What types of eco-friendly packaging are suitable for your business

Packaging is an inevitable part of everyday life. It protects products, preserves them, enhances them, displays important information, acts as a marketing tool and allows for safe transport.

However, the unfortunate truth is that packaging is often seen as waste. Worse still, packaging often ends up in this way too.

A key consideration for good packaging design is therefore to generate less waste at the end of its useful life, while still helping the end consumer to use it and the products it contains effectively.

This is why there is a growing interest in recyclable packaging solutions, such as corrugated cardboard.

But what are the real benefits of switching to recyclable packaging? Are there any drawbacks and hidden costs?

This guide aims to provide a balanced and comprehensive argument as to whether eco-friendly or biodegradable packaging makes sense for your business/application.

Types of eco-friendly packaging

Which types of eco-friendly packaging are right for your business

Before you begin to determine whether recyclable packaging (and which type) is right for your business, it is important to fully understand what this means, as well as many other commonly used terms such as biodegradable, eco-friendly, reusable, etc.

In fact, there are three main types of packaging that are often considered environmentally friendly

Reusable/returnable packaging. This is any form of packaging that can be washed and reused. An example that most people are aware of is that glass milk bottles can simply be washed and reused.

However, this can also apply to a wide range of supply chain products, including plastics, such as suitcases and handling containers.

Recyclable packaging. This is packaging made from materials that can be used again, usually after processing.

Recyclable materials include glass, metal, card, paper and, increasingly, certain plastics. However, by far the most common form of recycled/recyclable packaging is corrugated cardboard.

Biodegradable packaging. This includes any packaging and materials that will readily decompose in the soil or atmosphere (in most cases, if sent to landfill).

While materials such as glass and metal will eventually decompose over time, the most common form of biodegradable packaging is paper-based materials such as cardboard and corrugated cardboard.

Recycling rate

In addition to this, the recycling rate for corrugated board in the UK is around 84% (and rising). This is actually the highest recycling rate of any type of packaging and is made possible by well-developed recycling streams and processes.

As an example, every four months, the Greater London area is saved from landfill by recycling corrugated cardboard alone.

Discarded corrugated board can be recycled seven times before its fibres become too weak to be used any more. Some cardboard grades/materials are made from almost 100% recycled material, while the average recycling rate for most cardboard is between 70% and 90%.

And the 16% of corrugated material that is not recycled is completely biodegradable.