Everything you need to know about organic food packaging

Ecological packaging is a real alternative to conventional plastic packaging due to its lower environmental impact and because it responds to the demands of increasingly aware customers. Therefore, it represents a good policy to leap to this format.

What is ecological packaging?

Eco-friendly food packaging differs from conventional plastic protective packaging in the raw material from which it is made.

These products do not come from petroleum derivatives. Therefore, its manufacture and disposal do not increase the emission of greenhouse gases.

On the contrary, biodegradable containers are made with vegetable compounds, such as PLA, which are obtained from corn starch and have suitable properties for food transport.

Using compostable organic packaging, we prevent waste from remaining in landfills or nature for long periods since, due to its structure, it decomposes and returns to the natural cycle without contaminating it.

When in our online store, we say that a product is compostable, it can be disposed of with organic waste to enter a life cycle that will convert the product into an organic substrate. This substrate will serve as fertilizer for new crops that will generate the lactic acid chains necessary for creating the ecological plastic known as PLA. 

Advantages of ecological packaging for food

These products have multiple advantages and properties that make them ideal for any food or beverage business serving the public.

They do not present any difference at a taste level or in their presentation for traditional plastic containers, so the customer will have no qualms about using biodegradable containers for food.

Ecological packaging is valid for a very wide range of temperatures. For example, packages for temperatures of up to 40 degrees and others for higher temperatures are intended for hot food and drinks.

What materials are used to manufacture ecological packaging

There are multiple organic materials on the market for creating ecological crockery, containers and packaging.

Cellulose from sustainable production sources and guaranteed with the FSC seal is used to make the cups. The white finishes do not contain chemical bleach, and the inks for exterior printing are of vegetable origin.

Cups can also be produced with PLA, an ecological polymer derived from corn, potato, or other plants.

For containers that have to withstand high temperatures, CPLA is used, similar to PLA but with additives that enable it to withstand temperatures of up to 85 degrees.

From a sugar cane residue called bagasse, raw material is obtained for manufacturing dishes that allow their use at high temperatures, such as those in the microwave or oven.

Finally, palm leaves can be used to obtain a very resistant material that, when pressed in an artisanal way, generates dishes with a woody color.

If you want to buy protective packaging stuff then buy it from Britwrap as it’s the leading company all over the UK.

When can we say that a container is biodegradable?

Two concepts are biodegradable and compostable, referring to a material's natural degradation process.

The biodegradable concept means that it can be broken down into the chemical elements that form it through the action of animals or plants.

The key to a biodegradation process is the time it takes for a material to be reduced, which can take hours to even years.

When this degradation process lasts between 8 and 12 weeks and can be induced by specific conditions, we say that the packaging is compostable.

Where to buy eco-friendly food packaging

It is recommended that we only go to specialized stores like ours since only then will we have the guarantee and security that all the parameters are met to consider that the products are ecological, biodegradable and compostable.

When purchasing ecological packaging, we must ensure that they have an ecological certification to ensure that their environmental degradation will not lead to any residue.