When it comes to transport the products to customers, many business look for shipping expenses that are minimal as feasible. At the same time, you are all aware of how important it is to minimise the environmental impact. Many companies are currently experimenting with advanced product design and production techniques to reduce their carbon and environmental impact. The idea of accountability for a product’s effects, from the materials’ origin through its ultimate disposal, is gaining popularity.
When it comes to an industry’s influence, packaging supplies and equipment are one of the greatest offenders. The transportation of a product from the manufacturer, through the merchant, and to the consumer must be considered in the cradle-to-cradle concept; this is a procedure that frequently necessitates large amounts of packaging materials.
An inventive new eco-friendly wave of packaging materials has resulted as a result of this. Countless solutions are accessible to the environmentally concerned business, from recyclable plastics to biodegradable packaging. The following types of biodegradable packaging are appropriate for your brand:
Cardboard:
The smooth side of the carton board allows for printing designs and finishing touches. It is also flexible and flattens readily. Packaging materials for cosmetics, cereals and other foods frequently employ this cardboard. To highlight a specific box aspect, decoration might alter the topography.
Corrugated cardboard is a standard packaging option for many companies and sectors. It is manufactured by pressing a carton board into a heated corrugator to form the s-curves. To create a strong and lightweight material, the pressed sheet is between two pieces of carton board. Because of its sturdy cushion effect, this cardboard, which is highly customisable and affordable, is used for packaging bulky products and shoeboxes.
Corn starch:
You can choose a biodegradable packaging of corn starch products that are perfect for items with a finite lifespan. They make excellent packaging peanuts to support and protect products delivered through the mail. They are beautiful solutions for all forms of food packaging. Packaging made of corn starch biodegrades and has only a minor negative environmental impact.
Paper:
Paper packaging is one of the best types of biodegradable packaging meant to safeguard valuable, fragile products, even if you most likely associate it with cosmetics and grocery shopping. Packaging and swing tickets can be made from sustainable forests or recycled paper. You are no longer required to accept eco-friendly yet cheap-feeling products.
With the various finishes and printing methods available today, you can produce eye-catching designs that are both environmentally friendly and a selling feature. When compacted, paper can become a durable substance that is excellent for maintaining the shape of delicate clothing. It is also a perfect substitute for polythene air cushions, which may take up less room on the warehouse floor but take more effort from the consumer to recycle. Paper, on the other hand, maybe recycled with ease.
Air pillows made of recycled materials:
In addition to Styrofoam or bubble wrap, inflatable air pillows are a fantastic eco-friendly substitute. They come in various sizes and are perfect for padding boxed items or filling gaps in boxes. They are small bags that can be inflated, so most of the contents are air when used as packing.
Compared to alternative cushioning materials, this reduces the amount of plastic needed during production and allows for shipping with less packaging. Additionally, they are recyclable, biodegradable, and can be reused. Make sure you choose air pillows that emphasise the biodegradability and are made entirely of recyclable materials.
Biodegradable packing peanuts:
The biodegradable packaging peanuts are an environmentally responsible approach to package and ensuring the safety of goods while being viewed as inconvenient. After use, they can be disposed of in the compost or even dissolved in water. Because starch-based peanuts are heavier than their plastic polymer-based predecessors, suppliers might need more time to make the switch. Costs for shipping can go up as a result.
A slight price increase pales compared to the harm that peanuts made of plastic do to the earth. Customers appreciate businesses who attempt to become sustainable since they will be fine with higher shipping expenses.
Acid-free tissue paper:
Tissue paper without acids offers better biodegradability when composted alongside regular tissue paper. Because it is recyclable and is created from either wood fibres or recycled resources, this paper utilises fewer chemical agents during production. Acid-free tissue paper is perfect for wrapping products since it provides excellent protection for packaging without damaging goods.
Seaweed packaging:
The gelatinous substance agar, present in a range of seaweeds and algae, is already employed in numerous applications, from corn to mushrooms to seaweed. This is particularly true in the food business, where it can be used as a thickening or a vegetarian substitute for gelatin. But as of late, a design team has been recognised with a design prize for their work on a packaging material prototype. Due to the fact that seaweed is a readily available and renewable raw material, seaweed packaging has the potential to become the newest craze in environmentally friendly packaging choices.
Kraft paper:
Due to its elasticity, resilience, and resistance to grease and oil, Kraft paper has grown to be a preferred option for many firms that strongly emphasise sustainability. The product is organic, created from long maritime pine fibres and virgin wood pulp. After a few weeks, cellulose fibres will emerge from Kraft paper. Flat-pack boxes and carrier bags, among other packaging materials, can be made of kraft paper.
Organic fabric:
Biodegradable materials that may be readily composted without leaving any harmful pollutants behind include organic fabrics like cotton, which is derived from plants and is cultivated naturally. Hemp, tapioca, and palm leaves are other materials that disintegrate in about 100 days. You can use organic fabric to deliver the products safely.
Cellulose packaging:
Hemp, wood, and cotton are natural materials used to make cellulose packaging. Because cellulose packaging resists moisture, food brands, in particular, favour it. You can observe this in nature, where sellers of microgreens use cellulose film to wrap their products.
Final thoughts:
Eco-friendliness is gaining popularity, and smart business owners around the nation are adapting now to stay ahead of the curve in the future. You can consider the above-listed types of biodegradable packaging to better your brand footprint.
