We have only one Earth; this realization has made us change many of our decisions. Keeping this Earth safe is now part of our growth as humans. With this, many practices that were potential threats or actual threats have been going away. The pressure on businesses is also getting more and more. Consumers have also changed their buying decisions and now make decisions based on how well businesses and their products contribute to the environment. This makes it very important for businesses to learn what their products should and should not be when it comes to being environmentally friendly.
One of the first things a consumer looks at is the packaging. The packaging puts the first impression on the consumer, and this first impression needs to be the best. This first impression will determine how the consumer acts in the future. If this first impression is good, then this will help in making the consumer a regular customer, but if the impression is bad, this might be a potential loss. So, to please your customers and retain them, it is very important to impress them and put a good first impression. In this environmentally conscious world, one must make its packaging eco-friendly and plastic-free to please the customer.
Eco-friendly Packaging
Let’s start by first understanding what eco-friendly packaging is. Environmentally friendly packaging includes packaging made from easily recyclable materials manufactured with minimal energy use and impact on natural resources. In most cases, eco-friendly packaging is made from recycled materials. It is also commonly referred to as sustainable or green packaging. In essence, eco-friendly packaging aims to reduce the amount of product packaging produced. All processes must be considered, from the actual packaging of the product to the containers and cushions used for shipping. Whether eliminating the toxic substances used to manufacture traditional packaging or using biodegradable materials wherever possible, eco-friendly packaging is safer for people and the environment.
Plastic-free Packaging
Plastic is one of the biggest issues currently. Plastic contributes to most of the marine pollution and can also be seen as causing harm on land. This has been a growing issue as plastic has integrated into our lives, making it very hard to eliminate it. The struggle against plastic is still ongoing. Even though the struggle is ongoing, certain steps have been made in the right direction. One of the important steps is the introduction of plastic-free packaging. This ensures that no plastic is used in the packaging process. With this, recyclable and reusable packaging is used instead of materials like plastic, which add to the problem.
Types Of Eco-friendly Packaging
Some examples of eco-friendly packaging are;
Corrugated Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard is an eco-friendly alternative to corrugated bubble wrap. In addition, corrugated bubble wrap is made of wasteful plastic. Instead of discarding or recycling used cardboard waste, the material gets extra life as a buffer. Small cuts create an accordion-like effect and protect against impact like bubble wrap. This is why corrugated cardboard is better than corrugated bubble wrap and is a good alternative.
Cornstarch Packaging
Cornstarch is an organic material. Due to this, it has made inroads into the eco-friendly packaging industry. Cornstarch is derived from corn. It has properties similar to plastic, making this material an excellent alternative to plastic in various situations, from bottles to other forms to loose foil packaging. Cornstarch is a more sustainable alternative to petroleum-based packaging.
Mushroom Packaging
Mushroom wraps are made by washing and grinding agricultural waste and are fused by a mushroom root matrix, also known as mycelium. This raw material can be molded into any shape. After washing and grinding, it is dried up. This dried-up material is then used as packaging material. Agricultural waste, as the name suggests, is waste. It cannot be used as a food source for humans or animals. And not only is this a non-petroleum material, but it also decomposes naturally at an incredible rate. Mushroom wraps can be composted and broken down into non-toxic organic matter. But this is just a packaging solution for small items at the moment.
Cruz Foam
Cruz Foam allows you to use your existing equipment to create custom eco-friendly packaging. It epitomizes an eco-friendly solution as the production process solves industrial waste and the product is fully compostable. Customers can decompose it back into the soil, fertilizing the land.
Benefits Of Eco-friendly And Plastic-free Packaging
There are many benefits of eco-friendly packaging. All these benefits ensure that everyone works together for a sustainable and eco-friendly future.
Some of the benefits that these packaging solutions provide are;
Fewer Carbon Footprints
Making packaging from recyclable or natural things can reduce carbon footprints. Materials like bamboo, cardboard, and other carbon-neutral things can help you become a business with less contribution to carbon footprints in the environment.
Biodegradable
Using eco-friendly packaging means that there is no use of plastic. This automatically makes any eco-friendly packaging biodegradable. This helps reduce plastic waste. This is very beneficial as plastic is very harmful and takes many years to break down. This makes it impossible to get rid of in the short term.
Disposable
If the packaging is made of eco-friendly materials, it becomes very easy to get rid of. It can be disposed of as recyclable trash that can be reused and recycled. On the other hand, if it has any plastic remnants, it can become extremely hard to get rid of.
Recyclable and Reusable
Packaging that can be recycled and reused is the new trend; this is exactly what eco-friendly packaging is. This contributes to decreasing waste production and saves energy as new materials do not need to be made. This is also convenient as old material is used again for new things without any new waste or energy.
Versatile
Eco-friendly packaging can be used for a variety of different products. This means that it can aslo be for many different sectors. It can be used for cosmetics, food, electronics, and clothes. This makes it very convenient for businesses, and no additional costs need to be made for producing different types of packaging for different products.
No Toxins
Packaging that is not eco-friendly is made from many toxins. This is because many chemicals are used during the production process. This is another source of polluting the environment. On the other eco-friendly packaging is not made from chemicals and thus lacks the toxins and allergens that regular packaging has.
Improves Brand Image
This is also one of the many bonuses you can get from eco-friendly packaging. As the world today is environmentally conscious, decisions made in the light of the environment get better responses than decisions made without considering what the customer wants. Today the customer wants to protect the environment, which should be kept in mind when making important decisions such as packaging. Using eco-friendly can help attract customers and improve your brand image. Another benefit is that this will have a positive impact on the environment as well and ensure a brighter future.
All these benefits make eco-friendly and plastic-free packaging the elite packaging solution!
