Sustainability and recyclability are topics of interest for consumers. Packaging is no exception there. 64% of consumers think it’s important for companies to use biodegradable or eco-friendly packaging.
With experts predicting the demand for eco-friendly packaging to grow in the future you may want to consider ‘going green’ with eco-friendly product packaging.
Recyclable, biocompostable, biodegradable… what’s the difference?
There seems to be an endless amount of terms with regard to sustainability and recycling. While recycling is a common term, it gets more difficult to determine which materials are actually recyclable.
Paper bags can usually be recycled, but you can’t make a general statement. If packaging is composed of two or more materials, which can’t be separated by hand, it is not recyclable. These are called composite packaging. So if a paper bag consists of any additional material, it will likely go to landfill after use.
Other types of sustainable packaging, include biocompostable and biodegradable packaging. Biocompostable packaging refers to plastic and paper products, which disintegrate and biodegrade completely and safely when composted in a municipal or commercial facility.
Yet biodegradable packaging means that the main constituent has the ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into the raw materials of nature and disappear into the environment. A paper bag laminated with PLA (a polyester derived from renewable sources such as corn starch) breaks down into water and humus, for example. Due to newest packaging innovations, degradable plastic packaging is now available on the market as well.
How sustainable is flexible packaging?
Flexible packaging weighs less than other packaging formats, resulting in less waste. It also has a better product-to-package ratio and consumes less energy in manufacturing and transport. This means that flexible packaging generates less greenhouse gas emissions than other packaging formats. So, all in all you can say that flexible packaging contributes less to landfill waste. Yet the downside of flexible packaging is, that it’s nearly impossible to recycle.
Eco-friendly packaging solutions by Law Print Pack
Law Print Pack is happy to support your ambitions for environmental protection. Just recently, we provided one of our customers with fully recyclable & compostable bags from our paper bag manufacturer in Italy. As per standard, all paper sacks and Kraft paper bags we supply are fully recyclable. We understand that environmental protection is a serious and important issue, so we always strive to support your environmental engagement.
If you’d like to know more about our eco-friendly packaging solutions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
