The Essential Guide to Sustainable Packaging

Gone are the days when all humans could think was of developing newer and better things for the ease of mankind. Those were the days not long enough, when materials like plastics, etc were developed to ensure that the daily activities of sending, receiving and carrying items become easy. And, the plastics right after their invention spread like the wildfire and spread to all part of the globe. People from every country and every community started using it. But it was only in the 21st century that the scientists realised how deadly this material was. Well, so far, the plastics that we have used are bound to remain on the earth for millions of years and will continue to pollute our water bodies and the world around. Due to this reason, the governments from all over the world have banned plastics and this has therefore given rise to the demand of bio- degradable and sustainable packaging materials. Here in this article, we will be talking about why is sustainability so important when planning to buy anything and secondly, we will also discuss what are the various kinds of sustainable packaging materials in the UK and how can we use them effectively.

Why is Sustainability Important in Today’s World?

Environmental Preservation

The main reason behind the usage of the bio- degradable and sustainable materials is that these things won’t ruin the environment. The topic of environmental preservation is real and it demands immediate action. Various day- to- day human activities which include deforestation, pollution, etc have deteriorated the environment and led to various problems such as climate change. Sustainable practices can in some way help neutralising the impact and thereby help in reducing the negative impact on the environment by promoting the use of renewable resources and reducing waste.

Climate Change Mitigation

Climate change is something which has impacted almost every part of the Earth. The global temperatures are rising and people are not being able to experience the old weather and the seasons which has led to the coming up of various kinds of unseasonal activities too. Therefore, it is important that we take appropriate steps for climate change mitigation and ensure that such activities which in any way degrade the environment are banned.

Various Kinds of Sustainable Packaging Materials

Recycled Paper and Cardboard

Recycled paper and cardboard boxes are one of the most important packaging materials and are considered to be the backbone of packaging. Luckily these materials do not involve any kind of non- sustainable of non- eco- friendly resources and therefore can be used for carrying out all kinds of activities without the fear of degrading the environment. These packaging materials such as wardrobe storage boxes are used for storing all kinds of materials while planning to shift or relocate. These are one of the best packaging materials and can be used for serving variety of purposes too.

Biodegradable Plastics

Using the bio- degradable plastics is the new trend these days. They are made from renewable resources like cornstarch, sugarcane, and potato starch and therefore do not take years to decompose. Unlike the traditional plastics which take millions of years to decompose, these plastics take much lesser time and are therefore preferred by various countries these days and can be used for serving variety of purposes.

How to Use Sustainable Packaging Materials Effectively

When opting to buy the packaging materials, always ensure that you assess your packaging needs and requirements. Always make sure that you know the approximate total amount of items that you have, their sizes, weight, fragility, etc. All these things are to be kept in mind and accordingly the packaging materials are to be bought. For example, if you have some fragile items which require very sincere and detailed packaging then you can buy a double walled cardboard box and place the newspaper offcuts inside the box for added safety. Next, you can place your fragile item inside and secure it with the help of a packaging tape. If the packaging is done in a mindful way, rest assured that no damage is going to be done, neither to your items nor to the environment.