It’s estimated that these single-use plastics account for about 40% of plastic waste and only about 12% of plastics recycled in Australia in 2020. The major problem with single-use plastic items is that they are very difficult to recover for re-use, even as fuel to replace thermal coal. Reducing these single-use plastics will reduce material use, reduce landfill and improve our impact on the environment and wildlife.

While it may be convenient and cheap for business to use single-use plastics, the reality is that the material, energy and long-term disposal all have a long-term effect on our environment. Some end up in landfill (which is bad in itself), and the remainder ends up in the gutter, on our streets, in waterways and our oceans – where they don’t degrade, and can be dangerous for wildlife and the environment.

Some business owners are probable cursing this change because they have existing stock of plastic straws, cutlery, takeaway cups, straws and bags – but the good news is that there are now plenty of plastic-free alternatives, and new packaging options are coming on the market (such as mushroom, seaweed, sugar cane, pressed hay and banana leaves).

• Plastic-free straw alternatives include paper, compostable plant-based, bamboo, and edible pasta or rice straws, as well as reusable options made of glass, stainless steel or silicone, and even the choice to encourage customers not to use straws or make them opt-in
• Plastic-free drink stirrer alternatives include recycled wood and bamboo, while for some drinks you can use a natural option like celery, carrot or cucumber, and spoons or glass stirrers also make good reusable substitutes
• Plastic-free cutlery alternatives are traditional metal utensils, and for takeaway there is bamboo cutlery and wooden chopsticks
• Plastic-free cup alternatives include BYO cup, bioplastic* cups, and traditional paperboard sauce/sample cups
• Plastic-free plate, bowl and food container alternatives include traditional porcelain or ceramic plates for dine-in use, and for takeaway there are paperboard boxes, trays and wedges, palm leaf and bamboo plates, bioplastic options, and sugarcane clamshells, trays and bowls
• Plastic-free food wrap alternative is beeswax paper
• Non-single-use bag alternatives include BYO reusable plastic bags and cloth bags (tote, canvas)

Single-use cups, lids, dome lids and loose expanded polystyrene packaging may be banned in future. Why not consider replacing these now.

• Plastic-free coffee cups and lids can be replaced with traditional porcelain or ceramic cups, paper cups or bioplastic options, and you can also encourage clients to bring their own cup or mug or choose not to use a lid
• Bioplastics (made from plants) are a great alternative to single-use plastics, although they do need commercial-grade recycling programs to break them down. The main benefit is that biodegradable plastic becomes water and carbon dioxide when it decomposes.

It is hoped that alternatives to single-use plastics for fresh fruit, meats and groceries will soon become available too.

Need eco-friendly packaging design you’ll love — and your customers will too? Call 3366 8166 or contact us today.

The post Single-use plastic alternatives appeared first on Creative Passion.

When choosing rigid & flexible films (or any packaging for that matter), make sure you fully investigate the options available to you – because there are constant innovations in this field.

A common problem with refrigerated items (particularly meats, fresh produce and pre-prepared foods), is that the film or poly bags can fog. A recent innovation is anti-fog film. Above is an example of traditional film (which doesn’t have anti-fog characteristics).

Other recent pack improvements include:

• Stronger film which protects product better when shipped, stored and transported
• Thinner films which improve cost and visibility of products
• Transparency improvements
• Improved sealing and oxygen barriers, which retain moisture and freshness
• Tear and puncture resistance
• Resealing packaging

There have also been outstanding improvements in pharmaceutical packaging over the past few years too, and some of this technology is likely to filter into food packaging too. These include:

• Dessicants incorporated into plastics
• Barriers and closure systems
• Oxygen scavengers in plastics
• Odour absorbers in plastics

Features like labels with improved opacity (for clear labels) are already being used widely on glass and plastic bottles (and jars). The example below is a client of ours. You can see the lovely texture and colours of the products (and can barely see the label).

Need packaging design experts who love smart, sustainable solutions? Call 3366 8166 or contact us today.

The post Packaging film innovation appeared first on Creative Passion.