Consumers are increasingly concerned about green e-Commerce experiences, and using environmentally friendly packaging materials can definitely enhance their impression! “Green Online Shopping (Part 1)” mentioned three eco-friendly packaging tips to avoid excessive packaging. This article will share six eco-friendly packaging materials with online store owners, so that you can have a deeper understanding and try to choose recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable materials when packaging.
1. Plantable Packaging
Plantable packaging is made from biodegradable recycled paper and infused with plant seeds. When customers have used the product, they can plant the packaging in the soil. As the seeds grow, the packaging paper will naturally decompose in the soil.
Image Source：Botanical PaperWorks
2. Mushroom Packaging
Many companies also use packaging containing polystyrene, which takes hundreds of years to decompose naturally and has long been criticized for its non-environmental friendliness But fear not, because there’s a new eco-friendly packaging material that can replace this non-environmentally friendly material – mycelium! Mycelium is an environmentally friendly packaging material developed by the American company Ecovative in 2007. The production process involves first cleaning and disinfecting agricultural waste such as corn stalks and husks, then mixing them with mycelium and putting them into molds for several days to solidify. When the mycelium forms a hard solid, it can be put into the package as protective padding for the goods.
Image Resource：Mushroom® Packaging
3. Packing Peanuts
With technological advancements, some companies have successfully developed relatively eco-friendly packaging materials to replace non-degradable materials. They are mostly made from plant-based materials such as corn starch and sorghum, which can naturally decompose and dissolve quickly in water. What’s more, the carbon emissions produced during the production of packing peanuts are much lower compared to plastic products, resulting in less damage to the environment.
Image Resource：Lush
4. Bagasse Cushioning Material
Bagasse is a natural agricultural waste material that is usually sent directly to landfills after processing. However, a Taiwanese designer has given it new life by turning it into cushioning material. Despite being lightweight, bagasse has good cushioning properties and can naturally decompose. Customers can also recycle bagasse cushioning material, such as using it as a heat insulation pad or table corner protection pad. In addition, bagasse is highly malleable and can be assembled into different shapes. Specially designed paper-like bagasse can even be used to package goods.
Image Resource：Mydesy
5. GreenWrap
Bubble wrap, which is commonly used for packaging, is also non-environmentally friendly and may not completely decompose over time. Paper packaging supplier Ranpak has developed an eco-friendly paper packaging called GreenWrap to replace bubble wrap. It consists of two layers, with a thin liner paper as the bottom layer and a patented 3D honeycomb kraft paper as the top layer. In addition to general goods, GreenWrap can also be used to package food. It provides protection for fragile items, just like bubble wrap does, and can be recycled and biodegraded. GreenWrap is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
Image Resource：Ecoenclose
6. Creative Packaging Design
In addition to using eco-friendly packaging materials, online store owners can also consider designing special packaging methods for their products to reduce the unnecessary cushioning material in packaging boxes. For example, a student designed a new packaging for a Compact fluorescent lamp company. The new packaging only uses one recyclable cardboard, which not only has a protective effect but also highlights the product, killing two birds with one stone.
If online store owners can put some efforts into green packaging, not only can they leave a positive impression on customers, but they can also contribute to the environment.
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Encountering any e-Commerce logistics troubles? e+Solutions can help you! From goods storage and management, handling and packaging, to arranging last-mile, we can meet all your logistics needs while allowing you to operate an online store easily!
