September 16, 2024
Sustainability is the need of the hour rather than a choice these days. Consumer habits are changing rapidly as they move toward eco-friendly solutions. From products to packaging, brands are trying to adapt sustainable solutions.
There are many ways a brand can achieve sustainability and one of these ways is using eco-friendly packaging materials. From choosing the right packaging material to using plant-based dyes on them, brands are incorporating sustainability every step of the way.
Read on to find out three packaging solutions that you can use and play your part in saving the environment.
The practice of using sustainable packaging is not only helping the environment in emitting less carbon footprint, but also to boost sales. Many companies are switching to sustainable options because consumers are preferring eco-friendly solutions, now more than ever.
Boxes made with kraft are one of the most common sustainable packaging solutions that brands are using these days. But that’s not all; many brands are also using compostable packaging like bamboo and cornstarch.
Biodegradable packaging cannot disintegrate on its own and needs microorganisms to get the job done. There are many packaging materials that are biodegradable. It is important to remember that not all biodegradable packaging is compostable. Some of the options are:
Kraft is one of the most used biodegradable packaging solutions. When wood chips are cooked under pressure under certain conditions, the result is a strong product called Kraft. In its natural form, kraft has a brown colour.
Kraft boxes can protect the product during shipping better than paperboard packaging. These boxes come in different shapes and sizes as per the brand’s needs. Many brands offer Premium Quality Kraft Boxes in different designs and colours.
Most brands use plant-based dyes so these boxes leave no harmful residue when disintegrating.
Cornstarch is revolutionising the food industry as many brands are moving away from harmful plastic packaging. Brands are changing their packaging to corn plastic as it is a renewable resource and can go back to earth as a fertiliser.
Corn plastic packaging emits less greenhouse gases and eventually leads your brand in reducing carbon footprint. This packaging material is also lightweight. Materials packaged in corn plastic packaging remain safe during transportation.
It is not impossible to completely avoid plastic packaging, but there are ways around it. Manufacturers are working on bringing less harmful variations of plastic to reduce the harmful impact on the environment.
Seaweed packaging is one such solution. Normal plastic packaging takes about 500 years to decompose, but using seaweed as an alternative can reduce the decomposition to about six weeks maximum. Seaweed packaging keeps the products safe during transportation.
Packaging made from completely natural materials, without any use of plastic or other toxins, is compostable packaging. It is one of the ways brands are embracing sustainability. Compostable packaging is made from starch and does not produce any toxic raw materials. Some compostable packaging options are:
Bamboo is used by many brands as their primary packaging material these days because it can be composted. Many brands are also turning towards bamboo plates and trays, completely disregarding plastic.
Bamboo packaging is made from bamboo tree sheaths. This material is sturdy and pure bamboo can decompose as early as six months, when completely buried in soil. You can use natural dyes on your bamboo packaging so they leave no toxic residue.
Mushroom packaging is made from two natural materials called the hump herd and mycelium. Brands are using this packaging material for many reasons. Mushroom packaging can keep the products safe during shipping.
You can also keep the ocean safe when you use mushroom packaging. It offers less environmental impact than that of plastic packaging. Mushroom packaging is also flame-resistant, and it can be composted at home under certain circumstances.
Cornstarch is rapidly replacing styrofoam and plastic packaging. Your products will remain safe during transportation when packaged in cornstarch packaging. It does not take up space in landfills and does not leave any harmful residue.
If you are packaging your products in scratch packaging, it is important to know that this material cannot be composted at home. This, however, does not mean you cannot compost cornstarch packaging. There are commercial compost sites where consumers can send these boxes to disintegrate.
Recycling is one of the many ways you can save the environment. There are many packaging materials that can be recycled. Brands are not only using recycling packaging options to emit less carbon footprint, but to also improve their sales.
Glass is completely recyclable when it does not contain any chemicals or toxins. It is one of the most used packaging materials because it can keep the product safe while being less harmful to the environment.
Most liquids like milk, juices, sodas, etc. are transported in glass because they can keep these liquids safe from external contamination. Glass can be recycled without losing any original quality. However, it can be heavyweight.
Next to glass is the aluminium packaging as brands have been using it for a very long time. This packaging material is beneficial in many ways. Aluminium is a great replacement for plastic as it can be recycled properly.
You can also save on shipping if you are packaging your products in aluminium. This material is also lightweight and offers good strength. Aluminium packaging does not corrode very easily and this is one of the main reasons brands ship their products in this packaging.
Paperboard packaging is completely recyclable if there are no chemicals on it. Many brands use paperboard packaging to ship lightweight and less fragile products. You can use paperboard as it is eco-friendly and can save shipping costs.
The paperboard packaging, however, cannot keep the products safe from water and other certain external factors. This is why brands generally use another packaging material around paperboard to keep the products safe during shipping.
With the passage of time, brands are exploring different ways to meet the sustainability standards as there is a shift in consumer habits. There have been multiple surveys where people showed interest in spending extra money if it meant buying from sustainable brands.
The global sustainable packaging market reached the value of 271.86 Billion USD and it is expected to reach 393 Billion USD by the end of 2028. Explore sustainable packaging options and choose the ones that suit your needs so you can comply with the federal regulations and get more customers in the long run.
