Eco-Friendly packaging is a beautiful way to make great strides in the battle against global warming and natural resource depletion. The production of eco-friendly packaging requires less energy, water, and raw materials than traditional methods. In addition, it creates far less waste which makes it much more environmentally friendly. It’s also safer for workers as well as being far more cost-effective. With all these benefits combined, why would anyone stick with traditional methods? Some companies still do not know that there are eco-friendly alternatives or even that these options exist. This article will give you great design ideas for eco-friendly packaging solutions:
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Compostable Packaging
Compostable packaging can be used for more than just food products. It is possible to make packaging out of any plant matter, so it’s certainly an option that everyone should consider. Compostable materials are usually made from cornstarch, but you can also use bamboo or sugarcane, both rapidly renewable resources. If you’re serious about the environment, you might even consider using leaves. They are sturdy, free, naturally decompose in the soil, and contain no chemicals that would harm the Earth. The best thing about this eco-friendly packaging is that you can transition from compostable packaging to recyclable packaging, so you have the best of both worlds. What’s more, this type of packaging will pull carbon out of the air while it decomposes, which helps to reduce global warming.
Recyclable Packaging
Recyclable packaging is the most common type of eco-friendly packaging used today. It can be made out of any material that was previously used. This means that the product you are trying to ship does not have to break down to send it through recyclable packaging. This eco-friendly solution is perfect if your business or organization uses numerous products that cannot be reused or recycled. Recyclable materials are very sturdy, and while they cannot biodegrade, recycling them will reduce energy use by about 1/3 at least, making them an excellent choice for companies looking to go green.
Biodegradable Packaging
Biodegradable packaging is a fantastic choice for products that need to be packaged and sent through the mail, as it will break down once exposed to natural elements. This means that if a product is ordered via the internet or phone, there is no need for wasteful boxes or envelopes. Send the item in a biodegradable bag made from corn starch, paper pulp, potato starch, or another type of cellulose polymer. The best part about this kind of packaging is its compostability, as it will simply decompose on its own when placed in soil where microorganisms can have access to it.
Seed Paper Lined Envelopes
One eco-friendly solution would be seed paper envelopes. These seeds are embedded into the paper and will grow and create a beautiful plant once placed into the soil. When you order something sent in this type of envelope, water it regularly until it matures. It’s that easy. Not only are they eco-friendly because they provide nourishment back to the Earth, but they are also biodegradable, which means that they won’t take up any space in landfills or cause other pollution problems.
Paper-Based Packaging
Paper-based packaging is another eco-friendly alternative used at home or for business. This type of packaging is made up of paper that has been recycled, either partially or fully. It’s also very sturdy and can often be custom-designed to fit any product. Paper-based packaging saves a great deal of energy as it does not require extensive chemical processing like plastic or metal-based materials. In addition, this type of eco-friendly solution is 100% recyclable, and even though it cannot be reused as many times as other types of products might be able to, the fact that it degrades makes up for that drawback.
Alternative Packaging Options
do your research to discover how many types of eco-friendly packaging options are currently on the market and how they might be helpful for you and your business or organization. There still may be more that you can do to lessen your negative impact on Earth’s natural resources. There are dozens of alternative packaging solutions out there, which means this list will never end. Here are some examples:
- Cotton swabs packaged in paper instead of plastic wrap
- Fruit flavored water packaged in cans made from recycled material
- Fabric shopping bags instead of plastic ones
- Papier-mâché boxes in place of cardboard
All in all, there are so many different things that can be done to create great design through eco-friendly packaging. All these green ideas will help you save money, protect our planet, and do something creative at the same time. And remember, you don’t have to go completely green overnight. Just brainstorming and putting together ideas can be a fantastic way to help the environment, so don’t forget to take it one step at a time.
