As deliveries become more and more common in the COVID-19 world, all the waste from packaging has become a bigger concern. Prior to the pandemic, packaging waste was still an issue as many companies were criticized for overpacking their products. However, since the number of delivery packages have surged this past year, this has added the burden of waste and litter to the environment. At the same time, eco-friendly lifestyles have become popular among the younger generations today. As they begin to consider the environmental impacts of their actions, businesses are now embracing sustainability in their products. One way that companies become sustainable is the use of environment friendly packaging.

There are mainly two types of sustainable packaging: biodegradable and recycled packaging. Biodegradable packaging decomposes quickly than its plastic counterparts. One popular biodegradable material is cornstarch. Cornstarch is becoming more and more prominent as alternatives to plastic as its plastic-like properties make it a compatible replacement to current plastic packaging. One recent innovative packaging method is biodegradable packaging peanuts. As styrofoam is gradually banned in many parts of the world, this material has the potential as a sustainable alternative to styrofoam that can protect the product against shocks. 

Another type of packaging is recycled packaging which often comes in forms of recycled cardboard and paper. Cardboard boxes are still the standard packaging method in the industry and can still be recycled when produced under sustainable circumstances. Since paper and cardboard are organic materials, they can easily be recycled.  

Today’s consumerism is problematic to the environment in that it not only leads to a shorter life span of products but also increased waste in its production process, even until it reaches our doorsteps. The movement for sustainable lifestyles are becoming positive forces that are bringing environmentally conscious decisions among many companies. 

Work Cited: 

Levins, Cory. “9 Eco-Friendly Packaging Alternatives for Your Business's Shipping Needs.” Green Business Bureau, Vertuous, 26 May 2020, greenbusinessbureau.com/blog/8-eco-friendly-packaging-alternatives-for-your-businesss-shipping-needs/.