7 Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Bubble Wrap
Not to burst your bubble, but bubble wrap is one of the most harmful types of packaging on the market. Made from non-biodegradable plastic, this packaging may be satisfying to squeeze and pop, but it is not recyclable and doesn’t break down over time.
Far from eco-friendly, used bubble wrap is buried in a landfill, incinerated, or joins the other eight million tons of plastic waste that escapes into the ocean every year.
When it comes to packaging, it’s important to choose materials that protect your products without negatively impacting the planet. To help you switch to more sustainable packaging solutions, here are seven eco-friendly alternatives to use instead of plastic bubble wrap.
Cornstarch Peanuts
While Styrofoam peanuts have been a popular packaging pick for decades, their polluting attributes are hard to ignore. The good news is there’s a plant-based alternative for these popular peanuts.
Made from maize plants, cornstarch peanuts are toxic-free and fully compostable. Light in weight, this type of packaging filler allows for more cost-efficient and fuel-efficient shipping.
Suitable for packaging a wide-variety of items, cornstarch peanuts are an affordable alternative, and provide the same protection as Styrofoam – without the environmental impact. If you’re looking for the closest thing to classic packaging peanuts, cornstarch is the way to go.
Seaweed Packaging
Unlike petroleum based bubble-wrap, seaweed packaging comes from a plentiful and sustainable natural resource. Expected to be the next top pick for eco-friendly packaging, seaweed is a great alternative to plastic bubble wrap because of its availability, cheap production costs, and ability to degrade after use.
Unlike PLAs made from corn and other crops, seaweed doesn’t compete for land space, nor does it require freshwater to grow. A water resident, its growth helps de-acidify the oceans, and supporting this packaging helps drive demand for more sustainable seaweed farms and products. Simply put, it’s a great boost for ocean health.
While this type of packaging is more delicate than others on the list, it is great for shipping smaller items. That said, it is available in a couple different forms, one of which is even edible! If that doesn’t sound satisfying, don’t panic. Seaweed packaging will break down on its own in four to six weeks, inflicting zero harm on the environment.
Paper Raffia
Did you know Madagascar’s Raffia palm trees have leaves that can span up to 60ft (18m)? With the largest branches of all palm trees, it’s no wonder the locals got innovative with its uses. So, how is this eco-friendly packaging material made?
Paper raffia is produced by first cutting the tree’s leaves vertically, and then drying them in the sun. The result is a strong fibre material that’s soft to touch and perfect for cushioning your packages. Best of all, it’s 100 percent natural, making it an ideal eco-friendly alternative to bubble wrap.
When purchasing raffia, be sure to confirm the material you’re considering is compostable and biodegradable (as it should be). If you choose a coloured option, look for water-based inks.
Though strict laws limit the harvest period of raffia (from June to October each year), still practice due diligence to ensure the raffia is ethically sourced.
Mushroom Packaging
Made from clean, dry mushroom roots and farming residues, this packaging proves shrooms truly are a magical fungi.
Comprised of 100 percent biodegradable and renewable materials, this packaging can grow in a week, and moulds into many shapes and sizes. Its manufacturing does not require light, water, or chemical additives – meaning minimal energy usage and no harmful emissions. Best of all, it takes only 30 days to decompose, and is compostable in your own backyard. Given these eco-properties, it’s easy to see how mushroom packaging contributes to up-cycling by providing new value to agricultural waste that otherwise has few uses.
Sounds too good to be true? Swedish furniture company IKEA currently uses biodegradable fungi packaging to help reduce plastic waste from its products.
Newspaper
Have old newspapers laying around? Use them as packaging filler!
Scrunch up the pages or shred them into strips – both options provide excellent cushioning for fragile products. What’s great about newspaper packaging is it’s recyclable and home compostable.
Don’t have enough newspaper on hand? Ask your friends, family, or neighbours to donate their old issues to your cause. Let them know what it’s for and you may even inspire them to do the same.
“Bee Hive” Packaging
This packaging goes by a few names (GreenWrap, WrapPak), but based on its looks, we like to call it “bee hive” packaging.
This packaging is made of two layers: an inner tissue paper liner, and an outer die-cut kraft paper. When stretched, the outer die-cut paper creates a three-dimensional honeycomb web of cells, which provide excellent cushioning for your packaged items. An innovative alternative to bubble wrap, this bee hive packaging can lock together, eliminating the need for tape.
In addition to its unique appearance, this packaging is cost-efficient, biodegradable, compostable, and fully recyclable. Give it a go, and you’ll soon be questioning why bubble wrap is still around.
Fabric
This is a fabulous option for those of you looking to downsize your wardrobe. From scarfs and sweaters, to tea-towels and ribbons, these fabric items make great packaging filler. Better yet, they can be reused once received.
This option may not be suitable for shipping to and from businesses, but if you’re sending to a loved one, why not add some flare? This is a great way to repurpose fabrics around your home, or you can even make the fabric goods part of the gift. For example, if you’re sending a mug, wrap it in a nice scarf you no longer wear. Et voilà! Two presents!
These seven alternatives only scrape the surface of plastic-free packaging options available today. In addition to using eco-friendly packaging as a sender, be sure to request plastic-free packaging when shopping online too. If the business you’re buying from doesn’t offer eco-friendly packaging, share this article with them so they can get on board with more sustainable packaging practices. Together we can make plastic packaging a way of the past.
To provide businesses with packaging that’s sustainable and suitable for their specific needs, Absolute Sustainability offers Packaging Sourcing. This service assesses businesses’ current packaging usage, and identifies the most suitable eco-friendly alternatives. To inquire about how your business can swiftly switch to green packaging, click here.