Eco-friendly packaging not only fulfills the customers’ environmental obligation but boosts a brand’s image, sales, and lots more.
What is Eco-Friendly Packaging?
Eco-friendly packaging is any packaging that’s easy to recycle, safe for individuals and the environment, and is made out of recycled materials. It uses materials and manufacturing practices with minimal impact on energy consumption and natural resources. Also known as sustainable or green packaging, eco-friendly packaging solutions aim to:
- Lessen the amount of product packaging
- Promote the use of renewable/reusable materials
- Cut back on packaging-related expenses
- Eliminate the use of toxic materials in the production of packaging
- Provide options to recycle packaging easily
Why Eco-Friendly Packaging is beneficial to our planet as a whole?
1. Decrease Carbon Footprint
The clearest benefit of eco packaging is in relation to protecting our environment. Eco-friendly packaging is usually made from biodegradable, recycled material which reduces the waste of natural resources for production. In addition, the manufacturing process tends to be more efficient, further reducing precious resources and minimizing the negative impact businesses have on the environment.
2. Biodegradable
In addition to reducing your carbon footprint and environmental impact green packaging has positive long term effects even after it’s used for shipping. These alternative sustainable materials are biodegradable and recyclable, making their impact on the environment minimal.
3. Multipurpose
In addition to helping the environment from beginning to end, sustainable packaging is very versatile, finding uses in every major industry using regular packaging. Whether you are looking to package food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronics, or automotive parts there is an eco-friendly packaging product available to meet your green needs.
4. Improve Brand Image
Finally, environmentally-friendly packaging improves your brand image. When your clients learn that you use sustainable resources, they will see that you not only care about this planet, but also that you are a responsible company. This improved brand image will further your company’s profits and improve your ROI.
4 Eco-Friendly Packaging Alternatives for Your Business
1. Compostable packaging
Compostable refers to the ability of a material to naturally decompose back into the earth, ideally without leaving any toxic residue. Compostable packaging materials are usually made from plant-based materials (like corn, sugar cane, or bamboo) and/or bio-poly mailers.
It’s important to note that for a material to be truly considered compostable, it should be able to break down in home compost within 180 days and 90 days in commercial composting conditions.
2. Recycled packaging
Environmentally friendly packaging materials can also come in the form of recycled packaging. These are items that give a second life to plastics that are already in circulation.
By using recycled materials, you’re able to conserve natural resources, reduce the amount of waste in landfills, and prevent pollution by limiting the need to collect raw materials.
3. Kraft paper
Kraft paper is manufactured from wood pulp. Unlike regular paper, kraft materials use all types of wood including resinous pine, which is typically left out when creating regular paper products. Almost all of the chemicals that go into making kraft paper can be reused, so the manufacturing process is more sustainable.
4. Bagasse packaging
Bagasse, also known as sugarcane pulp, is a fibrous material left behind in the sugarcane harvesting process. It has a multitude of uses and is especially valuable in the foodservice packaging industry as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging.
Sustainable packaging alternatives from Haplst JSC
At Haplast, we strongly believe in supporting the health of our environment and produce a wide range of sustainable packaging products to help your business do the same.
Whether you’re looking to avoid the plastic packaging tax, or just want to become more eco-friendly as a business, we have the packaging solutions for you.
Contact our expert team today and we’ll guide you in the right direction. We’d love to help fulfil your sustainable packaging needs.