Within our line of work we recognise that we are in control of the impact we have on our planet which is why we use corrugated cardboard over plastic, every time. We have taken this a step further, working closely with Ecologi and Tree Aid to plant trees to preserve our forests as well as providing all of our employees with electric cars so that we limit our production of emissions as much as possible.
Through our packaging we are already helping the environment and we strongly believe that we can all help by changing even the simplest of things in our day to day lives. Below we have listed some eco friendly alternatives to items you may find yourself using in your everyday life so that you can take that extra step towards being actively more eco friendly.
Shopping Bags
In America alone “100 Billion plastic bags [are used] a year, which require 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture” (Biological University). These plastic shopping bags are not biodegradable which means that they can take 500 years to break down and while the world is taking steps towards recycling these plastic bags the best alternative is to switch to paper bags. Brown paper bags are fully recyclable so once they are past their best it is quick and simple to dispose of them in a way that will not have a negative impact on our environment.
Straws
Plastic straws are one of the things that have now been banned from being supplied or sold in the UK from October 2020. They have now been replaced with paper straws. This change has drastically helped with the using less single-use plastic. However many people find that the paper straws begin to soften if used over a long period of time. If this is the case try a reusable metal straw, a perk of this is that it can be taken with you wherever you go!
Wrapping Paper
We would suggest brown paper as an alternative to regular wrapping paper as it is always recyclable. A lot of people struggle with the knowledge of whether their wrapping paper is recyclable or not. If you are not sure then an easy way of knowing is identifying the non recyclable aspects of your wrapping paper. These include glitter, metallic flakes, foil and coloured shapes. Always pair your recyclable wrapping paper with a plastic free sellotape so that the gift receiver can confidently recycle all their packaging without having to peel off the sellotape.
Bamboo Toothbrush
Bamboo toothbrushes as a plastic alternative are not only good for the environment but they also come with some other added benefits. They are proven to whiten teeth, improve oral hygiene and encourage an all round more sustainable living.
As a business selling consumer goods one of the most beneficial things you can do is choose recyclable and recycled packaging. Here at ABC Pack all of our corrugated cardboard packaging can be fully recycled as well as being made bespoke to your business and design needs. For a discussion on how we can work together contact us today on 01603 873 100.