Bio Packaging - A Worthy Alternative

The reasons why BioPak packaging is well worth considering Bio packaging is a worthy alternative to mainstream packaging for a number of reasons. Go green and show your customers that you care about the environment.

What is Bio Packaging?

Bio Packaging goes by a number of names, including:

  • Eco Packaging
  • Green Packaging
  • Compostable Packaging
  • Environmentally Friendly Packaging
  • Bagasse
  • Reed Pulp
  • Sugar Cane Pulp
  • PLA
Whatever the name, the intent of bio packaging remains the same.  That is to reduce the footprint of packaging on the environment.  The environmental footprint includes:
  • Carbon emissions used in the manufacture of the packaging
  • Carbon emissions used in the shipping of the packaging
  • Carbon emissions used in the disposal of the packaging
  • The manners in which the packaging can be disposed of (composting, recycling etc)
  • The amount of fossil fuel used in the manufacture of the packaging
  • The type of natural resources used in the packaging (annually renewable or otherwise)
  • The amount of product that ends up in landfill
Accordingly, bio packaging tends to be manufactured from renewable plant products including bagasse (sugar cane pulp), annually renewable timber / paper, bioplastic, recycled products and some hybrids.

What forms does bio packaging take?

Bio packaging is available in a variety of formats, depending on the use to which any individual eco product will be put.  Examples include:

Ingeo PLA

Products such a cup lids, bioplastic cups, bioplastic paper cup linings, bioplastic containers and more fall into this category.  PLA products are  derived from corn starch, and are compostable in commercial composting facilities as opposed to plastics that will remain in the environment in their original form for extended periods.  The production of PLA emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional plastic production as well.

Bagasse

Packaging made from reed pulp (bagasse) includes bio burger clams, bio dinner clams, various sizes of bio plates and bowls, bio cup trays and more.  Bagasse products are compostable in commercial composting facilities and do not linger in the environment the way that plastic products do.

Paper sourced from annually renewable crops

Products made from paper sources from annual renewable crops include paper bio cups and paper ice cream cups

Recyclable / recycled plastics

Products made from recyclable or recycled plastics loosely fit into the bio category by their ability to be recycled into other plastic products or that they were sourced from recycled pre-existing plastic.  Plastic packaging products are numerous, and include plastic bags, plastic cups and lids, plastic cutlery, plastic straws and more.

How is bio packaging disposed of?

  • Commercial composting facilities.  Currently Industrial compost infrastructure in Australia is limited and the ones that do exist are reluctant to accept compostable packaging due to concerns of contamination, therefore the likelihood of your cup and lid being composted is extremely low
  • Land fill

If Australia hasn't fully harnessed commercial compositing yet, then what's the point?

Commercial composting is just one part of the Bio Packaging story.  Don't forget that the following factors have a massive influence on how green your packaging is as well:
  • Paper is sourced from annually renewable crops
  • Bio plastic made from plants, not oil
  • Zero reliance on fossil fuels to make bio plastic
  • Massive reduction in carbon footprint
  • Sugar cane pulp would otherwise be disposed of in land fill / as industrial waste

Current Benefits of replacing oil based plastics with BioPak’s plant based bioplastics.

In Australia and New Zealand over 1.5 billion standard plastic lined paper cups are disposed of each year.  Converting 1.5 billion standard cups & lids to BioCups & lids would result in:
The greenhouse gas savings equivalent to
  • Driving a new vehicle for 58 443 450 km
  • 281 153 tree seedlings being grown for 10 years
and fossil fuel savings equivalent to
  • 41 835 barrels of oil per year
  • Electricity consumed for 1 month by 85 244 households

How is bio packaging cheaper?

Free Shipping Offer

BioPak bio packaging is a premium packaging line, and is generally more expensive than generic non bio equivalents.  However, the BioPak lines are the only ones on offer at WF Plastic that come with a special free shipping offer for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.  Simply purchase 4 or more BioPak products, and they'll be shipped to you free of charge if you're in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth metro.

Sliding Price Scales

Don't forget that sliding price scales are implemented for almost all BioPak products, making the combination of free shipping plus 5+ or 10+ items even more price effective.  Many of our customers have found that the combination of these two price features have made the BioPak lines cheaper (delivered) than the equivalent generic non bio lines.