PackWisePackWiseExplore everything about sustainable packaging and eco-friendly materials. Gain insights into the circular economy, recycled plastic materials, and how to choose the most climate-friendly packaging.
When choosing packaging, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for the most sustainable option. Each type of packaging has both advantages and disadvantages, depending on material choice, production, and recyclability. The many options are essential for developing packaging that is both environmentally friendly and effective. At Packwise, we are here to guide you in finding the best solution for your needs.
As a customer at Packwise, you are an important part of the process. Our goal is to ensure that you receive the most climate-friendly and efficient packaging that meets your specific requirements. We offer several solutions:
Refillable packaging, also known as reusable packaging, is a practical way to reduce single-use consumption and waste production. This type of packaging helps minimize the need to produce new packaging, saving raw materials and energy while reducing waste. Refillable packaging solutions contribute to a more sustainable future.
Monomaterial packaging consists of a single type of plastic or material, as opposed to multi-layer materials that combine different types of plastics and metals. By using monomaterials, you make the packaging easier to recycle and reuse, which supports sustainable production.
As a customer at Packwise, you are part of the journey in developing packaging design for your own product. You are in control, and we do our best to advise and assist you throughout the process.
Click on the images below to learn more about the types of plastics.
Virgin plastic is made from fossil materials that have not been used or processed before. This means that virgin plastic is a pure form of plastic that has not been exposed to consumers previously. It is, in fact, new plastic that is being produced for the first time.
There are many different types of virgin plastic. The plastic can be either soft or hard, and the material can be used for bottles, containers, and pipes. Additionally, it can also be used for sportswear and other textiles. The production of plastic is energy-intensive, as 4% of the world’s oil production is used solely for plastic processing. The production of virgin plastic begins with the distillation of crude oil at an oil refinery. Here, the crude oil is separated into smaller components. Of the oil products that come out of the distillation process, it is primarily gas oil and naphtha that are used to make plastic. You can view our selection of virgin plastic packaging in our product catalog.
Ocean Waste Plastic is man-made plastic waste that has unfortunately found its way into the world’s oceans, which you can read more about in our blog post.
Plastic can end up in the oceans for various reasons. Often, it is accidental, where waste is left behind and then taken by the wind, eventually making its way into the oceans. However, there are also places where plastic waste is deliberately thrown into the sea. You can read more about plastic in the ocean on our blog.
The majority of the waste we find in the oceans comes from activities on land. The remaining portion of the waste comes from activities at sea. Annually, 8-10 million tons of plastic are released, which is equivalent to 8 million pieces of plastic entering the oceans every day. Looking at it on a day-to-day basis, it means 8 million pieces of plastic end up in the oceans each day.
The plastic products that most commonly end up in the world’s oceans are single-use items. Single-use packaging is not a sustainable product as the packaging is designed for one-time use only. Consumers therefore do not value this packaging the same way they do other recyclable plastic packaging. As a result, single-use plastics are disposed of much more frequently in ways that typically lead to them ending up in the world’s oceans.
Bioplastic is plastic made from biomass, such as corn, sugarcane, and algae. It can be recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable. The material is renewable, but its production has many negative consequences.
The production of bioplastic results in higher amounts of pollutants (pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and chemical processing) from the farms that grow the plants.
There is debate about whether it is a good idea to produce plastic from materials that are also used as food. It is not environmentally friendly, as the materials also serve another purpose – as food.
The production of bioplastic emits fewer greenhouse gases. However, it results in intensive farming, water pollution, and petroleum use. Bioplastic that ends up in incineration releases CO2, while living plants absorb CO2. Since bioplastic is made from plants, it only releases the amount of CO2 the plants absorbed before being turned into plastic. This is often a much smaller CO2 emission compared to plastic made from fossil materials.
In this way, bioplastic seems like a better choice for the climate than conventional plastic. However, factors such as transport and energy also come into play. Using waste materials with no other purpose to produce bioplastic has a lower climate impact than if the biomass is produced abroad and needs to be imported. The process of producing bioplastic is more energy-intensive than producing traditional plastic. For example, producing compostable plastic bags requires 2.7 times more energy than traditional plastic.
Therefore, it can be difficult to definitively say whether bioplastic is more or less environmentally friendly than virgin plastic.
Recycled plastic is plastic that has been reused. It is an environmentally friendly packaging option that many manufacturers use to reduce waste and CO2 emissions. Additionally, there is high demand for this eco-friendly packaging solution from consumers. Every time we recycle 1000 kg of plastic, 1500 kg of CO2 is saved.
Plastic consists of monomers, which are small molecules that bond together to form polymers. These monomers are crucial for whether the plastic can be recycled, depending on the number of them in the plastic.
For plastic to be recycled, it should ideally only contain one type of monomer. Plastic with just one type of monomer is a pure material that is perfect for recycling. Clean plastic can easily be sorted and recycled.
+ Easy availability
+ Very transparent and shatterproof
+ Pressure resistant
– Heat resistant
– Production leads to high CO2 emissions
– Partially derived from crude oil
+ Resistant to low temperatures
+ Strong and rigid
+ High tensile strength
– Can crack under stress
– Little to no UV resistance
+ Low thermal conductivity
+ Resistance to chemical stress cracking
+ Good durability
– Heat resistance
– Heavy
+ Resistant to acids and bases
+ Can be treated as transparent
+ Easy to process and mold
– Little to no UV resistance
– Heat resistance
– Prone to cracking
+ Water, chemical, and cleaning agent resistant
+ Good impact strength
– Susceptible to UV degradation and oxidation
– High flammability
– Heat resistance
+ Water, chemical, and cleaning agent resistant
+ Good impact strength
– Susceptible to UV degradation and oxidation
– High flammability
– Heat resistance
Circular economy is a method where we focus on recycling and reducing waste to lower CO2 emissions. Unlike a linear economy, where products are produced, used, and discarded, circular economy strives to recycle and maintain the value of raw materials. By supporting a circular economy, you contribute to a more sustainable future.
The transition from a linear to a circular economy requires us to change our perspective on product life cycles and work on recycling materials rather than discarding them. It is a crucial part of creating a more sustainable production and consumption system. Contact us, and let us help you choose the most environmentally friendly packaging for your needs.
