With the influx of new businesses these days, waste materials continue to soar high as well.
The idea of sustainable packaging came into reality to deal with this issue. Though the rise of businesses means more convenience for us, it also has some negative effects most especially on the environment.
When we speak of packaging, we all know that the common materials we see being used mainly are plastic and Styrofoam. These are not biodegradable and also not recyclable. Being unable to biodegrade, they end up as waste.
What is Sustainable Packaging?
Sustainable packaging is also known today as Green Packaging. Simply put, it means packaging that is environmentally-friendly.
It is based on techniques that do not require too much energy, they use materials that are less harmful to the environment.
In this type of packaging, recyclable materials are used. Since the process uses less energy, it produces fewer greenhouse emissions.
Some great sustainable packaging options can be found here https://www.jbmpackaging.com/sustainability/
Materials Used in Sustainable Packaging
There are various eco-friendly materials used in green packaging. Below you can find a list of these materials:
Starch-Based Biomaterials
Cornstarch-based packaging is very popular today in many U.S. hotels. They are being used as containers for their amenities. In the past years, a lot of businesses have gained interest in this type of packaging.
This is because it has properties similar to plastic, but is much more eco-friendly. It is also a favored option for different types of businesses since its versatile when it comes to its application.
Biodegradable packing Peanuts
There is now an increasing number of cities that ban the use of foam products. This also includes the use of single-use packaging. A popular alternative to foam packaging relies on biodegradable packing peanuts. To be biodegradable, the material uses natural substances such as starch and wheat.
Another good thing with this option is represented by the fact that the biodegradable material is inexpensive. And above all, it does not cause any harm to the environment especially when it reaches the ocean.
Recycled Cardboard and Paper
Aside from plastic, among the common waste materials that we can see all over the place is cardboard and paper. The good thing here is the fact that we are reusing these materials in sustainable packaging. These materials are excellent in terms of biodegradability and this means a low impact on the environment.
Benefits of Green Packaging
To make our environment cleaner, we must all support the eco-friendly means of packaging. This will not only keep nature cleaner, but will also benefit the consumers. Below are some of these benefits.
A Reduced Use of Natural Resources
We all know that we do not have here on the planet an endless supply of natural resources.
The unsustainable way of using these resources these days, creates major pollution issues, and the today’s polluted environment is not a good legacy for the future generations that will not be able to use the natural resources of the planet the same way as we are using them today.
Relying on minimal packaging, manufacturers use less resources, which is beneficial for the environment.
Cleaner and Safer Oceans
Marine life is very affected today by the massive use of plastic materials that are dumped in nature and become waste which does not biodegrade and accumulates in our oceans and in land. According to a study, around 8 million tons of plastic materials are dumped in the ocean every year.
Marine life doesn’t know what plastics are, so they get affected by the waste that we are dumping in the ocean every day.
Using alternative packaging based on biodegradable materials is the only solution to stop plastic pollution on the planet.
Conclusion
With sustainable packaging, waste materials in the environment have a chance to be greatly reduced. We have to make this step towards alternative packaging to keep the environment clean, and save the planet from a massive accumulation of waste materials that do not biodegrade.
