If you are involved in some sort of food-related business and you are an environmentally concerned person that does not want to contribute to the pollution of our planet, maybe you should start offering your products in eco-friendly food packagings. Currently there are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies that offer all kinds of wrappings and containers on the Internet, all made of recyclable and completely compostable materials. You need to know that they do not affect the taste of both food and drinks in any way and are perfectly suitable for hot as well as cold products.
The first type of eco-friendly food packagings I would like to comment on are the paperboard ones. Needless to say, their biggest advantage is the fact that they are made of a renewable natural resource. Some manufacturers even use recycled materials for the purpose. Moreover, they are extremely light, which makes them quite convenient to carry and are suitable for all kinds of food and drinks. However, they have one considerable disadvantage – in most cases they cannot be used again.
PLA or polylactic acid is another material that manufacturers tend to use in the production of food and drink packagings. It is made of renewable natural resources such as corn starch, tapioca roots, or sugarcane. PLA cups and boxes are incredibly light, yet they cannot be easily broken. Typically, they are used for cold food and drinks. This type of containers are non-toxic and absolutely safe to people. Furthermore, they are compostable. Not to mention the fact that they can be washed and used again. PLA is also used in the production of tea bags.
Bagasse is yet another green material, commonly used for the production of tableware. It is made of dry sugarcane residue – a recycled material, to put it shortly. Bagasse tableware is thicker and stronger than paperboard one. Plates and bowls, made of this material, can contain hot, cold, wet, and oily food and drinks. And, similarly to the above-mentioned products, they are completely compostable.
When we talk about food packaging, it is just impossible to miss the good old paper bags. They are made of sustainable resources and are recyclable, biodegradable, and fully compostable. Paper bags are perfect for all kinds of sandwiches and cookies as well as other types of meals. Some manufacturers even offer greaseproof ones, which are safe to use in an oven or a microwave.
But apart from the afore-mentioned eco-friendly food and drink containers and packagings, there is this particularly interesting category of edible ones. Right, some cafés offer edible coffee cups made of wafer cones. How cute is that? But there is more. Cookie cups or even edible cocktail “glasses” are also offered at some places.
If you are not involved in any kind of catering business, but you want some DIY ideas of how to pack your lunch or that of your children in an eco-friendly manner, then the following several lines are just for you. You can use an old newspaper to create a nice bag, perfect for sandwiches, cookies, or other treats. You can decorate it with a piece of ribbon in your favourite colour. Another thing that you can do is to make a fabric pouch with a beautiful pattern where you can store all kinds of dry foods. The best thing about it is that it is reusable, you just need to wash it regularly. For hygienic considerations, it is good to wrap your food in a sheet of paper or a napkin, before placing it in the pouch or the newspaper bag.
And, finally, when you do not need your food packaging any longer, make sure to throw it in the proper recycling bin. After all, it is your duty (and mine as well) to keep the planet clean.
The article is written by HireHouseCleaner Maida Hill