I lately requested my community of LinkedIn connections to inform me in regards to the coolest sustainable packaging improvements they’ve come throughout. I obtained an even bigger response than I anticipated.
Earlier than I leap into what I discovered about — all the things from edible cups to seaweed take-out packing containers — let me step again a minute. I don’t consider all packaging ought to be made out of compostable supplies. That merely doesn’t match each utility — and sometimes reuse, refill and recycling may be higher options. As well as, compostable supplies are usually not essentially sensible. Not everybody has quick access to composting of their houses and companies.
That stated, a number of cool improvements are on this house, a lot of which my crowdsourcing uncovered.
Listed here are seven of my favorites and why:
To-go cups
I’d be very stunned should you’re studying this text and haven’t heard of us speaking in regards to the want for innovation in to-go cups. It appears everyone seems to be attempting to innovate across the takeaway cup and The Good Cup might have unlocked some new potential with its modern, lid-free design. These cups are marketed as dwelling compostable and recyclable and might even be made with envoPAP paper created from discarded agricultural fibers. The web site touts plastics financial savings, cupboard space discount and price financial savings on high of the end-of-life advantages.
Seaweed, seaweed, SEAWEED!
Tons of firms are popping up within the seaweed packaging house. In addition to being compostable, seaweed additionally advantages from very quick development charges (10-15 ft per week) which means it may be harvested in excessive portions and may also sequester a whole lot of CO2 from the ocean. Examples of firms making seaweed packaging embody NotPLA, SWAY, B’Zeos and others.
A styrofoam substitute
Cruz Foam makes use of upcycled chitin, a biproduct of shelling shrimp for the seafood market, and was initially conceived as a surfboard materials. Listed as each curbside recyclable and compostable, this materials might be a substitute for EPS and EPE foams in protecting and chilly chain packaging purposes.
Bamboo lipstick tubes
Magnificence and private care packaging may be an end-of-life quagmire as a result of the small codecs complicate recycling. To supply one answer for this difficulty, Clear Filter Packaging has created jars, lip balm tubes, twist-up stick packages and different codecs from bamboo which are industrially compostable. Some intriguing reuse options additionally pop up right here.
Luggage and straws
On the subject of eliminating plastic waste, flexibles akin to wraps and baggage could be a massive problem. Kansas Metropolis-based Biolo gives options for each baggage and straws which are created from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and authorized compostable byTÜV for each dwelling and industrial composting.
The OCG (Unique Compostable Gangster)
Any record speaking about compostable packaging has to say Ecovative. Produced from hemp hurd and mycelium, Ecovative packaging supplies could be a substitute for expanded foams, paper board and plastic packaging. The fabric is dwelling compostable and grows instantly in a mould for the form wanted within the ultimate utility. I’ve at all times thought-about Ecovative one of many OGs of the compostable packaging world.
Edible cup, anybody?
Amai Edible Cups are touted as nutritious, versatile and environmentally pleasant. The cup created from upcycled grains has solely 56 energy for these watching their weight and is marketed as moisture resistant for 45 minutes and in a position to withstand leaking for 12 hours.
I’d love to listen to about some other cool new packaging about! Simply write to me at [email protected].
