What is compostable packaging?
When we think about compostable packaging, it refers to packaging that is made, disposed of and broken down in a way that is better for the environment. Compostable packaging is made from plant-based and recycled materials and is able to return back to the earth quickly and in a way that is safer for our soil.
The benefits of compostable packaging include less carbon being used to produce and reducing the amount of waste that is sent to landfills. It also provides the environment with life-promoting nutrients.
Compostable packaging is preferred over biodegradable packaging due to the fact that there is a certainty that toxins will not be released back into our soils when used.
Compostable vs Biodegradable
The terms compostable and biodegradable are used when ‘describing organic materials breaking down in a specific environment’ (“Biodegradable Plastic: Types, Properties & Material Table”). The main difference between these two terms is that compostable plastics are biodegradable in conditions that are composting. On the other hand, other plastics degrade in the soil.
With Tyler Packaging, we use ‘sustainable packaging that won’t cost the earth’, ensuring that we use the most up-to-date technology. Contact us today to find out more!
When plastic is biodegradable, it can be completely converted into water, CO2 and biomass with the use of microorganisms like fungi and bacteria. The biodegradable plastic is then degraded by these microorganisms that are within the environment and enter the microbial food chain.
There are two types of biodegradable plastics, namely Oxo-biodegradable and Hydro-biodegradable plastics. The process of biodegradation begins with a chemical process and then is followed by a biological one. Oxo-biodegradable plastic is the only type of biodegradable plastic that can be recycled.
In other words, biodegradable items decompose but do not tend to add any benefit to our environment, whereas compostable packaging benefits our soil quality and the environment when it breaks down.
Ban on single-use plastics in England
As of October 2023, the government will impose a ban on single-use plastics within businesses. Items that will be included in the ban include single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and some polystyrene food containers and cups.
England uses 2.7 billion single-use cutlery, which is mostly plastic, as well as 721 million single-use plates per year. Of this total amount, only 10% is actually recycled (Gov.UK).
Any restaurant or retail business that you visit will not have any of these single-use plastics available to purchase, and so it is obvious to see that the government is doing everything in its power to help our environment.
It has been statistically proven that pollution caused by plastics takes hundreds of years to break down, resulting in sometimes irreversible damage caused to our land, rivers and oceans. On top of this, plastic pollution is also a major contributor to emitting greenhouse gas throughout its production process up until its disposal.
At Tyler Packaging, we have helped many businesses find a way to use compostable packaging that is produced as 100% sustainable and compostable. We use renewable materials that break down in a natural manner and in a controlled time frame, giving back to mother nature.
Allow us to help you implement sustainable packaging by getting in touch with our leading experts or following us on Linkedin.
