SEAWEED PACKAGING

From corn to mushrooms, and then to seaweed. Seaweed is a green packaging solution that’s manufactured using the gelatinous substance agar – found in a variety of seaweeds and algae.

Today we can celebrate the award-winning designers who prototyped seaweed packaging. These designers have developed a method that extracts agar from seaweed and algae. That agar is then dehydrated to produce a material that can be used as packaging. The resulting state depends on the dehydration method used. To create a soft cushioning agent, the material is frozen to produce a stiff, film-like state that’s then compressed.

Being made from a plentiful and sustainable raw material, seaweed packaging could be the next big thing in eco friendly, biodegradable packaging alternatives.

Recycled packaging

Environmentally friendly packaging materials can also come in the form of recycled packaging. These are items that give a second life to plastics that are already in circulation.

By using recycled materials, you're able to conserve natural resources, reduce the amount of waste in landfills, and prevent pollution by limiting the need to collect raw materials.

RECYCLED CARDBOARD AND PAPER

Of course, all these filler materials need to be housed in something, and cardboard boxes are the industry standard. Compared to other materials – specifically plastic – one cardboard box reduces oil and carbon dioxide emissions by 60%. Plus, as an organic material, cardboard is 100% biodegradable and can be recycled 5-7 times. Yet, this doesn’t mean cardboard is a model sustainable material pure of environmental sins.

Plant-based packaging.

Plant-based options are rapidly making inroads into the world of product packaging. As its name suggests, these materials are made out of biological sources — everything from mushrooms and seaweed to corn and food waste.

The right plant-based packaging options will depend on the products that you need to package or ship. If you’re selling food, for example, then you should ensure that the material can protect your product without affecting its flavor (bioplastics are a good solution for this). If you’re shipping bulkier items, then select durable plant-based materials such as packaging made out of cornstarch and mushrooms.

More Info: good earth packaging box