The packaging industry has been significantly reshaped over the past year by the unfolding of different events. Companies that were called out for their wasteful and unnecessary packaging are starting to wake from their ignorant slumber and serve to customer demands. One of the greatest and most harmful of these pollutants is plastic. Its durability which allows it to survive decomposition for decades makes it even more necessary for us to get rid of it. Plastics have managed to pollute our waters and lands, which should not be allowed to continue any further.
Here is our list of alternatives to polythenes plus their pros and cons to help you better understand each material:
Also known as bioplastic, polylactic acid is a derivative of lactic acid that is produced through the fermentation of renewable resources.
Bioplastics are eco-friendly. They are made from renewable resources which makes them economically convenient, unlike petroleum-based plastic. Being made from lactic acid, a chemical already present in the human body, it is harmless for human-related uses and takes comparatively no time, which is just a few days, to degrade after disposal. The plastic is also recyclable and compostable.
There are not many cons to PLA plastics other than the plastics being brittler than conventional plastics.
Paper comes from the cellulose of plants and trees. Paper packaging has been a favorite among many industries, from food to the cosmetic industry, its applications are far and wide. However, let us pro and con the subject to see if it really is as good as plastic when it comes to functionality:
There is no argument about the fact that paper-based packaging and bags are sustainable and can be degraded once they come in contact with the environment. They are compostable, recyclable, and some are biodegradable as well. Another upside to using paper bags is the reputation that it will build for your brand as a sustainable one.
Experts believe paper packaging is not yet able to completely replace plastic bags and packaging because of the porous nature of papers. Paper material has a porous surface that allows the interchange of oxygen and moisture with the products if kept inside. Not to mention, they are made from trees and plants hence their rising demand could put the green at risk.
The cotton shopper has also proven to be a helpful alternative to plastic bags. Although they are not as cheap as other options when it comes to manufacturing, it does have the advantage of multiple uses. They can be used more than once transcending the disadvantage that comes with single use plastics.
As everyone is looking for a sustainable replacement for single-use plastics, cotton shoppers are a possible candidate. These bags made of cotton are highly durable and harmless for the environment since they are made of organic compounds. Another mention-worthy feature is their multiple-use advantage.
Being made of organic components, research shows cotton bags have a higher carbon footprint than poly plastics.
It has become the prime objective of industries to find a more reasonable replacement for polyethylene bags. Not only these plastics are persistent with long lives but they have managed to endanger many species and heavily polluted the oceans and grounds. Their replacement can bring lots of revenue to the market.
Having an ability to customize packaging boxes in different sizes, shapes and styles, Emenac Packaging fulfills the requirement of customers in lowest rate with flawless printed results. Not only we accept short and long run orders, we also use high quality Cardboard, Kraft and Corrugated materials to give you unrivaled printing and packaging solutions.
