There is a definite shift in the world towards eco-friendly items because of global pollution and the impact it has on all of us. And because of this, many companies have shifted towards eco-friendly packaging in order to reduce waste and minimise their carbon footprint.
But just because you choose eco-friendly packaging, you cannot disregard the other requirements such as durability and strength. In this article, we are going through some of the eco-friendly options that have been used by companies. A popular option is recyclable packaging such as eco packaging boxes. You can use materials such as glass, cardboard, paper and metal in this category. You can reuse these materials to create new products and this way you will not be wasting resources. You will be using what is already there. And this is a great way of preventing these resources from ending up in a landfill. There is also biodegradable packaging where the packing material breaks down naturally after some time in the environment. These are made out of plant based materials, paper and cardboard. Some also use sugarcane and corn-starch to create these packing materials. You can either recycle or compost these materials.
Reusable packaging is another option that replaces single use packing materials. This refers to glass jars, cloth bags and metal tins. Glass can be used for packing food, cosmetics and beverages. The customers can actually repurpose these packing materials in their own homes. They can use the cloth bags as shopping bags so that they reduce their reliance on polythene bags. And there is even compostable packaging that will break down into organic matter so that the customer can use the material as compost later on. These are made out of sugarcane, corn starch and plant fibres. They are a great way of getting the customer involved in the eco-friendly initiative. You may even come across edible packaging where it is made from fruit, rice or seaweed. These are generally used for packing condiments, snacks and sweets.
Sometimes, there is a lot of material wastage when companies over package their products. You can reduce the amount of packaging used while still ensuring that the product is protected throughout the transport process till it reaches the customer. Many companies have selected minimalist packaging as a result so that they can conserve resources. As mentioned previously, many companies use plant based packaging. This can be from different plant fibres. Some examples are hemp and bamboo. These materials can be replenished naturally so that you can reduce waste and conserve non-renewable resources. And paper based packaging is very common and you will see this as an alternative to plastic packaging in many items. These are generally recyclable and made from renewable resources. And there is even innovation in the field of eco-friendly packaging where mushrooms are used along with other organic materials to create packaging. Mushroom packing is lightweight and you can mould it to the shape of the product. So this is a good idea for packing fragile items.
