Ecological and biodegradable packaging for shipping – what are their characteristics?

Ecological and biodegradable packaging for shipping – what are the characteristics?

According to the 2022 Global Waste Index data published by Sensoneo, there is 364 tonnes of waste per year per Pole. In 2020 (CSO data) it was 342 tonnes and in 2021 it was 332 tonnes. The trend is therefore upward, which may largely have to do with the fact that, during the pandemic period, people have started ordering products from the web more frequently. This is obviously good news for companies, but not necessarily for the planet. With the aim of reconciling the growing needs of online shoppers with care for the environment, we have introduced eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging for shipping goods. We explain exactly what they are!

What is ecological packaging?

“Ecological” means “related to the protection of the environment”, “made from natural ingredients” or “relating to the relationship of external conditions to plant and animal life” – as defined by PWN. Ecological packaging for shipping is therefore packaging that has been made from materials that are of natural origin and safe for the environment, i.e. easily decomposable or recyclable. This can include recycled paper, cardboard, sugar cane, biopolymers and many others.

However, it is not only the ingredients that make up a product that are important, but also the manufacturing process. It should involve responsible production, i.e. without wasting natural resources and polluting the environment, and with as low a carbon footprint as possible. In the case of ecological shipping packaging, it is also important that it protects the products inside well – thus not contributing to their wastage.

Rajapack’s range of eco-friendly packaging includes, among other things, such as cut cartons, 3-layer, 5-layer and reinforced cartons, eco-envelopes in all shapes and sizes and cardboard tubes. We also offer paper sacks, bags, corrugated cardboard rolls, ecological packaging paper, paper tapes, cardboard tags, cardboard safety corners and many, many other eco-products for packaging.

What is biodegradable packaging?

Biodegradable packaging is packaging that is biodegradable, i.e. biodegradable by natural processes. As a result, they do not linger in landfills or oceans like their plastic or metal counterparts that have not been recycled. Instead, they break down – in a matter of months, months or decades. Crucially, they contain no toxins or other hazardous components, so they do not pollute the soil, water or air and are not dangerous to animals. They are fully recyclable and compostable; for the latter reason, they can also be found under the name ‘compostable packaging’.

As a manufacturer of eco-friendly packaging, at Raja we place great importance on ensuring that our products are environmentally neutral. In addition to cartons, paper or paper tapes, which are 100 per cent recyclable, we have also introduced biodegradable packaging into our range – our Kraft wrapping paper is an example. It can be used both to wrap goods and to stuff free space in cartons. We also recommend our fully compostable natural raffia made from plant fibres for your attention.

What can biodegradable packaging be made of? Raw materials that are suitable for composting include starch, cellulose, bagasse (fibre from sugar cane stalks) and bio-plastic (PLA), which is derived from plant compost and has properties similar to plastic. It makes it possible to produce completely biodegradable foil packs.

Biodegradable packaging and recycling

Biodegradable packaging can be recycled, but not every recyclable material has to be compostable. It is useful to know the difference between these terms in order to choose the product that best meets environmental expectations. Recycling recovers raw material from waste, which is then used to create a new product – e.g. a pen made from plastic bottle caps. Among other things, plastic, glass and metal are suitable for this process, but they are not biodegradable. This is because biodegradation involves the decomposition of organic compounds with the involvement of living micro-organisms, such as fungi or bacteria.

Recyclable ecological shipping packaging will therefore only be environmentally neutral if it is recycled. This is why it is so important to segregate waste correctly – it is worth informing your customers as to the exact container into which a particular cardboard box or envelope can be disposed. Biodegradable disposable packaging, on the other hand, will decompose completely in the mixed waste stream and will not pollute the environment.