Earthcycle is a leader among several companies working to make eco-responsible packaging the first choice for retailers, packers and consumers. We believe the more you know about the various eco-packaging alternatives, the easier it will be for you to make the right choices at the checkout.
There are various types of eco-packaging out there today, from bioplastics to various types of agricultural fiber, such as our palm products and others made of bamboo, bulrush and bagasse, to name a few. Each packaging alternative that can decompose into compost after use, instead of being added to the landfill, has a place in helping rid our planet of greenhouse gases, and contribute to a more sustainable society.
Let’s start by looking at bioplastics,which can now be found in everything from shopping bags to fast-food utensils to beverage containers.
PLA pellets
Bioplastics are a form of plastic that come
from renewable sources, such as corn, vegetable oil or corn starch, for example. They differ from the standard plastics, made from petroleum, that we have come to depend on in society over the past several decades.
For example, many clear plastic containers today are made from PLA or polylactic acid – a resin produced from corn. The containers are compostable but only in industrial composting facilities. PLA is also used in cups and containers as an impermeable liner. Stay tuned to this blog for a discussion of the pros and cons of PLA.
Many companies are moving away from standard plastics or, at the very least, using less petroleum-based material in their products. For instance, Coca-Cola, is piloting the PlantBottle , a new eco-friendlier container made in part from sugar cane and molasses. Coke says up to 30 percent of PlantBottle is made from plant-based material. It says PlantBottle is recyclable, has a lower reliance on a non-renewable resource, and reduces carbon emissions, compared with its standard petroleum-based PET plastic bottles. It’s a start.
Running shoe maker Mizuno has started to make some of its shoes using castor oil, a renewable resource, in its thermoplastic elastomers (which is a mix of plastic and a rubber).
More companies are also working to reduce the world’s dependence on polystyrene, sometimes known as Styrofoam (a trademark of Dow Chemical Co.), which is used in disposable coffee cups and cushioning material for packaging electronics and other goods. Rarely is polystyrene recycled due to the cost nor does it biodegrade—it just goes straight to landfill.
Some cities in the U.S. and around the world have banned polystyrene packaging in favour of earth-friendly containers that use fibers from materials such as wood, palm, bamboo, bulrush and bagasse.
Bulrush, for example, is an organic, sustainable, 100% compostable material that comes from the bulrush plant. Bulrush is grown in marshy areas normally considered unfit for growing crops. Similar to palm fiber, it is harvested and used by packaging companies to make a variety of food containers and other products.
Bagasse, the byproduct of sugarcane, is another fibrous material used in eco-packaging. When sugar cane is crushed to extract its juice, the leftover is bagasse.
Raw palm fiber
Earthcycle packaging is made of palm fiber sourced in Malaysia. A big advantage of our products over other eco-packaging is our ethical sourcing policy . So while our fiber is renewable, natural and non-GM, making for fully home compostable packaging, we can also assure that Earthcycle’s sources of raw material have not replaced any primary forest nor converted any Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) for the purpose of palm oil production.
The above mentioned are just some of the eco-packaging alternatives that can be used to replace the “traditional” plastic packaging that society has come to heavily depend on.
Increasingly, more options are available for consumers today. Next time you buy something – whether it’s a box of strawberries or a big-screen TV – check the packaging. Where possible, pick the product that has the sustainable alternative or ask your retailers to make a change. It’s worth it!
The NatueFlex film is great and what’s needed today because it is certified home compostable by the European OK Home Compost standard as well as the ASTM D6400 and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). This is possible because the film is made from cellulose derived from wood pulp, which is harvested from managed plantations.
