The Power of Recycled Material in Packaging

The packaging is mostly unavoidable as it protects the products within as well as relays information. However, it is about time we take a step on an individual basis and learn how to keep our planet and all living creatures free from dangers of waste pollution. As the more waste we generate, the more we need to dispose of, so it is high time we change our packaging habits and adopts an eco-friendly packaging process.

Paying attention to environment-friendly products and packaging is becoming important especially in today's age where we do not know what to do with our waste. Seas, water creature and overall nature is at great risk due to the increasing use of plastic, polythene as well as other material used by shops and stores.

Using recycled packaging is not a new phenomenon. Many companies have started to use biodegradable and recycled material for packaging their products. The idea is to pack products in a kind of packaging material that could be easily recycled or reused rather than disposed of as waste. Packing products in sustainable packaging gives a good impression to customers and in a way teaches them about eco-friendly packaging too.

Corn Starch

Packaging using corn starch is very eco-friendly as it is easily decomposed and not harmful in any way. It can be used as a replacement for traditional plastic bags. It is specially used for packaging food items as it gives the feel of plastic too as is more health friendly as compared to traditional plastic. The decomposition of corn starch packaging depends on the way it is disposed of, and if disposed of rightly, it decomposes within months. Corn is also cheap to obtain and produce for companies.

Cardboard could be used for packing shipping items as well as food items. Cardboard box is reusable as well as degradable on its own. It is also customizable and very cheap. It is also necessary to note that the box should not be very big as compared to the item inside. Choosing small boxes for small items helps in maintaining sustainability. Cardboard is also flame resistant and helps to keep product moisture free.

Biodegradable plastic is the plastic that decomposes easily when exposed to sunlight. It is made from cornstarch and decomposes in a few months depending on temperature and moisture availability. Using this type of plastic leads to a lesser amount of emission as compared to regular plastic. Using biodegradable plastic is a practical approach for companies and gives an impression of being socially responsible to their customers.

Bubble wrap is another way of getting biodegradable and sustainable packaging. It is made of recyclable polythene and if discarded correctly, disposes off itself. It also keeps your products safe from damages.

Apart from choosing different packaging material, it is also possible to remain eco-friendly by changing packaging techniques. Packaging process, if looked in to carefully could be altered in ways that it becomes more eco-friendly. Some creative techniques for eco-friendly packaging are as follows:

Using the packaging box and material fitted to the size of the product is always a good idea. It keeps the waste to minimal and is more useful to keep boxes and material fitting to the size of the product.

• Reuse

Bottles and glass packaging is one of the most thoughtful and reusable modes of packaging. You can use the product and reuse packaging in house. It is also a way of taking consideration of environment while packaging.

Coloring on cans takes a lot of high energy for soda and drinks manufacturing companies. However, the logo and other product information are vital to delivering information about the product. It could be a good idea to avoid using colors on cans and drinks and restrict to using only textual information on cans.

Packaging of a gift tells all about what is inside and what the sender feels about you. Good packaging has always been of interest of many people around the world, and the quote of never judging a book by its cover has long been discarded.

Sending and receiving of packaged material is not just restricted to gifts but is institutionalized by e-commerce companies as well as shipping and retail stores. Packaging has become unavoidable and has become a part of daily waste in our dustbin.

Use of recycled material and packaging helps in the use and reuse of any material. It is also proven to be cost effective for companies. As traditional plastic and materials used for packaging lead to one the leading cause of global warming, adopting recyclable methods for packaging leave a lasting impression on customers and help in improving the brand image as well. Using minimal material for packaging also helps in reducing shipping costs. It is also recommended for customers not to regard packaging as a disposal waste and try to use and reuse it to shorten the amount of waste produced.