We are all taught, practically from our first days in kindergarten, that we must reduce and reuse and recycle. These three R's remind us all that we have a responsibility as well as an opportunity to change what occurs on our planet and make changes for the better. If you are worried about how we can make thermoformed plastics a bit more sustainable, you will be pleased to learn that plastics don't have to be a burden to the environment.
1. Virtually All Thermoformed Plastics Are Recyclable
One of the best aspects of thermoformed plastics is that almost all of them can be recycled. Certain materials, such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) are accepted widely by curbside recycling systems. These two types of thermoform plastics can be used to create detergent bottles, water bottles, bags and custom food packaging, just to name a few.
If you are a manufacturer that needs custom food packaging or another type of packaging, these two thermoplastics might be excellent choices to consider, as consumers can simply use your product and then toss it into their recycling bin. While other types of plastics are recyclable, these two are the easiest for Americans to recycle.
2. Thermoformed Plastics & Reduce Package Sizes
Unlike cardboard, aluminum or glass, thermoplastics are quite easy to form into almost any shape. This means you can use less packaging and still provide plenty of protection for a product. A thermoforming company can create a custom food packaging or product packaging design that truly limits the amount of materials needed overall. This provides companies with the opportunity to reduce plastic use and provide consumers with recyclable packaging at the same time.
3. Weight Makes A Difference
Shipping costs are exorbitant, and every time we ship something via truck, train, ship or airplane, precious fossil fuels are used and more pollution is created. Using thermoform plastic can help reduce the use of these fossil fuels and lessen pollution simply because these materials are very lightweight. For instance, if your packaging is lightweight, you can fit more products onto a truck before you reach its weight limit. This means fewer trips are needed to move a larger number of products. This also saves money as you won't have to pay for as much shipping as you would if you used heavier packaging.
4. Eco-Friendly Packaging Is On The Rise
While most thermoformed plastics are recyclable, you also can look at even more sustainable options. For instance, perhaps your retail package or custom food packaging could be produced using thermoformed materials that contain recycled content. Another option would be to consider a starch-based type of plastic that is created from natural, renewable materials rather than synthetic plastics.
1. Virtually All Thermoformed Plastics Are Recyclable
One of the best aspects of thermoformed plastics is that almost all of them can be recycled. Certain materials, such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) are accepted widely by curbside recycling systems. These two types of thermoform plastics can be used to create detergent bottles, water bottles, bags and custom food packaging, just to name a few.
If you are a manufacturer that needs custom food packaging or another type of packaging, these two thermoplastics might be excellent choices to consider, as consumers can simply use your product and then toss it into their recycling bin. While other types of plastics are recyclable, these two are the easiest for Americans to recycle.
2. Thermoformed Plastics & Reduce Package Sizes
Unlike cardboard, aluminum or glass, thermoplastics are quite easy to form into almost any shape. This means you can use less packaging and still provide plenty of protection for a product. A thermoforming company can create a custom food packaging or product packaging design that truly limits the amount of materials needed overall. This provides companies with the opportunity to reduce plastic use and provide consumers with recyclable packaging at the same time.
3. Weight Makes A Difference
Shipping costs are exorbitant, and every time we ship something via truck, train, ship or airplane, precious fossil fuels are used and more pollution is created. Using thermoform plastic can help reduce the use of these fossil fuels and lessen pollution simply because these materials are very lightweight. For instance, if your packaging is lightweight, you can fit more products onto a truck before you reach its weight limit. This means fewer trips are needed to move a larger number of products. This also saves money as you won't have to pay for as much shipping as you would if you used heavier packaging.
4. Eco-Friendly Packaging Is On The Rise
While most thermoformed plastics are recyclable, you also can look at even more sustainable options. For instance, perhaps your retail package or custom food packaging could be produced using thermoformed materials that contain recycled content. Another option would be to consider a starch-based type of plastic that is created from natural, renewable materials rather than synthetic plastics.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys blogging about how stuff is made. For further information about custom packaging solutions, or to find out more about thermoform plastics, please check out the Indepak.com website now.