Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials - Know the Importance

Packaging is everywhere: on our grocery shelves, our shipments, covering our gifts and cosmetics, and even surrounding our children’s toys. There is no way in which it can be avoided. But we can control the usage of the resources that are required for manufacturing the packaging materials. Most of the resources are non-renewable and they are replenishing at a fast rate. Plus, the amount of pollution caused by materials such as plastic is quite daunting. If this continues, then our future generations will be left with nothing at all.

The need of the hour is to make a shift towards a green lifestyle and use eco-friendly packaging materials that will not harm the environment. Sustainable packaging is a relatively new addition to the environmental considerations for packaging. Considering the traditional packaging design process, a sustainable packaging requires more analysis and documentation to look at the package design, choice of materials, processing, and life-cycle. This is not the regular green movement that has been going around for quite some time. Businesses that are adapting to a sustainable approach focus on reducing their carbon footprint by reusing packaging as well as using eco-friendly packaging materials.

Major Goals of Eco-Friendly Packaging

Although there are several criteria for determining the eco-friendliness of packaging materials (as shared by different groups, retailers, consumers and governments), the fundamental goals of any eco-friendly packaging are as follows:

Functional

The packaging needs to service its primary functional aspect which is protecting the contents. Not only should it offer adequate protection to the product, but also maintain compliance with the stated guidelines and regulations. Plus, it needs to be at par with current functional design trends in order to meet the competition in an effective manner.

Cost-Effective

There has to be a balance between usability, sustainability and applicable costs. If the packaging is too expensive, then it won’t get off the shelf. If it is too cheap, then the manufacturers will lose money. It has to be priced smartly so that it is accepted widely and the manufacturers are able to make some profit out of it. Plus, this will ensure that the packaging product has a competitive advantage in the market.

Long Term Support for Human and Ecological Health

Eco-friendly packaging ensures the safety of the environment and also helps to support long term health for humans. The materials are biodegradable and they degrade into the natural component with no harmful by-products at all. At a time when plastic pollution and environmental harm are at an all time high, it is important to ensure long term support for human and ecological health by using eco-friendly packaging.

Innovation is the Key To Effective Eco-Friendly Packaging

Manufacturers around the world are innovating packaging designs and materials with the sole aim of reducing the carbon footprint and keeping the costs within acceptable limits. There are a lot of considerations that need to be made while creating eco-friendly packaging. Mushroom packaging, pulp packaging and bio-plastics are really good examples of feasible eco-friendly packaging materials that exist today. They have opened up a world of opportunities and directions for the development of sustainable packaging.