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Consider the Environment

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 11:19:00 GMT

In this modern environmentally conscious world, it’s important that restaurant and café owners make thoughtful decisions with regards to the food and drink packaging they use. You may find that your café is packed full of Millennials; a generation, that according to many reports, is statistically more in tune with the environmental impact of the resources they use than the generation before them. It therefore pays to make the right decision when deciding which takeaway container your organisation will serve its food in, not only for the betterment of the environment, but to show those ever- enthusiastic millennials that your company really does care . And, it’s important to note that according to one recent American study, two thirds of millennials are willing to pay more for products from sustainability-focused companies.

So, let’s consider the different products available. There’s Styrofoam – it’s been around since the early 1940s but is generally considered to be the most environmentally obnoxious of the products. Polystyrene is produced using petroleum which is a non-renewable resource that is already limited in supply. It’s not biodegradable, and let’s face it that’s one of the first things a modern environmentally conscious consumer will think of when you hand them their take-away food container.

If Styrofoam isn’t popular, what about plastic? Let’s face it, plastic looks good, displays your delicious looking food well, and its easy to seal lids make it perfect for takeaway customers, right? Well, they’re certainly widely used. But there’s another thing us human beings care about and that’s our health. There’s somewhat of an anti- BPA craze going on, suddenly people are fans of having toxic chemicals surrounding their food. Shocking. Perhaps choosing plastic containers that are BPA free would work in your favour? But BPA free products are rarely disposable and more likely reusable. So, unless you want to put up a sign telling your customers to bring in their own BPA-free reusable takeaway containers, you may want to re-think plastic.

Bamboo. sugarcane; these words bring up visions of a beautiful untouched environment. And the great news for you as a restaurateur is that food packing containers are available in this amazing plant based renewable resource. And to top it off, they’re compostable and biodegradable. Unlike the Styrofoam which takes around 20 generations (500 years) to decompose, sugarcane biodegrades in around 60-90 days. And unlike plastic, these products won’t release toxins into your customer’s bloodstream.

With your choice of sugarcane or bamboo, I can almost hear the millennials making their way to your café where they will most certainly tweet or Insta’ about how #environmentally #friendly #you #are.

The post Consider the Environment first appeared on Welcome to Innopack .

Compostable vs Biodegradable vs Recyclable Packaging

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 11:15:00 GMT

What packaging type is best for you?

Packaging has become a part of our everyday life. From ordering parcels through online catalogs to picking up groceries from the local supermarket, our use of packing materials is extensive. This has had an impact on the amount of waste that is generated and ends up in landfills.

According to statistics ,

While it can be argued that packaging is necessary for hygiene and health, materials should be consistent with environmental concerns. Companies are investing in compostable, biodegradable and recyclable packaging . What are the differences between them, how do they benefit the environment, and which is the best option?

Compostable

Compostable products are defined as materials that decompose naturally into their natural elements without leaving any toxic substances in the soil. Compostable products add nutrients to the soil and are expected to decompose at a rate of 90 days or less , which makes them the most environmentally friendly option.

The pros and cons include:

Difficulties:

Advantages:

Biodegradable

Biodegradable products completely break down into their natural elements such that microorganisms in the soil can consume them . Typically this takes a year or less, which makes biodegradable packaging less efficient green wise compared to compostable packaging.

The pros and cons include:

Difficulties:

Advantages:

Recyclable

Recyclable products are anything that can be remade into something new . Packaging labels that come with recycling symbols provide information such as if the material is recyclable, local collections and litter deterrents, or if the material was itself made from recycled waste. Recyclable is the most energy intensive of the three options.

The pros and cons include:

Disadvantages

Advantages

The post Compostable vs Biodegradable vs Recyclable Packaging first appeared on Welcome to Innopack .

Disposable Coffee Cups The inside truth

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 11:11:00 GMT

For The Love Of Coffee

We Aussies love our coffee, so much so that it is estimated around 1 Billion cups of takeaway coffee are sold in Australia each year. This is an extremely significant number of disposable coffee cups in circulation. Manufactures, wholesalers, retailers and consumers, we are all a part of this conversation.

Disposable coffee cups and Sustainability

A topic hot on the lips of many Australians. What becomes of 1 billion disposable coffee cups every year? More and more consumers are concerned with the environmental impact their choices are having on the planet and they are talking about it like never before. Manufactures are becoming more and more aware of the problem and have sought to tackle the problem through innovation.

Its Whats Inside That Counts!

Conventional disposable cups are lined with a substance called Polyethylene or (PE). Lining is necessary because it is the nature of paper to absorb liquid. However, it is this lining which makes it difficult for the cup to be broken down and many recycling depots simply do not have the facilities to recycle cups lined with Polyethylene. The plastic lining in these cups also means that they are not compostable in most cases these cups end up in landfill where it will take approximately 50 years for them to break down.

PLA Lined Disposable Cups – A better choice

PLA or Polylactic acid lining in cups is addressing the need for a more sustainable solution. They are no more recyclable than PE cups however they are biodegradable and can be composted in a commercial facility. PLA is a renewable resource and as it is made from natural plant material it does not leave any toxic residue when it breaks down. If billions of tonnes of toxic waste in landfill leaves a bitter taste in your mouth PLA most certainly sweetens the deal.

How to?

With an extensive range of PLA lined disposable coffee cups available at very competitive prices its worth looking at this more sustainable option. You can check out our whole range of disposable coffee cups. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need some help choosing the right product for your business.

The post Disposable Coffee Cups The inside truth first appeared on Welcome to Innopack .