​What is Eco-Friendly Packaging?

Eco-friendly packaging, also known as sustainable or green packaging, is packaging that is more friendly to the environment than the harmful alternatives.

Eco-friendly packaging uses materials and manufacturing practices that have a small/non-existent impact on natural resources and energy consumption, including being made from recycled or plant-based materials.

It is also often easy to recycle or easily dispose of in a non-harmful way (such as by being biodegradable), unlike many plastics that cannot be recycled and end up in landfills or an incinerator, producing damaging substances in the process.

The way packaging is designed can even make it eco-friendly. A lot of sustainable packaging is designed to require minimal packaging for the product being packaged, using smart layouts to decrease the amount of packaging required, and then reducing the amount of packaging used.

Why is Eco-Friendly Packaging Important?

Eco-friendly packaging is vital in the fight against plastic pollution and climate change. Most of the packaging is made from non-eco-friendly plastic, and plastic is a major contributor to greenhouse gas production, both in its production and its disposal.

There are many great benefits of eco-friendly packaging that contribute to its positive environmental impact and its ease of use:

1) It Reduces Your Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint (the amount of greenhouse gases generated) of product packaging made from recycled materials will be much smaller than product packaging made from raw materials. This is due to the high amount of energy required to produce the raw materials, whereas recycling material into new packaging requires far less energy. Similarly, by making the packaging out of natural materials such as sugarcane or bamboo, then the photosynthesis of that natural material makes the product carbon-neutral, with-it capturing carbon (CO2) from the atmosphere and producing oxygen. Eco-friendly packaging is a sure-fire way to reduce your carbon footprint.

2) Biodegradable

Another advantage of eco-friendly packaging produced from natural materials is that it is biodegradable. The harmful plastic normally used in packaging takes a very long time to break down, releasing harmful chemicals and filling up landfills. Biodegradable packaging does not have this problem, with some even being compostable.

3) Easy Disposal

Due to most eco-friendly packaging being recyclable, its disposal is far easier, plus it is easier on your conscience. The recycling bins and centers are far more readily available nowadays, making it simple to get rid of the packaging.

4) No Harmful Chemicals

Non-sustainable petrochemical resources are used to make most plastics, and they are extremely harmful to the environment at all stages of the process: extraction, refinement, distribution, use and disposal. Eco-friendly packaging does not run into these problems. From its production using recycled or natural materials requiring far less energy, to its disposal, via recycling, reusing, or biodegrading, not producing the harmful chemicals that other plastics produce.

5) Reusability

Eco-friendly packaging is often designed to be reusable. By reusing the packaging, its lifespan is extended, delaying, or eliminating the need for new materials to be produced, (which would require a high amount of energy) reducing the carbon footprint of the packaging. Furthermore, if the eco-friendly packaging is made well and is durable, it can be reused for a range of uses, not just its original intended one, such as storage, further increasing its lifespan and reducing the need for new materials to be produced.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Packaging for Businesses

While the primary focus of eco-friendly efforts should be on the environment, there are of course other benefits that come from being an eco-friendly business:

1) Versatility

Thanks to advances in technology, there is a huge range of eco-friendly packaging suited to various requirements and industries. Sustainable packaging can be made waterproof for food and electronics packaging, durable for more heavy-duty requirements, see through for displaying products, plus many more uses. You no longer need to rely on non-eco-friendly packaging, as there will be an eco-friendly packaging variation that meets your needs.

2) Brand Image

With the increased awareness of climate change, more people are becoming enthusiastic about the cause. Being known as a business that is environmentally friendly and makes efforts in this area can create trust and build a relationship with your customers as you have a shared passion. It paints your business in a positive light and as a company that cares.

However, just saying you are ‘eco-friendly’ or throwing a recycling logo onto something to look good is not enough. Consumers are wise to it, and they do their research. Ensure you do what you say you are doing, and are not just doing it for PR. If you are caught not reaping what you sow, it could end up having a negative impact on your brand.

3) Customers and Consumers

Similarly, not only will eco-friendly packaging help in the efforts to tackle climate change, but it will also make your business and products more desirable to consumers. Consumers are willing to pay more for a service or product if they know it is sustainable, further increasing the likelihood a customer will come to you for what they are looking for.

There is a wide range of packaging materials that are eco-friendly and offer environmentally friendly solutions.

Plant-based materials: Packaging made from plant-based materials can often decompose back into the earth (compostable). Some examples of plant-based materials that are used to make packaging are:

Sugarcane, Cornstarch, Mushrooms (mycelium), Algae, Fermented plant starch, green cell foam (made from corn), Cellulose packing (made from hemp, wood, cotton).

Recycled Packaging: Packaging that is manufactured from other packaging that has served its purpose, such as post-consumer recycled plastics (plastic made from post-consumer waste). Also, packaging that is reused or repurposed, reducing waste, energy required to create new packaging, and harmful collection of raw materials.

Corrugated Packaging: Cardboard-like box fibers created primarily from trees and corrugated containers. Recyclable and very durable, thus increasing reusability.

Items That Can Be Recycled: Packaging made from materials that can be recycled is certainly better for the environment than packaging that cannot be recycled at all and ends up in landfill. However, the manufacturing process for these materials can still be damaging to the environment due to the high amount of energy required in their production.

Some examples of packaging material that can be recycled: Paper, Cardboard, and some Plastics.

Want to know more about eco-friendly and sustainable packaging for your business from an expert? Contact us at 813 242 6995 or sales@quickpakinc.com