Customers love to purchase from the food brands that reflect their values. In today’s market, customers are much more likely to buy food items from a brand with an identity. This applies especially to food brands that perform eco-friendly practices. As more customers are interested in green living, biodegradable food packaging offers brands more opportunities. But what is biodegradable packaging? What benefits do they offer for the food brands? Well then, let’s explore everything you need to know about this packaging!
A Brief Introduction to Biodegradable Packaging
Biodegradable packaging refers to the type of packaging that decomposes and decays naturally. The term “biodegradable” is widely famous in sustainable packaging materials. Biodegradable packaging materials have the capacity to decompose under all conditions naturally.
With this definition, some people might perceive that everything from boxes to cellulosic-based packaging will be biodegradable. Well, not really! The difference is that the packaging biodegrades within a few weeks. Meanwhile, the cellulosic-based will take decades or centuries to biodegrade. So, we can say that some of the biodegradable packaging available today can still be harmful to the environment!
Unfortunately, food packaging is the number one cause. Why? The fact is that about 40% of the plastics produced worldwide are used in packaging applications. Believe it or not, we produce millions of tons of plastic food packaging yearly. Eventually, this amount can increase with the constant shift to single-serve convenience products.
What’s more, we know that many food brands still use multilayer plastics for their food packaging. The reason is that these materials can reduce food spoilage. How? By controlling the movement of gas and water vapor between the item and the atmosphere.
Well, reducing food spoilage is surely an environmental benefit. On the other hand, separating layers when disposing of packaging can be very costly and nearly impossible. This fact makes the packaging to be unrecyclable. Currently, these types of materials will cause damage in landfills or ignition. To change this, we need the right material design and innovation.
This is why the world needs Custom biodegradable food packaging.
How Can We Know That Packaging Is Made of Biodegradable Packaging Materials?
In this context, you should look for certified packaging that says “compostable.” Certified compostable packaging is safe to biodegrade in a commercial or household composting environment. Additionally, this certification ensures that the packaging can be completely and safely taken down within a specific time frame. The good news is that you can degrade the bags and boxes within six months to 1 year with household or industrial compost.
The Importance of Using Biodegradable Packaging Materials
Even today, we can see that all forms of waste are one of the most challenging environmental problems. In fact, about 8 million tons of plastic are polluting the sea every single year.
The amount of waste in the sea and landfills continues to grow worldwide. As the world’s population grows explosively, consumption simplifies the manufacture and distribution of goods. So, how can we possibly reverse the impact on the planet?
Well, there is no magical solution to the ecosystem crisis. Instead, it requires the right approach. Biodegradable packaging materials come up as one of several important tactics to save our planet.
Will Biodegradable Food Packaging Be Suitable for Your Brand?
Now let’s think for a moment, what is the big difference between throwing away banana peels and plastic bags? The answer is quite simple; banana peels are biodegradable and naturally decompose. On the other hand, plastic bags last for decades, if not hundreds. In fact, plastic will remain in landfills and are harmful. In the worst-case scenario, plastic can leach out various chemicals and pollute the sea.
Food items can be pure organic waste and the ultimate compostable material. Yet, many food packaging does not. It is an ironic fact that about 63% of the solid waste generated comes only from packaging. Unfortunately, this number continues to grow.
By switching to biodegradable food packaging, your food brand can contribute in:
- Taking this large amount of waste
- Cultivating nutrient-rich soils to support agriculture
- Growing more food to compost
Instead of harming the environment, biodegradable packaging materials can be part of an important circulation system. These materials can help eliminate waste and eventually promote food production.
What Will You Get from Using Biodegradable Food Packaging?
Using biodegradable food packaging can be very beneficial for your brand. Not only will this packaging will help your business to reduce the overall production and shipping costs. Better than that, this packaging can help you convince more customers. So, if you are a food brand owner, you surely want to know what benefits you will get from using this packaging? Keep on reading!
Your Packaging Will Be Free of Toxins and Allergens
Biodegradable packaging materials are still somewhat limited and not easily available. However, most materials available are non-toxic and non-allergenic. This is an important consideration as customers today care about the composition of the food items and packaging they purchase. They will not trust your brand if any of these are potentially harmful.
Whenever your business needs to send your products, global respect for packaging and product safety is essential. You can protect your customers’ health from harmful chemicals by delivering your food items in safe, low-waste packaging. Most importantly, you can help the planet by using this packaging. Those customers will surely choose to purchase your items over other alternatives once they understand the impact of their purchases.
Biodegradable Packaging Materials Require Fewer Resources
Biodegradable packaging materials have the potential to reduce water use, electricity, waste, and emissions. This will, of course, be beneficial in saving our green environment. Additionally, it will also reduce the overall packaging costs. How?
Over time, you will find that the accumulated savings are the shipping cost. You are on the right path if you are considering replacing standard packaging materials with biodegradable materials. The materials will give your packaging the same weight savings as traditional plastics. The best part is that the plastic packaging is 78% lighter than alternative materials. Thus, this is a noteworthy investment for your brand to consider.
It Helps in Minimizing the Production Cost
You can minimize the production cost easily by using biodegradable packaging materials. The materials require fewer resources to produce thinner and stronger packaging. Don’t worry, this will do the same job as other packaging alternatives. Even better, you can reuse your packaging by using materials with special coatings that improve durability.
In addition, you can easily recycle biodegradable food packaging. This will help to divert waste from landfills to minimize the cost of new materials.
As a result, if you invest in biodegradable packaging, you can significantly:
- Reduce the overall costs
- Use fewer resources
- Reuse inventories
- Buy cheaper recycled materials
In simple words, reusing this packaging is not only environmentally friendly. More than that, it also has great marketing benefits. From Pinterest to Instagram, many customers are finding ways to reuse the packaging. Eventually, you can earn more profits from making this effort! This packaging will be ideal if you are enthusiastic about encouraging your customers to prioritize green choices.
It Helps to Reduce Your Business Footprint
Every business has financial goals that it must achieve. Additionally, you might also have environmental goals. As a brand owner, you are responsible for ensuring that your business meets high standards of ecological sustainability. How can you possibly do that? Biodegradable food packaging can help you in this context.
About 70% of customers have mentioned that they prefer to purchase products from sustainable food brands. This is where biodegradable packaging materials turn out to be noticeable. These materials help to reduce the business footprint. In the end, they will help you increase customers’ interest.
It Offers Convenient Disposal
Recyclable, compostable, biodegradable food packaging will make it easier for customers to dispose of your packaging. After all, you should always make an effort to make your food items practical for customers. Biodegradable materials can help you represent this idea.
For example, customers who prefer to compost waste will not need to make exceptions regarding packaging. They can easily add your packaging to compost with any other compostable materials. This can ultimately increase the value of your food item beyond its leading service.
In Summary
Considering the above benefits, your food brand should be confident in choosing biodegradable packaging materials. Not only do the materials offer superficial benefits. Better yet, these materials can help you reduce costs and CO2 emissions. At the same time, these materials will also help increase customers’ convenience and reduce plastic pollution. In other words, the promising benefits are clear here.
To solve the environmental issues, more food brands should adopt environmentally friendly practices in the future. Hence, taking action today will be the best option for your brand to contribute. Custom Biodegradable Macaron packaging might be a small step, but it is important. So, if you are interested in saving the planet using this packaging, you can simply contact Pioneer Custom Boxes now!
Have a great day!
