Do your customers have access to a home composting pile? What about an industrial composting facility?
Suppose you answered no to these questions for the majority of your customers. In that case, compostable packaging is not a sustainable choice for you and your customers.
For compostable packaging to properly biodegrade, it requires one of the two options listed above.
So, if your customers do not have access to these items, you will want to make sure to provide them with sustainable alternatives to compostable packaging.
But what other types of sustainable packaging are out there? And which ones are the best alternatives to compostable packaging?
This article will review the top 3 sustainable alternatives to compostable packaging.
After reading this article, you can provide several sustainable packaging options to your customers who cannot properly dispose of compostable packaging.
Why Compostable Packaging May Not Be Right For Your Customers
Compostable packaging is all the rage right now. Environmentally minded people are gladly welcoming these sustainable packaging materials with open arms.
And many consumers are switching from one brand of product to another if the company producing those products uses sustainable supplies such as compostable packaging.
Compostable packaging is packaging that biodegrades but requires either a home composting pile or an industrial composting facility to degrade properly.
Without either of these options, the sustainability of compostable packaging is negated.
So, suppose your customers cannot implement a home composting pile or send their compostable items to an industrial composting facility. In that case, compostable packaging will not be a sustainable packaging material for them.
Does this mean that your customers who do not have access to a compost pile or facility won't be able to make sustainable choices with your packaging after they have used the product and are looking to dispose of it?
The good news is, this is not the case! In fact, several other types of sustainable packaging materials can be used in place of compostable packaging for customers who cannot properly dispose of compostable packaging materials.
In the section below, we will look at the top three sustainable packaging alternatives to compostable packaging!
1. Biodegradable Packaging
Biodegradable packaging is the perfect replacement for compostable packaging for consumers who do not have access to a home composting pile or an industrial composting facility.
Now, you may be thinking, isn't compostable and biodegradable packaging the same thing?
The short answer is NO!
Compostable and biodegradable packaging share some similarities but are definitely not the same thing. So what is the difference between biodegradable and compostable packaging?
As a rule of thumb, always remember that all compostable packaging is biodegradable, but not all biodegradable packaging is compostable!
Some biodegradable packaging materials, such as our steelflex bio biodegradable stretch film, are 100% biodegradable but do not require a home composting pile or industrial composting facility!
When looking for an alternative to compostable packaging materials for customers who cannot properly dispose of them, biodegradable packaging materials that do not require a composting pile or facility are a great choice.
Just make sure to research any biodegradable packaging materials you are considering to make sure that they do not require a home compost pile or industrial composting facility.
2. Post-Industrial Recycled Packaging Materials
The next option for a green alternative to compostable packaging is post-industrial recycled packaging materials.
Also known as PIR packaging materials, post-industrial recycled packaging materials are made from used or waste industrial packaging materials that have been collected and recycled to form new packaging materials.
These materials are popular with both companies and consumers as they use fewer virgin materials which produce less of an impact on our planet earth.
3. Post-Consumer Recycled Packaging Materials
Coming in at number three, we have post-consumer recycled packaging materials. These are very popular with consumers because they are super earth-friendly packaging materials.
Also known as PCR packaging materials, post-consumer recycled packaging materials are made from recycled items that consumers have already used.
These sustainable packaging supplies are becoming extremely popular with consumers because it makes them feel good about choosing a product that has been reused and recycled.
By reducing the number of virgin materials used in the packaging material production process, PCR packaging materials produce a significantly lower impact on our home planet. They often inspire consumers to choose the products they are packaged with.
Where Can You Learn More About Sustainable Packaging Materials?
While the three sustainable packaging materials mentioned above are some of the most popular earth-friendly packaging supplies on the market today, they are only a few of the sustainable packaging options available now.
Would you like to learn more about sustainable packaging materials? Are you curious to know why choosing sustainable packaging is a good idea for your business and customers?
Would you like access to a library of information about sustainable packaging materials, processes, and related dynamics?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you would absolutely want to visit our learning center! There, you can find incredible resources on sustainable packaging, such as this article entitled, why it pays to use sustainable packaging.
With all of the information therein, you will be able to educate yourself about green packaging and learn new ways to make your business and packaging line more earth-friendly!
