What Is Biodegradable Food Packaigng

by Sunny Ou Eco-Friendly Packaging for Food and Drinks

If you don't know what is biodegradable food packaging, compostable food packaging and recyclable packaging, the following article will guide you to learn more.

Biodegradable food packaging

This means that the packaging will break down quicker. Biodegradable plastics can break down into micro plastics, which are smaller fragments of plastic. Micro plastics are thought to be damaging if they end up in the ocean although they are thought to be a better, greener alternative to plastic.

If something is biodegradable, given the right conditions and the presence of bacteria, fungi or microorganisms, it will eventually break down to its basic components and blend back into the earth.

These substances should degrade without leaving any toxins behind, although this is not always the case. For example, when a plant-based product breaks down into carbon dioxide, water and other naturally occurring minerals, the substance mixes back into the earth, leaving no toxins behind. However, many materials, even those with a biodegradable label, break down in a more harmful manner.

This can leave chemicals and other damaging substances in the soil. The best biodegradable materials will break down quickly, rather than taking years. They should leave nothing harmful behind and save landfill space.

Not everything that is advertised as biodegradable meets this criteria. If you are running a green business, you should ensure things are accurately labeled and you should make sure you know how to ensure that the materials you are using are efficiently and safely biodegradable.

Biodegradable items include:

Food scraps.

Wood that has not been treated with chemicals to prevent rotting and insects.

Paper.

Some metal, although this may take years.

It is also important to consider the conditions in which biodegradability is encouraged. Some products that will degrade in home compost heaps or in nature will not biodegrade in landfills, where there will not be enough light, bacteria and water to encourage the process.

Compostable food packaging

This means that the packaging breaks down into its original components and therefore can be placed in a food waste bin. Once it is composted, it should not be any harm to the environment.

Compostable packaging will not have the same barrier properties as plastic; for example, if a vacuum seal is required in order to keep the product fresh. Some compostable materials can only be composted through industrial processes which are not widely available.

Compostable food packaging is made, disposed of and breaks down in a way that is kinder to the environment than plastic. It is made from recycled, plant-based materials and can go back into the earth quickly and safely as soil when disposed of in the right environmental conditions.

Recyclable food packaging

This packaging can be processed and used again. Paper, glass, metal and certain types of plastic are able to be recycled. Packaging materials should contain a symbol to inform the consumer if the packaging is able to be recycled.

Most packaging is recyclable but will need to be separated and sorted. It simply means that the packaging is made of materials that can be used again.

As a tableware specialist, MVI ECOPACK aims to provide a sustainable food packaging solution to customers. Our products are made from annually renewable resources like corn, sugarcane, and wheat straw, some of which are by-products of the agriculture industry. We use these materials to make sustainable alternatives to plastics and Styrofoam.