With the increasing awareness regarding the growing climate changes that are threatening the world, many businesses have started promoting sustainable operations. The governments of numerous countries have issued a serious warning towards using sustainable and eco-friendly methods.
One of the most waste-generating industries is none other than e-commerce which generates numerous amounts of waste packaging in a single day. This calls for a serious dive into the sustainable world and how these businesses can make their operations and packaging more environmentally friendly.
There are many sustainable packaging types that range from low sustainability to super sustainability options. However, the 3 main categories that any sustainable packaging should fall under are:
- Recyclable Packaging
- Reusable Packaging
- Compostable Packaging
Exploring Different Types Of Sustainable Packaging Options For Businesses
Sustainability is an extremely important step to take for businesses in order to stay environmentally safe. The damages faced by the earth are not ones to be taken lightly and need to be adopted by all business operations.
The packaging industry has greatly evolved from its previous state, offering numerous packaging designs and types in sustainable forms. Some of the common ones to use for businesses are:
- Packing Paper
Packaging paper is the most sustainable option to fill in any sort of void between the items in your box or to wrap them, around any fragile glass or ceramic. There are multiple machines that crunch or shred papers to fill in the boxes so that your product is safe from rattling or breakage.
- Plastic Tubs
Reusable plastic tubs are great to use for the transference of any sort of lightweight material. Cardboard boxes which are more sustainable are often used but they easily get damaged and thus get thrown into the trash. Compared to cardboard, plastic is much steadier and stronger.
- Packing Peanuts
Biodegradable packing peanuts are a new form of packaging material that is made from starch-based material as compared to the previous ones which were made from polystyrene, a non-biodegradable material. These are eco-friendly substitutes that are sourced from non-toxic plants.
- Bioplastic Packaging
Bioplastics are a popular form of sustainable plastic alternatives that are created from plant derivatives. These types of plastics are commonly used in food packaging and in a number of other applications. One of the most common types of bioplastics that has replaced multiple traditional ones is polylactic acid.
- Popcorn Packaging
Popcorn is another great source of packaging material that is completely sustainable. If you air pop your popcorn without the usage of oil, then you are left with a lightweight material that can be used as a packaging source. This packaging material will keep all your lightweight items of yours protected.
- Mushroom Packaging
Another great sustainable packaging material is mushrooms. The root of mushrooms which is called mycelium can be baked into your required shape and then used to create a cushion type of material for packaging. This cushion will protect your items from being damaged when they are inserted.
- Corrugated Cardboard
Cardboard is the most common type of packaging material that is widely used all around the world. There are numerous reasons for using this type of material but the most common ones are cost-effectiveness and reusability. These are also produced 100% from recycled and biodegradable materials.
- Compostable Mailers
Compostable mailers are another sustainable option that is of 2 types. One is made from renewable plant materials while the other is made from recycled paper. Both are easily compostable commercially and in homes. This makes compostable mailers suitable for all types of uses and applications.
The Bottom Line
These are all the choices that you have to select the best sustainable packaging options for your business operations. We are in the age where all types of businesses along with consumers are becoming aware of sustainability and striving to choose more greener options.
