Innovative Packaging Materials Beyond Cardboard

In the modern economy, sustainability and eco-friendliness are infiltrating every industry, and for good reason! Consumers are increasingly voting with their wallets, showing loyalty and support for brands that demonstrate their dedication to protecting the planet. One such way to do so is by mindfully choosing packaging materials for sustainable purposes. The king of sustainable packaging materials is considered to be cardboard/paper.

Being made from renewable, recyclable material, cardboard and paper mailing solutions are perceived by many as the pinnacle of environmental-friendliness in packaging material. However, there are other innovative packaging materials out there changing the way that many businesses approach their commitment to sustainability. But what materials are sustainable enough to match up to paper products? This blog will explore some of the innovative packaging materials giving cardboard a run for its money in 2024 and beyond.

What are sustainable materials that compare to cardboard?

Oceanix Collation Shrink Film
Marine pollution is one of the major environmental challenges facing our earth’s ecosystems. It’s gotten so out of hand that there are multiple floating island-like garbage patches, damaging oceanic life systems and having major impacts on biodiversity. Oceanix Collation Shrink Film is a solution that takes maritime waste like fishing nets and ropes from the sea, transforming them into lightweight, shrink films for the drinks and beverage industries.

Beyond simply helping to clean up oceans, another environmental benefit of Oceanix Collation Shrink Film is that it’s recyclable in a closed loop system. Also, it’s significantly more efficient than virgin materials in several ways, such as:

18x more efficient on CO2 pollution
6x more efficient on ozone formation
8x more efficient on particle pollution
11x more efficient on fresh-water use
5x more efficient on ocean acidification
2x more efficient on freshwater toxicity
43x more efficient on fossil resource use

Biobased GreenPE
While cardboard is useful in many contexts, it lacks many of the attractive lightweight and waterproof qualities of plastic for transporting goods. That’s where innovations like biobased GreenPE come in. GreenPE is a fully sustainable thermoplastic derived from sugar cane, a crop known for water efficiency and a remarkable ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The material is largely used for mailing bags, with each kilogram saving 2.85kg of CO2 compared to conventional oil-based polythene. Along with being a renewable, carbon-friendly alternative to traditional plastic, GreenPE is also recyclable in a closed-loop system.

Consider the alternatives in eco-friendly packaging materials

If you’re on the hunt for environmentally friendly packaging materials, there are directions you can go beyond cardboard and paper. Boxes and paper mailers have abundant uses, however, sometimes packaging tasks require the qualities of plastic. We’re proud to utilise Oceanix Collation Shrink Film and GreenPE in our packaging solutions at Duo, constantly focusing on innovation for the sake of sustainability.

For more information about our range of sustainable packaging options arrange a call with one of our team here.