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From the late 1980s and early 1990s, the phrase “going green” became a term to be reckoned with. Advances in industrial technology have led to a landfill of toxic ingredients that pollute the environment and disrupt our ecosystem. Recently, countries around the world have realized the challenge of switching to ecology. Retailers were the first to react to their introduction. The “Go Green” philosophy has forced us to rethink even our packaging methods and discover more environmentally friendly ways of packaging our products. Companies that have adopted such systems make loud and clear statements to the world. These companies say they care about the future of our world and will do whatever they can to protect the world’s resources.
Definition
Ecological packaging is packaging that uses environmentally friendly materials for production. Most of the materials used are recycled paper or biodegradable packaging.
Biodegradability means that substances can be broken down into more basic structures by other living organisms that act on them. As a result of these chemical reactions, the substance in its original form no longer exists, broken down into smaller substances that naturally connect with the ecosystem. Ecological packaging is one of the world’s hottest ethical trends. Large companies in Europe, Japan, China and the United States now prefer packaging made from recycled materials that are biodegradable. Now that biodegradable packaging has become profitable thanks to new technology and increased demand, most of these companies are actually counting on increasing sales due to the shift to biodegradable packaging. Various studies show that consumers would be willing to pay a little extra for environmentally friendly packaging. Ecological packaging also adds brand value to the product. It shows that the company is willing to forgo some of its profits to preserve the earth’s resources. This is especially true if the product itself is organic. For example, mineral water sold in biodegradable containers creates an impressive brand image. Cosmetics and natural health products would also improve the brand image by adopting eco-friendly packaging. Some of the more popular eco-friendly packaging methods and materials are:
Biodegradable Plastics Plastic packaging, derived from petrochemical products, has contributed significantly to our environmental crisis. Alternatively, bioplastics are made from plant sources such as potatoes, wheat and corn. Bioplastics are recyclable as opposed to petrochemicals.
Recycling Paper Recycled paper is also an option for sustainable packaging, including 100% recycled cardboard.
Metal Metal provides a stronger, durable, recyclable packaging material. Some of the more advanced alloys are light and more versatile for packaging purposes.
Minimizing Waste Over-packaging has become unacceptable overnight in the packaging industry. The most important thing is to conserve resources, and packing too much or packing the product more than necessary is considered a total waste of the earth’s resources.
Using reusable and recyclable packaging Not only is eco-friendly packaging made of biodegradable materials, but the packaging itself should be reusable. This is called post-consumer recycling (PCR). More companies that use ecological packaging prefer recyclable fibers.
Energy-efficient producers of ecological packaging Packaging that has been produced from renewable, pollution-free energy is also favored by consumers. For example: producers of ecological packaging who work on wind energy.
More Firms Turning to Green Packaging Chalone Vineyard, based in Soledad, CA, was one of the pioneering companies to introduce eco-friendly packaging in 2002, receiving international awards for its achievements. Wild Oats started the eco-packaging trend by being the first grocery store to use biodegradable corn packaging instead of petroleum. The famous retail chain Wal-Mart also uses biodegradable corn packaging. Nordstorm and Macy’s began producing 100% recyclable tote bags in April 208. In Europe, ecological packaging has been introduced in the cosmetics industry since March 2006. Since then, 600 products have been using sustainable packaging, according to Mintel’s Global New Product Database. More and more companies are using pulp molds made from recycled cardboard, newspapers and cardboards. It is used as a shock-proof packaging for packing cameras, devices, glass, etc.
Rapid development of biodegradable packaging This new trend in biodegradable packaging is reflected in the rapid growth of biodegradable packaging producers who are trying to keep up with market demands. Cereplast, a bio-base cosmetics packaging company, recorded a 134% increase in sales in the first quarter of 2008. Whether companies are making real profits with eco-friendly packaging is not the key question here. It is important to join forces in a decent, global cause for the future of our generation and future generations. It is about companies that choose to be environmentally friendly and consumers who care enough about the environment to prefer products that are environmentally friendly in all respects. This is a future trend, and those who miss this opportunity may be left behind.