As I was contemplating this month’s plastic-free challenge, I came across my office supplies. The packing tape and labels in particular called out to me to find a more eco friendly alternative.
Once I started to look into it, I realized there’s quite a bit to know when it comes to sustainable packaging and mailing supplies. That’s why, this month, the focus will be on how to make packaging more eco friendly in addition to plastic-free.
This will include learning more about the paper recycling process, what impacts it, and what options are available when it comes to packing/mailing supplies. As this can be an extensive topic, I’m going to take a few articles to cover it.
But, by the end of the month we should have a better understanding of the life cycle of packaging materials, what to look for when shopping for supplies, why it matters, and what we can do to improve things. With this knowledge we can hopefully make better informed decisions when it comes to our purchases and habits.
Why Should We Use More Eco Friendly Packaging?
Eco-packaging can be more expensive than its conventional counterparts. It can also require a bit more effort on our end (the consumer) to make sure it’s recycled properly. So why should we even try to use the eco friendly packaging?
It Can Help Reduce Waste –
Eco-friendly packaging helps with waste reduction in several ways. Some packaging is made to be biodegradable and/or easily compostable. Others are made with recycled materials or with the recycling process in mind. Both compostable and recycled materials help to keep materials out of landfills which is a big plus!
- In 2021, the OECD estimated that 40% of plastic waste worldwide comes from packaging.
- 1/3 of municipal solid waste comes from packaging materials (EPA, 2018 report).
Many companies have started using minimalist, even reusable, designs for their packaging in order to be more eco friendly. With these designs less packaging is used in the first place, which reduces what will be discarded later.
Lowering the Carbon Footprint –
Sustainable packaging uses renewable, recycled, or low-energy-input materials (like recycled paper or plant-based plastics). These require less fossil fuel to produce compared to conventional plastic or virgin materials. Compact, lightweight packaging means fewer resources are needed for transportation and burn less fuel per unit delivered. This helps to lower transport-related emissions.
Be More Eco Friendly and Help Preserve Natural Resources –
By using recycled content, or minimalist designs, eco-packaging reduces the demand for new raw materials such as wood, water, and minerals; thus helping to preserve forests, freshwater supplies, and ecosystems.
For example: In the paper recycling process, water is used to flush out contaminates from the paper. These contaminates can come from the labels and sealing materials used for the boxes and mailers. The more eco friendly inks, labels, and glues reduce the amount of contaminates that end up in the paper. Which then reduces the amount of water needed in the paper recycling process. (I’ll write more on this in another article)
More Eco Friendly Materials Can Be Better For Overall Health –
Some traditional petroleum based packaging materials (such as plastics and styrofoam) contain harmful chemicals, while eco-friendly options are often non-toxic and safer. And since the petroleum based chemicals persist in the environment, what goes into the soil and water effects everyone.
So there’s a lot of good reasons to go with the more eco friendly packaging materials. But what should we be looking for when shopping?
Shopping For More Eco Friendly Packaging
For boxes and any paper packaging – Look for certifications like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and recycled content.
Use paper tape – Since paper tape is paper, it can be recycled with the rest of the cardboard box. Plastic tape needs to be removed before recycling. Otherwise, it can contaminate the process and/or clog the recycling machinery.
Try soy or water based inks – These cause less contamination in the recycling process and are considered less harmful to the environment overall.
Don’t forget the label – Many labels are made with mixed materials which makes them very difficult to recycle. Look for recycling friendly labels or be sure to remove the label before recycling the cardboard boxes.
What we’re going to do for this month’s challenge
As you can see there’s a few things to work on for this month’s plastic-free packaging challenge. We’re going to search for stores that carry these more eco friendly items. One way or another we’ll find eco-packaging materials that can be switched out for the conventional.
Then, we’re going to see what we can do to reuse or cut down on packaging materials. This might be where a crafting project could help us.
Finally, we’ll take a look at our recycling habits to make sure the cardboard boxes and other mailing materials are optimized for the next steps in the process.
Let me know in the comments below what eco friendly habit you hope to start this month!
