Eco Packaging Solutions

Using recycled fiber for packaging decreases the demand for natural resources.

Eco packaging (also known as green packaging) uses materials and processes designed to minimize harmful effects on the environment such as excessive landfill waste and deforestation. As of 2007, approximately two-thirds of the pulp that went into paper made at North American paper mills was derived from virgin forests, according to Environmental Paper Network.

Solutions

Minimizing the amount of packaging is a cheap and easy first step in eco packaging. Other methods include using recyclable materials, post-consumer recycled materials and biodegradable materials that are absorbed harmlessly by the environment after a short period of time.

Plant Alternatives

Paper substitutes are available, such as bulrush grasses. Boxes made from sugarcane fibers are another alternative. These materials aren't as strong as paper products, and a package coating of biodegradable polyesters increases strength considerably.

Biodegradable Polyesters

Synthetic biodegradable polyesters are water-resistant and disintegrate into the environment within 12 weeks when exposed to air that contains a sufficient amount of oxygen. Because of the high cost of these materials, they are often used as a coating for other biodegradable packaging.

References

• Green Marketing TV: 5 Ways to Green Your Product Packaging
• Environmental Paper Network: Understanding Recycled Fiber