Global imperatives to reduce waste levels find companies across industries pursuing greener packaging solutions. Gradually transitioning from conventional plastics, foams and multilayer wraps to recyclable, compostable and renewable options benefits the environment through sizable reductions in packaging scrap overflowing landfills and contaminating ecosystems. Although no singular packaging type solves sustainability dilemmas outright, incremental materials innovations add up to massive bottom line improvements.
Bioplastics
Converting organic materials into plastic alternatives alleviates reliance on fossil fuel inputs like petroleum traditionally used for packaging manufacturing. Stocking shelves and shipping goods in containers constructed not from polymers but starches, cellulose, oils or proteins cultivated sustainably makes sense. Corn, sugarcane, grass, wood pulp, algae, hemp and a growing list of crops efficiently convert to packaging perfect for short-term usage then quick decomposition after.
Although most current commercially available offerings certified free of BPAs and other worrisome additives still lack satisfactory biodegradation and compostability compared to traditional packaging, researchers relentlessly better these rankings. For instance, biodegradable EPS foam made by companies like Epsilyte shows that viable alternatives are on the horizon.
Recycled Materials
Some environmentally opportune packaging leverages materials diverted from the waste stream and repurposed. This upcycling allows byproducts and discarded products from one industry to provide useful feedstock supply chains for another. Everything from recycled cardboard and molded paper pulp to reused plastic containers and reclaimed glass shards morph into shipping boxes, insulation and packaging inserts extending product lifespans rather than heading to the dump.
Bulk providers and specialty suppliers transform recyclables of all sorts into versatile packaging materials using economies of scale. Small order minimums with customizable branding, shapes and formats empower businesses both massive and micro to integrate various post-consumer materials into packaging operations with ease.
Compostable Materials
Designing packaging engineered specifically to fully decompose into benign natural elements completes the sustainability lifecycle. Most leading compostable materials comprise paper, cardboard, natural fiber or reclaimed wood pulp. Treatment processes allow integrating natural dry strength additives from limestone while deterring moisture deformation. Food safe water-based bonding elements then meld pieces into pads, panels, mailer boxes, trays, containers and other formats meeting required compostability criteria across global jurisdictions.
Finished compostable packaging solutions safely direct contents all the way from manufacturing origins through to end users, then onward back into the earth responsibly. In commercial composting, soil microbes rapidly decompose compostable packaging alongside food and yard waste. The powerful regenerative pathway’s result is that these combined organic components fertilize more plants, creating a closed-loop system of sustainability.
Alternating Materials by Purpose
The quest to quash packaging waste wisely accepts using differentiated materials based on intended use cases and lifecycle patterns. For applications requiring frequent replacement, such as food packaging and short-term transport, bioplastics and compostables are ideal. However, when prolonged reuse is necessary, durable plastics, glass, and metals are more suitable. It comes down to selecting optimal substances timed accurately across sequential roles.
Since environmental concerns are now integrated into all business operations, it’s logical to initially use eco-friendly packaging for short-term protection, then switch to reusable containers for long-term storage or display. This reduces waste without sacrificing practicality, a perfect balance for sustainable packaging.
Conclusion
Sustainable packaging innovation moves rapidly from labs to assembly lines to certified compost piles. Momentum builds thanks to public and private commitments targeting waste reduction through operational changes like greener packaging selection. While no solitary substitute for plastic offers an instant utopian solution, combining alternative materials, recycling programs and compostable packaging propels in the right direction. Gradual sustainable materials migration when timed for the appropriate product application phases will add up to radically cleaner environmental packaging impacts.