From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, everything comes wrapped in multiple layers of packaging that we end up throwing in the trash, and this trash ends up in landfills. While we cannot eliminate the need for packaging to ensure that your stuff reaches you safely, we can ensure that the packaging does not harm the environment. If you are environmentally conscious and want to reduce your carbon footprint, this blog is for you. Read along to learn how eco-friendly packaging can save the environment and how you can contribute to the cause. 

Emerging Trends In Eco-Friendly Packaging 

Regardless of the product, every company uses packaging for their products. This is why tackling plastic packaging is a huge concern. In recent times, many innovators have come forward with solutions to reduce packaging waste and promote earth-friendly packaging. Here are some latest trends that we can see in the packaging industry:

Returnable and Reusable Packaging

Many Scandinavian countries have adopted the process of returning the packaging to the store. In countries like Germany, people pay some extra amount for the packaging like bottles and containers, which gets refunded when they return the packets. This practice of using returnable packaging has the potential to reduce carbon emissions significantly, but it is very difficult to implement it in highly populated countries like India. 

Promoting people to use reusable packaging is also an emerging trend in environmentally friendly packaging.

Innovations in Recycling

Recycling is a major way to reduce plastic from ending up in landfills or oceans. Not only this, recycling plastic uses way fewer resources than making virgin plastic, which also reduces carbon emissions. Many companies are making efforts to use recycled plastic for sustainable packaging, however, we have a long way to go in this direction.

Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials

Eco-friendly packaging materials are the future of packaging. Many responsible companies are switching to eco-friendly packaging to reduce their carbon footprint, which is worth appreciating. Materials like cellulose, cornstarch, and sea weed are being used to make biodegradable packaging. Mycelium is being used to replace styrofoam and sugarcane bagasse is used to make cardboard, ply, and particleboard. 

Plant-Based Packaging

Plant-based packaging is probably one of the best ways to reduce plastic waste and conserve the environment. For ages, our ancestors have used plants to store and carry edible items, clothes, and other essentials. We can go back to this practice. Using banana leaves, jute bags, and coconut husk-based packaging can be a major step forward in the process. These are some innovative methods to promote the use of green packaging. 

5 Amazing Benefits Of Environmentally Friendly Packaging

Here are some benefits of using reusable packaging:

Reduces plastic waste:

By switching to eco-friendly packaging materials, you can reduce the amount of plastic waste being produced each year. According to a research report by the UN, the world is producing 430 million tonnes of plastic per year, most of which is single-use plastic packaging. If nothing is done, this amount is set to triple by 2060.

By focusing on the sustainability of packaging, we can significantly reduce this plastic waste. 

Environment Conservation:

Green packaging is helpful for the environment in more ways than one! Along with reducing the amount of plastic waste generated, use of biodegradable packaging reduces the use of natural resources. Did you know over 22 gallons of water is needed to make one pound of plastic? We can reduce the use of limited resources like water and petroleum by adopting earth-friendly packaging. 

Minimises Carbon Footprint:

Making plastic is a resource-intensive process and a lot of carbon is released into the environment throughout the process. From acquiring the petrochemicals to delivering the finished plastic goods, making plastic produces a lot of carbon emissions. By opting for organic packaging, you can reduce this carbon emission. 

Similarly, you can reduce your carbon footprint by choosing sustainable dresses and clothes, as the textile industry is resource-extensive. 

Cost-Effective in the Long Run:

Even though biodegradable packaging may be costly upfront, it is cheaper in the long run. As an organisation, you can get green incentives and tax benefits. It uses fewer resources, so it is better for the environment, and you save the cost of managing the waste. Plus, it pays by giving you inner peace and satisfaction of doing the right thing.

Reduces Pollution:

A lot of toxic gases are released into the atmosphere when plastic waste is burned. In other scenarios, this plastic waste either ends up in a water body like rivers or lakes or ends up in a landfill. By eliminating plastic from packaging, we can solve the problem of air, water and land pollution. 

What Are Some Challenges And Barriers To Developing Earth-Friendly Packaging?

Despite having so many advantages, we do not see companies switching to environmentally friendly packaging, which is concerning. Here are some challenges and barriers to developing and using sustainable packaging:

Not enough awareness: While people are aware of the impact of plastic packaging on the environment, they are not aware of the alternatives. They don’t know about eco-friendly packaging options, which can be a challenge. 

Improper recycling infrastructure: Governments around the world need to support recycling and give incentives to companies that use recycled materials to promote environmentally friendly practices. 

Supply chain limitations: There is a lot of scope to work on when it comes to supply chain. Plastic packaging is easily available, and it's convenient, so many companies keep using it. We need to ensure that there is enough supply of environmentally friendly packaging so that people start using them.

Lack of initiatives from people in power: Many companies simply do not want to go the extra mile to switch to green packaging. This can only be resolved when consumers start choosing brands that are sustainable and green. This will create pressure on other companies to adopt greener practices. 

Conclusion

While we understand that as an individual, you cannot do much to promote eco-friendly packaging, what you can do is support sustainable brands. If consumers start to support organic fashion brands like Virgio, it will motivate other brands to switch to green packaging and environmentally friendly products. As a customer, you can also boycott companies that are not putting any effort into environment conservation despite being one of the biggest polluters. 

You can also boycott fast fashion as it creates a lot of waste and carbon emissions. Sustainable fashion is the need of the hour. Virgio realises its responsibility towards Earth, which is why we make sustainable clothes. You can check out our collection of sustainable co-ord sets, dresses, tops, ethical skirts, recycled clothes, and much more!  

Faqs On Green Packaging

Q. What makes packaging eco-friendly?

Generally, companies use plastic packaging, which only adds to the huge heap of non-biodegradable waste. However, we at Virgio use cornstarch to make our packaging, which is 100% biodegradable.

Q. Why is reusable packaging important?

Reusable packaging is the backbone of reducing waste generation. We need to avoid using single-use plastic and packaging material.

Q. How do you promote green packaging?

Virgio makes packaging material using cornstarch to reduce plastic waste and promote green packaging. 

Q. How do you know if packaging is eco-friendly?

Cornstarch packaging is 100% biodegradable and does not negatively impact the environment. 

Q. Is environmentally friendly packaging cheaper?

Environmentally friendly packaging can be more expensive than traditional packaging upfront, but it can save money in the long run. Plus, it reduces carbon emissions, and waste produced, and attracts environmentally conscious customers.