How Paper Packaging is Better than Plastic Packaging

Paper Packaging vs Platic Packaging:

Many companies are switching from plastic to paper packaging to be more environmentally friendly, especially since a new tax on plastic will go into effect in 2022. But there are also environmental problems with switching to paper. Before we get into details, Rami Paper Packaging is well known and one of the best paper cans packaging supplier and paper tube suppliers you can find online. 

For example, making cardboard uses a lot of water, makes emissions, and could lead to more trees being cut down if it isn’t sourced in a sustainable way. On top of that, it’s hard to recycle things that have food or other waste on them.

So, is it true that paper and cardboard are better for the environment than plastic? Could bioplastics solve all the problems with sustainability? In this article, we’ll look at the bigger picture and talk about the pros and cons of both plastic and paper.

Plastic:

Plastics were made by accident in 1907, but when high-density polyethylene was made in the 1950s, they became more popular. Plastics are made from fossil fuels, which are clearly not a source that can be used again and again. It is thought that about 4% of the world’s oil production is used as a raw material to make plastics. Because of this, plastic is not seen as good material in terms of being able to be reused and being environmentally friendly.

The problem is that we use plastic so much in modern life that it might be hard to get rid of it completely because of all the good things it does.

The Pros of Plastic Packaging:

Even though plastics are bad for the environment, some people may find it hard to give them up for a number of reasons. Here’s what they are:

Low Cost: 

Of all the common packaging materials, plastic is the cheapest.

Excellent Durability: 

Plastics don’t break or get damaged easily, and they can withstand falls and minor damage without breaking. This makes them a great way to protect yourself. When plastic containers are stacked on top of each other, they usually don’t get broken. This makes it easier to move things.

Plastic doesn’t break down for about a thousand years, so it can last for a long time without getting damaged. But this is a pro and a con at the same time.

Most plastic materials weigh almost nothing compared to alternatives like glass and wood, which is great for reducing the footprint when transporting products that are packaged in plastic.

Great Range of Uses: 

Plastic packaging comes in a lot of different shapes, from flexible and adaptable ones like plastic bags to strong and durable ones like plastic containers.

Cons of Plastic Packaging:

As we’ve seen, plastics have a number of easy benefits for businesses, but that doesn’t mean the cons should be ignored.

Harmful to Environment:

 

About 381 million tonnes of plastic are made each year, and 5 trillion or more pieces of plastic are found in the world’s water. But more and more people want recycled materials in their plastics, which is speeding up the process of recycling plastics. Some other negatives are:

The Large Carbon Footprint of Production: 

 

Making plastic also puts too much carbon dioxide into the air, which is bad for the environment.

Not Properly Recyclable: 

Plastic can be recycled, but over 91% of the plastic in the world has never been recycled, according to a report.

Long-lasting: 

As stated in the pros, it can take thousands of years to completely break down, which is bad for the environment if it doesn’t get recycled.

Paper Packaging:

Pros of Paper Packaging:

Then, does paper last longer than plastic? There is no doubt that using cardboard is better than using plastic. Here are some of them:

Recyclable: 

Cardboard is made from either recycled cardboard or wood pulp that has been turned into kraft paper. This means that 85.8% of it is recycled in Europe, while most plastic goes to a landfill.

Sustainable: 

Because cardboard is biodegradable and breaks down much faster than plastic, it is much better for the environment than plastic.

Reusable: 

One of the best things about cardboard boxes is that they can be used again. Since the corners are flexible, they can also be folded up when not in use.

Printing and Design:

 It’s easy to print on cardboard, which makes it great for marketing, branding, and advertising.

Cost savings: 

Since cardboard can be used more than once, buying it in bulk can save your business a lot of money.

Long-Term Storage: 

Cardboard can be kept for a long time as long as it is kept away from water.

At Rami Paper Packaging, we have a variety of corrugated cartons that you can use instead of plastic. Corrugated cardboard boxes have many benefits, such as being completely recyclable and better for the environment than most plastics. They are also hard to tear and very cheap compared to other options.

Cons of Paper and Cardboard Packaging:

Even though many businesses are switching from plastic to paper products like cardboard, it’s important to know that cardboard has its own environmental problems.

Less Durable: 

Cardboard doesn’t last as long as plastic does and can be damaged by mold, fire, and water.

Problems with Stacking: 

Cardboard can’t hold as much weight as plastic, so it’s harder to stack without breaking.

Moisture Damage: 

Cardboard isn’t the best way to keep out water and other liquids because water and other liquids can seep into the box and hurt what’s inside.

Paper can’t be Recycled Forever:

It’s said that it can only be recycled between 5 and 7 times before the fibers get too short.

Energy Used during Production: 

A study by Boustead Consulting & Associates found that it takes 3,4 times more energy to make 1,000 paper bags than traditional plastic bags.

Bigger Logistics Footprint: 

Because plastic is lighter and thinner than alternatives made of cardboard, paper-based materials have a bigger logistics footprint.

Deforestation Around the World: 

Trees, which are a renewable source, are used to make paper. But make sure your cardboard or paper is FSC-certified because you don’t want to add to the number of trees being cut down around the world. At Swiftpak, we make it easy for our customers to replant the trees they have cut down.

Conclusion:

Plastic is bad for the environment because it ends up in the oceans and on land, and animals can choke on it. Over time, the sun breaks up the molecules of plastic, which then poisons the soil and hurts the land’s ability to grow crops. When plastic does break down, it can still leave behind tiny pieces of plastic called microplastic, which are also bad for the environment.