Thanks to the reckless ways of us humans, environmental issues have turned grave in the last few decades and if we don’t act quickly and decisively it will become a major catastrophe. One of the many contributing factors to pollution is plastic-made packaging and boxes. Environmentalists are advocating the use of eco-friendly packaging on a sustainable basis and in this article, we will try to assert its importance and see why it is in everyone’s interest.
What is eco-friendly packaging?
There are many ways to define ECO Friendly Packaging, but we take a basic definition to make things simple and easy to understand. Any kind of packaging that has a low impact on the environment is eco-friendly packaging. It means during the process of its production and its inevitable disposal, it causes minimal damage to the environment.
Eco-friendly packaging is designed with the following 3 Rs in mind;
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
The importance of these 3 Rs cannot be emphasized enough. By reducing, we mean reducing the carbon footprint, or the accumulation of waste, and reuse and recycle are the buzzwords these days and everyone is aware of their meanings. ECO Friendly Packaging embraces the philosophy of 3 Rs wholeheartedly and is, therefore, the best option for sustainable packaging.
Ideal material for eco-friendly packaging:
There are several materials that one can use for producing eco-friendly packaging. As a general rule, any material that uses more organic ingredients and fewer polymers or plastic-based elements can be considered eco-friendly packaging. Usually, paper is the number 1 choice for production but there are other materials too which we list below for your reference;
Cardboard
Wood
Recycled material like paper or cardboard
Agricultural waste blended with mushroom roots
Cornstarch
Recycled plastic or less harmful plastic
Organic fibers
Plant-based materials made from bamboo, banana trees, etc.
There can be many other examples and scientists are researching to create more materials that meet these criteria.
Why eco-friendly packaging is the need of the hour?
We can answer this question from two angles as follows;
From environment point-of-view
From business point-of-view
Eco-friendly packaging is the need of the hour because it is good for the environment and is also good for your business. Let us discuss both these angles in a little detail.
From environment point-of-view
Reduction in the carbon footprint:
Whether you use recycled plastic or biodegradable materials to produce ECO Friendly Packaging, either way, it contributes to reducing the overall carbon footprint. To use plant-based materials you will grow more plants and trees which will release more oxygen into the air and suck in Co2 impacting the CO2 emissions in the climate. So, in any case, it contributes to a greener and cleaner climate.
Easily decomposable:
Unlike plastic, metal, glass, etc. organic materials that we discussed above are biodegradable. Their decomposition won’t damage air, water, or air. If it is purely organic then it can be even beneficial for the soil and otherwise too, it is not harmful to nature.
Easy disposal:
Governments and companies have clearly identified and marked spots and areas to pick up and collect eco-friendly packaging. It is so easy to dispose of them properly for their effective recycling or reuse. You do not have to throw them just about anywhere.
No release of harmful contaminants in the environment:
During the entire process of the production and disposal of packaging, no toxic substance is released into the air or into the soil. It is in stark contrast to plastic. Which is made from crude oil and is not an eco-friendly material, to begin with.
It is reusable and recyclable:
Remember the 3 Rs that we discussed above? They make eco-friendly packaging ideal for reuse and recycling purposes. Several companies are putting an innovative spin on eco-friendly packaging to make them usable for the consumers. Like a bag turning into a hangar for hanging light clothing and so on.
From a business point-of-view:
Eco-friendly packaging is beneficial for businesses in several ways.
They are fit for any type of business/industry:
A great thing about packaging is that any type of industry can take advantage of it. No matter what kind of business you are handling, you can always utilize packaging. Be it pharmaceuticals, edibles, garments, electronics, etc. you can use it for your business.
It is good for image-building:
A company that uses biodegradable elements to produce packaging will win favor from customers. All of us are suffering because of environmental degradation. Whoever does anything to mitigate its impact will get an appreciation for it. Customers will patronize you because of your eco-friendly gesture. And it will help your business grow by getting new customers and increasing sales.
It will save you money:
Biodegradable materials are lightweight and therefore would incur fewer transportation costs. Shipping and transportation companies charge on the basis of weight so using lightweight packaging would automatically reduce your freight bill.
Inspire others to do the same:
By adopting packaging, you set an example for others to follow. They should feel inspired by seeing the success of your packaging and its allied benefits to the business. It can set a chain reaction and other companies will follow suit. And in this way, one day the inorganic packaging would get eliminated completely.
It will create new opportunities:
By promoting the use and consumption of custom vape boxes you give rise and support to several other industries too. For example, it will lead to the cultivations of plants and trees that will be use for its production, labor will work to make these bags encouraging employment, and researchers and scientists will also work to make these materials more sustainable and durable for humans.
Conclusion:
In the end, we can safely say that eco-friendly packaging is the need of the hour. Because it leaves a positive impact on the environment and it also positively affects your business. It’s a win-win situation for all so opt for it and contribute your bit to save the environment.
