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Eco Friendly Packaging Alternatives

The all prevalent environmental friendly concern worldwide is putting pressure on all manufacturers and retail business owners for adopting the green packaging movement - the ecofriendly packaging- to be precise. In fact, environmentally friendly packaging is the next big area for development in packaging industry that has already gained substantial momentum. This is a good move. After all, sustainable packaging is one of the most ethical trends to depend upon when it comes to save environment! However, there have to be enough of eco-friendly packaging alternatives for the traditional packaging materials that are thought to be hazards to environment such as PVC films and other plastic packaging products.

What are Green Packaging Materials?

The big question that arises here is- what are these green packaging materials that can substitute the present packaging solutions? Here we analyze some eco- friendly packaging materials that have been in use since very early times but got a setback due to the plastic based packing products during the past years as well as some new green packaging solutions that have come up in the form of inventions, thanks to the green research and development activities of the packaging industry stakeholders.

Traditional Environmental Friendly Packaging Alternatives

When talking about traditional packaging materials, we take into consideration both- the natural products that had been used for packing since ages and the man made packaging products also derived from natural sources at the core. Some of such green packaging materials include:

Paper Carrier Bags- Printed paper bags were perhaps the first modern packaging materials that were subsided later by the plastic packaging products. Paper comes from wood- and eco friendly natural source and are biodegradable packaging products thus reducing the threat to environment to its minimum. Paper bags are renewable resources as more trees can be planted to replace the source trees. Once paper is made, it can be recycled and used to create more paper goods. In fact, usage of recycled paper bags have been and can be one of the best way to show corporate social responsibility by manufacturers and other business owners. Promotional paper bags too are used for increasing business along with working for environmental packaging solution. Jute Bags- Jute is an amazing and attractive raw material. Jute shopping bags, gifts bags, grocery bags and other packaging solutions with jute has been well explored by the packaging industry and now when it is time for environmental friendly packaging solutions, jute has become one of the most feasible alternative for green packaging. These reusable bags have also been used for promotional tactics for attracting the consumers.

Cardboard Boxes- When PVC packaging and other hazardous packing materials are to be substituted by the more eco friendly packing alternatives, cardboard boxes are one of the most sought after packaging materials for the purpose. Where PVC films are used for blister pack style containers, recyclable corrugated cardboard can be easily used with attractive packaging designs to serve the purpose. In fact, big brands in such businesses as footwear, garments etc. are increasingly using recycled cardboard packaging to reflect their goals of sustainability along with concern for environment.

Modern Eco Friendly Packaging Alternatives

When talking about modern eco friendly packaging, the words that come to mind are biodegradable and bioplastics. Biodegradable plastics are plastics that decompose in natural aerobic (composting) and anaerobic (landfill) environments whereas bioplastics or organic plastics are the types of plastics derived from renewable biomass sources like vegetable oil, corn starch, pea starch, or microbiota and not from fossil-fuel plastics obtained from petroleum. Some of the bioplastics are such designed that they become biodegradable too. The market for compostable resins and hybrid resins continue to grow tremendously not only due to the growing demand for environmental friendly packaging but also due to the rising fossil fuel prices.

Polyethylene Sheets- Polyethylene resin (PE) is a simple structure polymer that is believed to place less strain on the environment than other materials. PE disintegrates in a given time period and, when annihilated, burns down to hydrogen & carbon without residual polluting side effects. Polyethylene films are slowly replacing conventional PVC films as a green packaging solution as PVC contains toxic plasticizers (such as phthalates), stabilizers containing dangerous heavy metals (such as lead), fungicides and other toxic substances.

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)- A sustainable packaging alternative to PVC films is thae low density polyethylene (LDPE). It is less clingy than PVC but does not has potentially toxic additives. Newer production processes are, in fact, closing the gap between PVC and LDPE. Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is also sometimes added to the material to increase the clinginess and the tensile strength of these packaging film.

Eco Friendly Packaging Films with Starch and Clay Coating- Developers of eco-friendly packaging have also invented a coating made from starch and clay meant to replace plastic films. It can be used as a moisture-resistant barrier coating for cardboard and paper packaging.

Eco-friendly packaging just need to be well-designed, streamlined, biodegradable and easily recycled or reused. Ever increasing interest in green packaging design fulfills the needs of a business that needs to connect with its targeted consumers without sacrificing the environment. Have Global Packaging Industry Overview