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HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR PACKAGING IS TRULY SUSTAINABLE
It’s true, packing materials can create a lot of waste in our environment. That is why it is so important to be mindful of the products you are working with. By choosing more sustainable materials, you can reassure your consumers that your company cares about the environment.
Sustainability is a growing concern for consumers across every industry. Some consumers are even willing to pay more money for products if they are made from environmentally friendly materials. Here at Millennium Packaging, we are committed to partnering with suppliers who are developing and using more eco-friendly technology.
Since we know that sustainability matters, the larger question remains: How can you tell which materials are truly sustainable? The word sustainability itself has become a marketing buzz word. This article aims to educate you on sustainability and how to ensure you choose products that align with your company values.
BIODEGRADABLE Packaging
When it comes to quality, our Bio-V Stretch Film is the way to go when it comes to biodegradable film. We have partnered with Valgroup, a worldwide manufacturer and recycling leader who is dedicated to developing the best sustainability practices. This film can be purchased at a price equal to traditional film and can be used for shrink bundling film, trash can liners, stretch film, and T-Shirt bags.
Most biodegradable films rely on the sunlight to assist with the degradation process, but Bio-V is different. This film is made with Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) resin, which helps this film degrade quickly by attracting over 600 microbes that eat the plastic. This means that any BIO-V buried in a landfill or dump can still biodegrade despite not having access to sunlight.
This film was not taken to the market lightly, it was first taken to a US accredited lab in New Mexico for testing. This testing showed that Bio-V stretch film packaging material will be fully broken down within 5 years in a testing environment without plastic microparticle emissions.
WHO IS DOING THE TESTING?
When you are deciding on a biodegradable or otherwise sustainable product, it is important to know how these claims are validated. The best way to validate claims that a product is biodegradable or not is to have the product tested by an outside laboratory. If third party testing has not occurred, then the product cannot be deemed biodegradable.
Another factor is that some companies will include additives to their products and claim that they are biodegradable because they contain these additives. However, if no testing on the product was completed then there is no way to know if the additive is effective in that product making any sustainability claims false.
POST-CONSUMER RESIN PCR STRETCH FILM
About 15 years ago you would never see the words plastic and sustainability in one sentence, but the industry has come a long way since that point. If you are looking for a way to integrate more recycled content into your packaging process, adding recycled film in secondary packaging is a great option. Stretch film and shrink bundling film is a quick and cost-effective way to achieve overall recycled content targets.
Valgroup’s Post-Consumer Resin (PCR) Stretch Film is a product made from 25% post-recycled content. This product contributes to the circular economy, increasing sustainability for any company. In addition to creating recycled products, Valgroup uses pyrolysis, a method of turning plastic into oil by way of heat. This oil is made into polymers that create all kinds of packaging materials.
The great thing about our PCR stretch film PCR shrink bundling film is that it is a thin film that has maintained its appearance and durability. The thin film allows our customers to wrap their products with less product. While this film helps you meet your environmentally conscious goals, the price is also equal to most film products out there.
RECYCLED Packaging Vs RECYCLABLE Packaging
There are some products that are made of recycled materials, such as our PCR film that is made from 25% post-recycled content. But let’s not forget about products that can be recycled after use as well.
Our Sealed-Air Cryovac Shrink Film, is an excellent example of packaging material that can be recycled. This polyolefin material meets the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) code “4” category, which means that it can be introduced in the low-density polyethylene recycling stream. Materials that are an SPI code “4” are often turned into garbage cans, furniture materials and other household products.
If you are looking for a recycling collection center near you please visit the Sustainable Packaging Coalition or How2recycle to find a location near you.
ENSURE YOU ARE MAINTAINING QUALITY WITH SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS
Purchasing and working with the most sustainable products are important. However, it is also important to ensure you are getting quality products so you can maintain a lower overall carbon footprint. Take thinner, poor quality stretch film as an example. This film is likely to break either as you wrap your pallets in the warehouse or during shipping. This leads to increased waste and requires extra transportation to and from the warehouse to repair and repackage products.
MILLENNIUM’S SUSTAINABILE PACKAGING PLAN
Millennium Packaging’s customer first approach to packaging solutions helps us customize your packaging needs, while keeping sustainability in mind. As we continue to look for new and innovative ways to offer our customers sustainable products, you can rest assured that you are getting the best products to meet your needs.
Reach out today and ask how Millennium Packaging can help your company package products in a more responsible and sustainable way.