What is the first thing that you always notice whenever you buy a product? No doubt, it is the packaging of the product that each person notices. Nowadays, Eco-Friendly Packaging is the customer’s first choice regarding environmental protection. Where it is essential for environmental safety, there it is critical for business growth. From the government and consumer’s perspective, it has become the need of the hour. This is the reason that companies are quickly adopting sustainable solutions.
Understanding the Term Eco-Friendly
From soft to hard, small to large, everything comes in the packaging. After unboxing and single use, we often throw the packaging boxes. As a result, they turn into landfills and marine litter. It causes pollution which is the main reason for global warming. Everyone knows how global warming has impacted the environment and its severe consequences have become unbearable. To stop this menace, the use of Eco-Friendly Packaging is the only solution.
The material of sustainable packaging is recyclable and reusable. They decompose easily without the removal of toxic compounds. In short, they are not harmful to the environment and produce zero waste. Owing to these benefits, both consumers and brands are now preferring the packaging of eco-friendly material.
Types of Eco-Friendly Packaging
Different kinds of materials are used in the manufacturing of the packaging. According to needs and demands, all these types are beneficial. Look at the types of packaging that are environmentally friendly.
Corrugated Packaging
Corrugated material consists of paper pulp. Pulp is basically made from timber. However, the lumber mill waste shaving leftover and recycled wood chips are also used for pulp making. After that different sheets of paper are combined with glue to make liners. If the sheets glue together in the inner medium, then they are regarded as fluting.
The fascinating fact about corrugated packaging is that they are hundred percent recyclable. They are flexible and lightweight. Its versatility makes it a good option for various printing options.
Cornstarch Packaging
Cornstarch packaging is renewable and biodegradable, unlike plastic materials. They are the perfect Eco-Friendly Packaging purely made of organic materials. Corn starch, maize, and corn plants make it the best alternative for plastic as these materials have plastic-like properties.
The disadvantage of cornstarch packaging is that they compete with the animal and human food supply. The demand for corn for packaging increases the price which results in inflation. It is better to consider both pros and cons of every material before its use. Despite the one drawback, cornstarch has advantages over other kinds of materials.
Seaweed Packaging
In our kitchen, seaweed has been there for decades. Who knows that it has multiple applications besides the sushi recipes? Seaweed packaging is edible and biodegradable that easily dissolves in the water. This material for Eco-Friendly Packaging is excellent for cereals and tea products.
The advantages of seaweed go beyond the plastic-free ocean. According to studies, the hectare of the ocean produces forty tons of dry seaweeds. The same volume absorbs more than twenty tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Like advantages, the one disadvantage of seaweed Eco-Friendly Packaging is the cost. It is more costly than plastic due to its manual procedure. Still, it has the potential to eliminate the use of plastic from this planet.
Edible Packaging
Have you ever wondered about the fact that Eco-Friendly Packaging could be edible? If not, then yes. It is true that there are some packages that are edible. No doubt, edible packaging is becoming popular, especially in the food and beverages industry.
This packaging is made of edible material that complies with all health standards and also provides nutritional value. Owing to its unique health benefits, now brands are heavily investing in it. Moreover, the market size of edible packaging has been growing.
The benefit of edible Eco-Friendly Packaging is that it reduces the need for recycling and the amount of waste. Ice cream cones are one of the best examples in this regard. Instead of bowls, cones hold the ice cream that consumers eat after finishing the ice cream. Other examples are straws, coffee cups, starch-based cupcake wrappers, and rice paper wrappers for candies.
Biodegradable Peanuts Packing
Natural materials like starch and rice are the main substance of biodegradable peanuts. They dissolve in water and do not pollute the rivers, oceans, lakes, and waterways. Traditionally packing peanuts are made from polystyrene which is popularly known as styrofoam. The peanuts packing provides protection to the glass and sensitive materials. That’s why, in 1990, Scientists started experiments to find an alternative material instead of polystyrene. Ultimately they succeeded in finding the biodegradable peanut packing.
Cellulose Packaging
Cellulose packaging is a thin, clear, cellophane plastic-like material. They produce either from wood pulp or cotton liners. This plastic form is safe for the environment due to its biodegradable raw material. They add as reinforcement agents or fillers into polymers. Moreover, they also use biofilms as a matrix.
Concluding Remarks
For every kind of product, there are various types of Eco-Friendly Packaging. All these types have different applications, advantages, and disadvantages. Different kinds of materials especially those that are natural use in the manufacturing of sustainable packaging.
