Debunking 3 Common Myths About Eco-Friendly Food Packaging
If you've been in the food business for quite some time now, you're probably already aware of how vital food packaging is. It doesn’t only keep food clean, it is often used to help retain freshness and warmth over a period of time. This decade has seen various trends, such as the use of sustainable materials, giving rise to eco-friendly food containers. These not only put your company in good light but also greatly benefit our environment and reduce our carbon footprint.
Everyone considers paper cups and boxes as a good thing because they are useful while proving to be more environmentally friendly than one-time-use plastics. But that doesn't mean that we can just use it without a care for our environment, and here are the myths that perpetuate a wrong mindset that we want to debunk today
“Recycling solves everything.”
You were probably taught that recycling is an effective way to save the planet. While that is true, it has often led people to purchase even more plastic materials as they believe they are ultimate going through an endless cycle of ‘recycling’ old plastics.
The truth? Recycling is often costly, and the treatment of used plastics and materials can often be harmful to the environment. Some recycling processes are even more costly towards the environment, and it might even be more environmentally friendly to create new papers or plastics instead.
“There are limited sustainable packaging options.”
Because you frequently see paper cups, bags, and boxes that practically look the same, it's easy to think that packaging options haven’t changed in the past decade – and simply not the case at all. With people and businesses' growing interest in keeping their carbon footprint to a minimum, packaging manufacturers have expanded their sustainable options, ranging from different looks to different materials such as recycled paper, bagasse, polylactic acid (PLA), and post-consumer polystyrene.
In some cases wherein the use of plastic is unavoidable, you might even find packaging options that are made dominantly out of eco-friendly materials but still use a minimal amount of plastic. But don't worry because more often than not, these plastics are made of materials that decompose earlier than conventional plastics.
“Sustainable packaging is expensive.”
People turn to plastics when they need a durable solution without an expensive price. Alternatives to plastics are often pricier, which is why most people think that food boxes and cups made out of paper are costly, but that's not necessarily the case – yes, its related cost might seem high upfront, but they offer more returns in the long run, including increased profit and a strong brand image.
Many more people are becoming environmentally aware of their lifestyle, which explains the prevalence of reusable items such as tumblers and metal straws. Businesses known to use eco-friendly packaging attract loyal customers who follow the same agenda, creating a customer base that can sustain your business.
Conclusion
Have you ever wondered why the saying “reduce, reuse, recycle” is said in that order? Because reducing and reusing is more effective than recycling. Yet many people consider the last option first because of the misconceptions we have. We all have a part to play, and businesses that employ many small plastic containers with lids and various takeout boxes can make a bigger impact by reducing the size of their food containers to match the delivered food items.
If you’re looking to make positive changes by getting better fitting food containers like plastic or paper containers, get in touch with us at Supply Smiths, and we’ll be glad to find the best-suited container to reduce your carbon footprint as well.