Companies used to pack their products with bubble wrap, plastic, and styrofoam peanuts. But at present, they opt for more eco-friendly packaging made of recycled and compostable plastic. This has been especially evident in the food, beauty, clothing, and metal and glass industries. If you want to learn more about this gradual change and interested in the benefits you can get from making this shift, here are the reasons why you should use environmentally friendly packaging alternatives:
More accessible
Plastic is made of different materials, like crude oil, natural gas, and cellulose. The process of making it creates greenhouse gases, which speed up climate change. Now, imagine if your company is one of the causes of this damage to the environment. They won’t likely prefer your product.
Note that your potential customers are now more conscious about their purchasing decisions. It means they no longer just focus on the quality of your customer service and products. They are also concerned about what your company stands for and your initiatives to make the world a better place.
Whether you are storing and marketing food or exporting cosmetic products, it’s advisable to switch from near-immortal plastics to eco-friendly packaging. Now is the best time to do it because recycled and biodegradable packaging is accessible now more than ever. Some packaging materials you can use are cardboard boxes with paper filling and biodegradable packing tape.
Does not cause extreme environmental damage
More and more eco-friendly food packaging solutions are being developed. For instance, in takeaway coffee cups, biodegradable plastic is now being used instead of virgin plastics. A supermarket in the Netherlands also has an aisle exclusive to products with plastic-free packaging. These items are wrapped in cardboard, compostable-certified plastic, or glass or metal bottles. With this type of packaging, consumers can still dispose of their waste in bins without causing impactful environmental damage.
More consumers support the initiative
We care a lot about recycling. In fact, many of us may even join campaigns that encourage the use of reusable plastic shopping bags. The governments also endorsed The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) to help consumers know where to put their plastic waste. These initiatives lessen plastic packaging waste and reduce environmental impacts in the long run.
Aside from companies, consumers themselves use alternatives to plastic packaging and support eco-friendly packaging companies. One of these alternative plastic materials is bagasse, the dry pulpy residue from sugar cane juice extraction. Other materials used to make eco-friendly packaging solutions include palm leaf fibres and bioplastics made from pea, corn starch, and vegetable fats.
Does not harm the animals
Plastic was considered revolutionary years ago because it was cheap and lightweight. However, nowadays, it’s a known pollutant, especially for our aquatic ecosystem. For instance, bits of plastic waste float on the oceans until they decompose into tiny particles, ending up in the food chain. It harms animals, sea life, and even us when it leads onto our plates. Because of this, it’s best to use eco-friendly packaging materials to promote a cleaner, healthier environment for all.
Conclusion
Your products are vital to your business, but the packaging you use is just as important. Because of this, regardless of your industry and business size, you should consider ditching traditional plastics. Take the reasons listed above into account to help you make a better-informed decision when switching to eco-friendly packaging.
At Keeo, we can offer you custom-printed coffee cups, paper bags, catering trays, wooden cutlery, and other eco-friendly food packaging options in Australia to help you showcase your brand in an environmentally friendly way. All our items are made with 100 percent plant-based, biodegradable materials. Browse our catalogue to learn more about our products!