5. Cellulose
It might come as a surprise to learn that the thin, plastic-like material known as cellophane is both plant-based and fully biodegradable.
Cellophane is made from cellulose, which is found inside the cell walls of plants and consists of a long chain of sugar molecules. When several of these chains are bonded together they form microfibrils, which are rigid.
Not only does cellulose provide the basis for an environmentally friendly form of packaging, but cellophane is also moisture, oil, and heat resistant. Better still, it is the most plentiful biopolymer in the world.
5 Types of Plant-Based Packaging Materials
Different types of plant-based packaging include:
1. Bagasse
As a by-product of harvesting sugarcane, bagasse is a naturally renewable resource. The material is workable and durable; can hold hot, wet, and oily foods; and is grease-resistant, which means it has wide applications in packaging for hot and cold foods.
3. Paper and Paperboard
Paper and paperboard packaging is made using virgin or recycled pulp. The former creates a more durable end-material, which can be used for packaging products including greaseproof paper and rigid boxes.
Recycled pulp comes from waste paper products, such as old containers, newspapers, and magazines. Because the end-material’s fibers are weakened during the recycling process, this pulp is more likely to be used for less sturdy items, such as french fry boxes. Packaging produced using 100% recycled paper is referred to as molded fiber.
4. Seaweed
Seaweed, which can be harvested with very minimal environmental impact, is increasingly being used to create plastic-like packaging products. London-based start-up Notpla, for example, has developed a water bottle, known as Ooho, which is made from algae and calcium chloride.In addition, seaweed packaging is most-often edible, which means it can be consumed by humans after use or repurposed as feed for farm animals.
2. Polylactic Acid
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a bio-sourced plastic made using extracts from plants including sugarcane and cornstarch. This bioplastic is most often used to make plastic films and food containers, substituting petroleum-based plastics like PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
Applications of Plant-Based Packaging
Plant-based plastics and other forms of eco-packaging can be categorized as “rigid” or “flexible.”
Rigid packaging is formed of heavier, stronger materials, and might consist of cardboard boxes or bioplastic bottles and containers. Although rigid packaging is typically more expensive and more energy-intensive to manufacture than flexible packaging, it is also better quality and more resilient.
Flexible packaging refers to all types of malleable packaging, including sachets, pouches, stretch film, and seal bands. Flexible packaging is cheaper to produce, easier to use, and more environmentally friendly.
The applications of plant-based packaging span multiple industries. In the food and beverages industry, for example, it is used to preserve and prolong the shelf-life of perishable products such as coffee, baked goods, meats, and fish. In healthcare, it prevents the contamination and tampering of vaccines, drugs, and other medical products during transportation and storage.
Industrial businesses use plant-based packaging to protect equipment and machinery, as well as to package consumer products including everything from toiletries and cosmetics to electronics and appliances.
