What are The Environmental Impacts of Product Packaging?

Packaging for anything consumes many resources such as water, electricity, chemicals, and wood. Conventional packaging solutions immensely use plastic, and it has a huge impact on the environment. It results in different forms of pollution, majorly air and water pollution. Customized boxes made from cardboard stocks have taken over the old packaging lately. They do not damage the natural environment and are used by almost every business. It is not only safe for the environment but boosts your business through brand promotion and building brand identity.

Causes pollution

Plastic and glass have been the only packaging solutions for years. They have been useful, but now they have impacted the earth in the worst ways. Plastic is non-biodegradable and does not break down easily. Plastic waste from food, clothing and other products is sent to landfills. It is responsible for long-term environmental problems. Some of these packaging wastes are drained into water reservoirs, posing a threat to contaminating potable water. Industries use chemicals to manufacture product packaging. The waste in the form of smoke and emissions pollutes the air. This results in increased respiratory problems and lowers air quality.

Increased health problems

Pollution caused by manufacturing product packaging has a bad impact on human health. When you breathe low-quality air and drink contaminated water, there are more health risks. They are dangerous not just for humans but also for wildlife and marine animals. This pollution has caused many living things to go extinct and taken many humans’ lives. Custom boxes with logo made from plastic or metal look attractive temporarily but are dangerous to use.

Positive impacts of product packaging

Product packaging has irreversible effects on the environment, but modern-day advancements have taken things to a whole new level. As the world has plunged into an environmental crisis, people have started opting for eco-friendly solutions. They are safe and beneficial for the environment. Eco-friendly options are taken out of natural resources such as trees, and they have no disadvantages after they are wasted. They are reusable and recyclable. Comparatively, glass and plastic are non-biodegradable and hazardous for the environment.

Reusable

One benefit of eco-friendly packaging is that it can be reused in a lot of different ways. For example, custom boxes can be used to store some extra stuff at home or the workplace. This reduces the amount of waste that reaches landfills and enhances creativity. Glass bottles that package milk or dairy are also considered eco-friendly because they can be recycled and reused efficiently. Reusability is the biggest advantage provided by these packages.

Biodegradable

If something reaches underground, it is important that it decomposes. Every living thing also decomposes after it expires. Eco-friendly packaging is manufactured from tree pulp and wood with minimum use of chemicals. In many places of the world, they are even manufactured from edible things such as banana leaves and potato peels; they are safe for health and the environment. They are not a harm to the environment as they do not pose long-lasting threats and decompose with time. Comparatively, plastic waste is considered to be harmful to the environment in every aspect. It is unfit for the environment from the time of its manufacturing to wastage. 

Recyclable

Recyclability saves the environment from so much pollution and other problems. Cardboard and glass are believed to be recyclable. The old wastes can be remanufactured to produce new ones. This results in a drop in contamination, pollution, and threat to marine life. The manufacturing rate drops, and so does the use of toxic chemicals. This is the positive aspect of packaging. Custom boxes wholesale often have an awareness message. It comes in pictorial form that says to dump it in the dustbin so it can be recycled.

Custom boxes made from cardboard and kraft stocks have replaced conventional plastic and glass packaging to an extent. They are biodegradable and have no dangerous impacts on the environment. They are preferable to other options.