Consumers are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of plastic packaging, and are demanding that manufacturers and suppliers offer more sustainable alternatives.
An increasing number of states and local authorities are also taking action to prohibit single-use plastics such as polystyrene containers.
In response, cornstarch panels have emerged as a non-plastic alternative touted as a sustainable solution to packaging needs, including insulated packaging.
The issue is that recycling facilities and local municipalities are speaking out against their recyclability.
Cornstarch packaging is made through the fermentation process of the corn plant&#;s sugars and starch, which creates polylactic acid (PLA). This is then mixed with polymers made from alkene to create a product that can then be used to manufacture an array of packaging containers from trays and lids to bags, plates and foldable boxes.
Since cornstarch also provides reasonable thermal protection, it is increasingly being used as an insulated packaging material.
In the race to be green, many businesses have embraced cornstarch packaging and, in so doing, accepted many of its claimed environmental benefits without a great deal of scrutiny.
On closer inspection, however, cornstarch packaging is neither the most sustainable insulated packaging solution nor the best in terms of thermal performance.
The main contentious claim made by many manufacturers of cornstarch panels is that they are fully curbside recyclable.
This isn&#;t true.
Cornstarch panels have no recycling value. They cannot be reprocessed into another material that a recycling facility can then sell.
Cornstarch panels are frequently marketed, however, as curbside recyclable on the basis that they doesn&#;t interfere with the recycling process. Even this claim is dubious though.
As a biodegradable material, cornstarch packaging can be composted instead of recycled. However, this is another contentious claim cornstarch packaging manufacturers often make.
Technically, cornstarch packaging is compostable, but there are very few facilities that can compost cornstarch in large quantities.
This is because PLA requires very specific environmental conditions in order to break down. That&#;s to say, a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, a plentiful supply of microbes, and the right amount of moisture.
Even then, the resulting compost is highly acidic and must be mixed with an alkaline substance if it is to be used as a fertilizer.
As such, cornstarch packaging is not suitable for home composting nor do most consumers live close to a facility that can compost it industrially.
So, if cornstarch panels are neither curbside recyclable nor easily compostable, where does this leave businesses and consumers looking for sustainable packaging alternatives?
For insulated packaging solutions, we suggest 100 percent paper-based materials as a superior alternative. The key benefit of using 100% paper insulated packaging is that your customers can conveniently recycle it curbside once received.
Tongqi supply professional and honest service.
IPC&#;s CelluLiner insulated packaging is made using numerous layers of paper that contain thousands of small air pockets per cm3 to substantially slow heat transfer. It&#;s available in various forms to suit different packaging needs:
Plastic packaging materials like parcels, stickers, and polythene bags account for 42% of all plastic produced worldwide.
Unfortunately, it has a very short usability lifetime (typically around 6 months or less). This is where businesses can take advantage of alternative solutions, like compostable packaging.
In fact, compostable packaging has the potential to extend the end-of-life performance of packaging materials.
Compostable packaging is a form of packaging made from various natural materials such as sugar cane, corn starch, potato starch, and wood pulp.
It is a popular sustainable packaging option because microorganisms can break down compostable materials into compost, a valuable fertilizer that enriches plants and soil. This helps reduce a large portion of plastic pollution by driving it away from waterways and landfills.
With home composting, the decomposition of organic waste into compost may take up to 180 days, but industrial composting facilities can decrease this time to 3 months.
In this article, we&#;ll cover everything you need to know about compostable packaging.
Traditional packaging options can be extremely wasteful and harm ecosystems. For that reason, it&#;s important to invest in compostable packaging options that are right for your product and logistics.
Fortunately, several packaging solutions are compostable. These include:
Cardboard and paper: Cardboard made from organic materials can be composted by simply putting it into a compost pile. Only add clean cardboard to compost bins because cardboard treated with chemicals can contaminate the compost and decrease its value.
A compostable cardboard box from EcoEnclose costs between $0.62 and $3.17, depending on the box dimensions.
DimensionsPrice 4" x 4" x 4"$0.62 8" x 8" x 4"$1.89 12" x 10" x 5"$3.17
Bubble wrap: Plant-based bubble wrap rolls are more eco-friendly than the traditional PE plastic ones. Compostable bubble wraps are made up of cornstarch polylactic acid polymers (PLA), and they can be completely degraded within 90 to 180 days.
A 50cm x 50cm roll compostable bubble wrap roll costs around $49.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch packaging materials are a viable alternative to styrofoam and plastics. They are developed from bio-based plastics, like PLA, that can be turned into nutrient-rich biomass through composting.
A compostable cornstarch bag costs between $0.10 to $0.40.
In addition, other eco-friendly packaging options are available for parcel shipping, such as Kraft paper rolls, postal tubes, tissue paper, and compostable mailers and envelopes.
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