Recycling schemes exist for most types of plastic and cardboard packaging. But many companies are keen to do more. Perhaps you want to prove your environmentally friendly credentials and cut your carbon footprint further.
Using eco-friendly packaging can demonstrate to consumers and stakeholders a more conscientious approach to the earth’s resources. And we can help you do that, with more sustainable contract packing materials.
You can specify any of our co-packing services – shrink wrapping, flow wrapping, bagging and hand-picking and packing – with eco-friendly packaging alternatives.
The range of more environmentally friendly packing materials is wider than you might think.
Some qualify for Food Safe and BRC accreditation, for containing or wrapping food or other perishable items. Some are fully biodegradable and will break down in a home compost bin. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, suitable applications and limitations.
Here are just some of the eco-friendly packaging options we can source:
- Film containing a percentage of recycled plastic, reducing the use of virgin materials in its manufacture.
- Bioplastics. As an example, polythene is made from polymerised ethylene, usually sourced from oil. But it’s possible to extract ethylene from sugar cane. Polythene manufactured from a renewable food source can be recycled with normal polythene, but is not biodegradable.
- Biodegradable films. These break down in a domestic compost heap, leaving no toxic waste at all. That degradable quality makes them unsuited, however, to applications where they may be exposed to moisture. A starch-based film might work for bagging items, but it can’t be used as shrink wrap. Some films classified as biodegradable still contain plastics, cannot be recycled and leave fragments of plastic as they degrade; these are likely to be banned, at least within the EU.
- Sugar cane-based film. A stretch film for pallet-wrapping, it’s completely recyclable and made from up to 80% renewable resources.
- Lightweight shrink-wrap. Extra-thin, lightweight films that use less raw material in their manufacture and reduce weight and therefore fuel used in distribution, but that still stand up to the rigours of packing.
As you can see, not every option brings the same sustainability benefits, and not every option is suitable for every packing or packaging task. It’s all about the practical application and what matters most to you.
If you’d like a contract packing order fulfilled with more environmentally friendly packaging, we can help you decide which method achieves the right balance between financial sustainability and environmental sustainability.
Contact our team for a no-obligation chat about your options; just call 0845 838 0040 or email [email protected].
Typical products we can pack with eco-friendly packaging:
- Books, CDs and DVDs
- Bottles and cans
- Trays of products
- Samples bundled with full-size items
- Games and gift packs
- Calendars and greetings cards
- Hair-care and beauty products
- Product samples and free gifts
- Leaflets, brochures, magazines, stationery and scratch cards
- Confectionary
- BOGOF product promotions
- Hand-packed items
- Pallet deliveries.
Contact Codex today for competitive prices and a smaller carbon footprint. Email [email protected] or call 0845 838 0040.
