Preparing for a work day can involve several things: thinking of what you are going to wear, preparing the things you need for your daily activities and preparing your food. While the first two activities can be done in right before leaving for work, the food related one may take more time. You may need to think of what you want to eat, then you prepare it and finally, you put it in the right food containers. If you are interested in using quality products, you may consider the eco-friendly food packaging products.
Eco-friendly food packaging benefits
Eco-friendly food packaging represents an alternative to plastic products. It has some great benefits which contribute to the protection of the environment.
1. Can decrease your carbon footprint
These food packaging products can be made using eco-friendly materials such as bamboo. Using them instead of other materials like plastic can help you reduce your carbon footprint and the waste of natural resources.
2. They are biodegradable
Some eco-friendly food packaging products are biodegradable. They have little to no negative impact on the environment, meaning there are few chances for them to harm nature. Yet, this depends on the type of material used and what is written on the label. Some food containers may be recyclable. It’s meaningful to pay attention to what you’re buying.
3. Multiple uses for your old eco-friendly food packaging
If you are thinking of replacing your eco-friendly food packaging, don’t throw the old ones away! You can use them for other purposes such as keeping spices or other ingredients in them. Instead of buying new containers, you can reuse the old ones. It can help you save some money and do a good deed for the environment.
Types of eco-friendly food packaging
There are different types of eco-friendly food packaging products. We’ve separated them into 3 categories: food containers, drinking bottles, and lunch bags.
Food containers
When you are preparing food for the next day, you want to put it in a container which keeps it fresh and allows you to take quite a variety of meals with you. From sandwiches, cooked food, to fresh vegetable and fruit salads.
Eco-friendly food packaging products come in different shapes and sizes. Depending on how much food you want to take with you at school or work, you can choose from small to big containers. Also, they can allow you to take different types of meals in one container, as they may have separate parts. This way, you can put a salad and some cooked vegetables without worrying the two will mix up.
If you like foods with dressings, you don’t have to worry they will spill in your bag. These products close neatly and keep your food in the right place.
Drinking bottles
Drinks are also an important element. If you like making coffee or homemade juices and smoothies, you need an eco-friendly bottle to keep them hot or cool and to not allow them to spill. It can be a better choice than a simple plastic bottle, in terms of resistance and eco-friendly material.
Lunch bags
You may want to keep all your food in one single place. This is why you may need a lunch bag. Made of eco-friendly materials such as cotton, it can be reused several times.
Silicone lunch bags are another option. Generally, they don’t retain food smells and can reduce the need of buying new plastic bags. It all depends on what you’re looking for.
Plastic food packaging
Generally, we see food packaging made of plastic. Production of this material can have powerful impacts on the environment. Plastic is generally made of petroleum or natural gas, non-renewable resources, meaning it requires limited resources. Also, their extraction uses energy-consuming processes.
Their manufacturing and destruction process contribute to the pollution of air, soil, and water, as it releases toxic chemicals and substances. This can affect flora, fauna and our health as well.
What’s more, not recycling plastic can lead to an even greater pollution. In the US, only 2% of plastic bags are recycled due to high costs for this process. A plastic bag takes between 15 and 1000 years to disintegrate.
Further recommendation
If your eco-friendly food packaging products have broken or cannot be used anymore, recycle them! It’s important to complete the cycle in order to maintain a healthy environment.