioritize the planet’s health by focusing on three crucial areas of cannabis sustainability: manufacturing, packaging, and waste management. One way to address these areas is by incorporating a fully automated pre roll machine into their operation.

An automated pre roll machine streamlines the pre roll-making process, from energy usage to waste, and makes all of those factors measurable and trackable. Taking it one step further, using a pre roll machine made in the US allows pre roll businesses to cut shipping costs, the use of shipping materials, and the amount of carbon emissions their business produces.   

Some of the biggest perpetrators of waste we see today come in the form of a cone, and we chatted about some of the great things going on in the space with another blog post titled, “How Green is Your Pre-roll Process?” That being said, here are some other great ways pre-roll operators can up their sustainability game.

Electric pre roll machines are designed to improve efficiency and reduce waste in the pre roll production process. They achieve this by adding a crucial element necessary for any business to thrive: consistency.

Working with a team of hand-rollers can be fun, sure, but there’s no way to ensure the same outcome every time. Paper will be wasted, crutches/tips will be lost, and flower will inevitably be scattered everywhere.

With an automated pre roll machine in your operation, you’re guaranteed a consistent outcome because that’s what the machine is designed to deliver. No paper is crumpled, no crutches or tips roll away, and the flower only has one place to go—straight into a joint.

Because pre roll machines create consistency, they enhance the entire production process. By removing the element of human error, pre roll manufacturers can better track their output from each shift and what they spent and/or lost on production each shift.

This trackability creates a win-win-win situation. The business saves on cost and boosts sustainability, the planet collects less waste from the business, and the customer scores a consistent pre roll experience from a purchase that supports a more sustainable operation.

Sustainability doesn’t just mean adopting greener practices, it also involves being transparent with consumers about the journey. Pre-rolls might sound like a product with minimal environmental impact compared to other industries (or even within the cannabis space), but we’d note that so many functions are already booming industries in and of themselves, with players up and down the production chain. 

Through the adoption of practices like carefully considering your pre-roll packaging, energy consumption, or reliance on cones, businesses can illustrate a commitment to sustainability while dramatically reducing the sector’s footprint. Sharing these stories through a blog, posts, newsletters, social media, or product packaging create touchpoints that keep customers engaged and informed.

Being clear with customers about sustainability efforts invites them into the process, fostering a sense of partnership that not only helps customers make informed choices, but humanizes your brand. The only thing that beats an informed customer is an informed and loyal customer.

Adding an electric pre roll machine to your operation is one of the quickest and most effective ways to prioritize sustainability in your business, especially if you choose one that’s made in the USA, like the RollPros Blackbird.

Green manufacturing is all about reducing your carbon footprint. Using a machine that’s made on the same continent as your business, like the Blackbird, accomplishes just that. A large majority of the carbon emissions released by shipping a heavy item from the other side of the planet are eliminated. And when it comes time to purchase more paper or replace worn-out machine parts, they also don’t have to be sent from across oceans.

The Blackbird also helps to eliminate waste because it rolls joints with a paper bobbin (picture kinda like a roll of wrapping paper). Cone-stuffing machines require cones, which must be shipped pre-shaped and standing upright in pallets. That means you’re shipping a lot of air. The Blackbird’s paper bobbin, on the other hand, ships flat. One bobbin can roll up to 45,000 joints. Eight bobbins are the equivalent of one pallet of cones, and we can ship you all eight bobbins at once within one package.

If you want to prioritize sustainability within your pre roll business and are curious about The Blackbird, let’s chat! Connect with us here to start the conversation.