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Plastic has been widely used in the retail industry for a long time. It was created by scientists and then modified into many shape sand types to fit many industries. Plastic became a necessity in our lives but it soon started showing its harmful effects on the environment. Contamination of plastic waste led to the deaths of many wildlife creatures both on land and sea. Plastic started to affect human health soon after when it was mixed with warm food. Plastic emits harmful gases that when mixed with food cause diseases.
Plastic is non-biodegradable which means that it is very hard to dispose of it. Plastic stays on the land for many years as it has a large half-life before. This is because normal bacteria that are used to decompose other particles naturally don’t work on plastic. Plastic is dangerous to the environment as the gases it omits affect the ozone layer. Plastic although become a part of our daily routine is highly toxic and should be excluded from our lives.
It is essential to switch from plastic packaging materials to other materials to aid in the betterment of the environment. There are many alternatives to plastic such as paper, cardboard, biodegradable plastic, fabric, and acrylic. However, the future of packaging is considered to be paperboard and cardboard as they are the purest form of packaging materials.
Paperboard and cardboard
Paperboard and cardboard are biodegradable
They are much better than plastic packaging. Cardboard and paperboard both are made from natural means. Paperboard is made from cellulose extracted from wood pulp hence it does not require any harmful chemicals to be made. Cardboard is made from layers of paper joined together and corrugated for strength. These papers are Kraft paper and test liner paper. Hence none of them include toxic substances that might affect the environment. Whereas plastic is a toxic material that is made scientifically using chemicals, plastic also emits harmful gases.
Paperboard and cardboard are comparatively cheaper
Cardboard and paperboard are comparatively cheaper than plastic. As cardboard and paperboard are made from natural means they are cheaper to manufacture as compared to plastic which uses heavy machinery and chemicals. Moreover. Both paperboard and cardboard are recyclable and reusable. This means they can be reused in homes and can be recycled in factories. This reduces the overall cost of manufacturing as one piece can be recycled to make a new piece many times.
Paperboard and cardboard are flexible and customizable
Cardboard and paperboard are more flexible as compared to plastic. Boxes and bags made from cardboard and paperboard can be easily customized into desired shapes and sizes. Their sizes can be altered to be made small or large according to the product. The shapes of these can also be altered into rectangular, square, circular, square, etc. shapes. Moreover, as cardboard and paperboard are more durable as compared to plastic they can also be printed upon. Various colors and graphics can be used to make patterns on the packaging. These tactics help make the packaging attractive and personalized with the brand which impacts customers positively.
Other types of materials
- Many other materials can be used as an alternative to plastic. These include:
- Biodegradable plastic: This is plastic that is made naturally and hence is biodegradable. This plastic is more expensive than normal plastic but is less harmful to the environment. It looks the same and can be printed in the same way.
- Acrylic: this material is ideal for making boxes, these boxes can be made in any shape desired. They are mostly used for packaging makeup products, skincare products, and hair care products but are ideal for packaging a range of products.
- Fabric: here any density of fabric can be used whether light or dense and heavy. These bags can be used for a longer period.
- Baskets: these can be bamboo baskets or knitted baskets. These are ideal to store heavier products and can be made into any shape or size.
- Banana leaves: banana leaves are huge and entered the packaging market a while ago. They are customized by creative shapes and prints to package products.
There are many options of materials apart from those mentioned above that can be used in place of plastic. However, the future of packaging is cardboard as the future of purchasing is online through e-commerce, and cardboard and paperboard and best fit for shipment. We’ve spent our lives with plastic but now is the time to make changes Plus Printers will help you make them. It is a USA-based packaging company that provides high-quality, eco-friendly, and customizable packaging.
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