Sustainable packaging materials are undoubtedly enjoying their time in the spotlight. You know, it’s about time if you ask me! Here is all the information you need to know about sustainable packaging options.
Your packaging is one of the most important things to consider if you’re an online retailer who wants to be more environmentally friendly.
These figures demonstrate how urgent it is for companies to adopt more environmentally friendly procedures.
We’ve compiled a useful list of environmentally friendly packaging materials to make it easier for you to do just that. Look through them below to determine which ones are best for your company.
Table of Contents
What Are Sustainable Packaging Materials?
Making better material selections is one of the first steps a brand can take to incorporate more sustainable packaging into their business practices.
Sustainable packaging practices include the design, production, transportation, and/or disposal of packaging products. noissue explains it best when breaking down the three main types of sustainable packaging materials:
- Compostable packaging is made from renewable plant-based materials and/or biopolymers and must break down within 90-180 days in commercial composting conditions.
- Reusable packaging can be used multiple times and intertwines with sustainable packaging design.
- Recycled packaging is usually sourced from plastics that have been reprocessed at a recycling facility and given a second life.
If you’re unsure whether the materials that go into your eco-friendly packaging are actually sustainable, you can look for certifications that show the packaging has come from responsibly managed forests (if the packaging is made of paper or cardboard, which is a better alternative to plastic).
These certifications come from organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI), and Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
10 Sustainable Packaging Materials
We consulted scientists, innovators, and technologically savvy individuals to create our list of the top 10 eco-friendly packaging concepts for your company’s shipping requirements. We present you with some of the most innovative green tech products on the market right now.
1. Biodegradable Packaging Peanuts
Styrofoam, also known as EPS (expanded polystyrene foam), is a light, airy substance used for takeaway cartons and loose-fill packaging that was previously banned in New York. And related American cities have followed suit. Due to its inability to be recycled or biodegrade, EPS frequently ends up in waterways where it can harm aquatic life.
Since it absorbs shocks and helps to stop product movement, Styrofoam has been a standard in loose-fill packaging for delicate or other sensitive items.
Biodegradable air peanuts are now available for companies looking for the most comparable replacement for this packaging staple. Similar in function to their Styrofoam siblings, but without the environmental pollution. In addition, they cost less.
2. Corrugated Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap packaging is a common kid favorite that we are all familiar with. This packaging aids in the shipping of fragile goods in safety. This material is made primarily of plastic, so it is not environmentally friendly. The good news is that numerous environmentally friendly substitutes are being created.
One of these is a corrugated cardboard-made wrap that has been repurposed. Post-consumer cardboard waste is not disposed of or recycled; instead, it is given a second life as a cushioning material.
Similar to how bubble wrap protects against shocks, small cuts create a concertina-like effect. The absence of the satisfying bubble-popping afterward is the only drawback.
3. Cornstarch Packaging
In the market for environmentally friendly packaging, cornstarch, an organic substance, has become more prevalent. In many applications, including bottles, other molded forms, and loose-film packaging, corn starch, which is derived from the corn or maize plant, offers a good plastic substitute.
Cornstarch is a more environmentally friendly packaging material than petroleum-based alternatives, but it has drawbacks as well.
Since this substance is made from corn grains, it could potentially drive up the cost of corn, one of our staple foods, as it competes with systems that supply food to humans and animals. Therefore, it is best to weigh the benefits and drawbacks before using cornstarch plastic. Fortunately, there are better substitutes available, as described below (microbial polyester packaging, seaweed, and mushrooms).
4. Mushroom Packaging
Cornstarch mush-room over for this alternative, eco friendly packaging solution. Yes, packaging made from mushrooms is in the discussion—believe it or not.
Mushroom packaging is created using a process that cleans and grounds agricultural waste, which is then fused together by a matrix of mushroom roots, otherwise known as mycelium. This raw material is formable into the desired shape. After drying, it is used for packaging.
A food source for humans or animals cannot be made from agricultural waste because it is just that—waste. As a result, the potential controversy over cornstarch packaging is avoided by this material. Additionally, this material degrades extraordinarily quickly naturally and is free of petroleum. Packaging for mushrooms can be composted at home, where it decomposes into harmless organic matter. However, as of right now, this is only a packaging choice for smaller items.
5. Air Pillows Made from Recycled Content
Another excellent eco-friendly and budget-friendly substitute for bubble wrap or Styrofoam are inflatable air pillows. They come in a variety of sizes and are perfect for padding packed items or filling gaps in boxes.
Small bags that have the ability to be inflated make up the majority of air pillows. Compared to other cushioning materials, this reduces the amount of plastic used in their manufacturing and transportation.
Air pillows are once again recyclable, reusable, and even biodegradable. It’s crucial, however, to look for air pillows that are made entirely of recycled materials, with biodegradability given priority.
6. Recycled Cardboard and Paper
Of course, something needs to house all of these filler materials, and the industry norm is cardboard boxes. One cardboard box reduces oil and carbon dioxide emissions by 60% when compared to other materials, particularly plastic. Additionally, cardboard is 100% biodegradable and has a recycling capacity of 7 times because it is an organic material. However, this does not imply that cardboard is a model sustainable material free of environmental transgressions.
Methane gas is released into the atmosphere as a result of the biodegradation process. This results in a significant carbon footprint when the cardboard is broken down in landfills. Additionally, the production of new fibers requires the use of tree pulp, which increases the risk of deforestation.
Try to source post-consumer or post-industrial recycled paper and cardboard to make your packaging as environmentally friendly as possible. In order to support sustainably managed forests, look for materials that bear the FSC certification.
7. Seaweed Packaging
corn comes first, followed by mushrooms and seaweed. Agar, a gelatinous substance present in a variety of seaweeds and algae, is used to create seaweed, a green packaging option.
We can now honor the award-winning designers who created the packaging for seaweed. These designers have created a process for obtaining agar from seaweed and algae. After that, the agar is dried to create a material for packaging.
The method of dehydration used determines the final state. The substance is frozen into a stiff, film-like state, which is then compressed to produce a soft cushioning agent.
Seaweed packaging may be the newest innovation in eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging options because it is produced from a plentiful and sustainable raw material.
8. Biodegradable Plastics and Recycled Plastics
Unavoidably, plastic packaging is occasionally the only workable option to satisfy your shipping and business needs.
However, you don’t have to compromise your eco-credentials in these circumstances because there are options that are 100% recycled plastic and biodegradable.
To lessen the need for raw material extraction, you can choose recycled plastic products like drums, spill trays, and spill control pallets. But it’s important to remember that plastic can only be recycled two to three times before it must be thrown in the trash. This means that even recycled materials will eventually do so.
Finding biodegradable plastic materials is another, more environmentally friendly, option. Biodegradability describes the extent to which a material can be decomposed by living microorganisms producing water, carbon dioxide, and biomass.
Other bioplastics, like those made from sugar cane and wheat, are also available; we’ve already talked about one of them, cornstarch, but they compete with the supply of human food once more. Yet, bioplastics also cover a sub-set known as microbial polyesters, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) – aha, have we now found an ethical source of bioplastics?
Polyesters called PHAs are created and stored by a variety of bacteria and archaea. The production of biodegradable polyester chains by these microorganisms occurs when they are cultured in environments with excess carbon and nutrient-limited concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, or oxygen.
The cost of the carbon supplied for the microorganisms to metabolize is the only limitation on this plastic substitute. However, using waste cooking oil and animal oils presents a viable, affordable, and sustainable alternative. In addition, bacteria have undergone genetic engineering to produce a process that is more effective.
9. Organic Ecological Textiles
Due to its versatility and durability, eco-friendly textile packaging will add value to your customers while lowering supply chain waste. For instance, you could create textile wraps that can be used as furniture surface protectors or reusable bags to replace plastic bags.
Hemp, organic or recycled cotton, tapioca, and palm leaves (among others) are just a few of the organic materials that can be found in fabrics. All of these materials are biodegradable, meaning they take relatively less time to decompose naturally. For instance, pure linen takes two weeks to break down. Comparatively, the decomposition of plastic bags takes 10,000 years. Again, plastics break down into microplastics that harm wildlife and human health when they enter food chains.
Below we’ve listed some ideas on how you can use organic textiles for the shipment of your products:
- Organic cotton wool can be used as a cushioning agent,
- Linen and poplin can be used as anti-scratch wrap covers or bags,
- Products can be bundled together using hemp tape.
10. Edible Films
Imagine for a moment. Imagine walking through a grocery store and seeing food items covered in edible skin. Consider consuming your fruit, chocolate bar, or ice cream straight from the shelf, packaging and all. Because edible films have been developed, your imagination might soon become a reality.
Edible films offer a more suitable packaging option for the food industry and are used to wrap food products. Food preparation, storage, and transportation could all be made easier with the help of this packaging. The use of edible films has the potential to reduce chemical leaching from plastic coatings and food and packaging waste.
There are several natural materials that can be used to make edible packaging, but chitosan is the most popular and efficient. Shrimp and other crustacean chitin shells are used to make the sugar known as chitosan. As a result, chitosan ranks second in terms of biopolymer abundance to cellulose.
If you work in the food industry, switch to edible film packaging to protect and package your food items before shipment, rather than using environmentally-harmful plastics.
Final Words on Sustainable Packaging Materials
More businesses are realizing the benefits of switching to eco-friendly packaging as a result of the abundance of affordable, eco-friendly alternatives available on the market.
As such, smart business owners throughout the country are making the change today to ensure they are ahead of the game tomorrow.
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