Why The Sustainable Materials in Keiding Molded Pulp Are More Eco-Friendly Than Plastic Compostable & Biodegradable Packaging

To meet a growing consumer demand, more companies are starting to use environmentally friendly materials in their brand and product packaging. However, being labeled “biodegradable” doesn’t automatically make a material good for the planet. This is especially true with plastics.

Regular plastic never truly decomposes and 40% of it is made for packaging needs. Using biodegradable and compostable plastic, like molded expanded polystyrene (EPS), is better, but it’s still much less sustainable than the materials found in molded pulp packaging solutions. Here’s more detail about molded EPS and why pulp is a better option for the planet:

What Is Molded EPS?

Let’s start at the beginning. Molded EPS is a foam material made from plastic-based beads. The beads can be placed in different molds then heated to expand together, forming customized shapes. These shapes are frequently used as packaging materials.  

As more customers started to favor biodegradable materials for packaging solutions, manufacturers realized that they needed to find an alternative solution to conventional plastic. Biodegradable and compostable EPS is supposed to be environmentally favorable and easy to dispose and reuse, all while still offering the same level of protection and support. Biodegradable and compostable plastic production is expected to go from 1.5M metric tons to almost 5.3M over the next few years.

Biodegradable And Compostable Packaging: How Are They Different?

Is compostable the same as biodegradable? Not quite, but they’re close. Let’s go over their differences:

Compostable vs Biodegradable

Biodegradable plastics are designed to be broken down completely in nature with no external facilities, while compostable plastic needs to be collected at home or an industrial composting center.

Environmental Impact of Compostable and Biodegradable Plastics

If compostable plastic isn’t properly discarded, it can essentially become landfill. And while biodegradable plastic has more flexible disposing requirements since it can be absorbed by the earth, manufacturers test it in controlled lab conditions to mimic a natural environment, managing the UV exposure, oxygen levels, temperature, and other variables. This means that knowing whether biodegradable plastic will always break down is never absolute.

Keiding’s molded pulp packaging is made exclusively with recyclable materials and uses less water and energy during production, so its carbon footprint is minimal — especially compared to plastic and Styrofoam.

The Durability of Plastic Compostable and Biodegradable Materials vs Molded Pulp

Keiding molded pulp is made of water and natural fibers that can be formed into a specific shape, depending on what it’s being used for. Unlike plastic, it protects products without the need for any additional measures, helping companies cut down on costs while still delivering items in great condition.

Where Consumers Come In: Disposing Biodegradable and Compostable Plastic Is More Difficult Than Molded Pulp Packaging

Once a package arrives at a destination, the recipient will usually dispose of the materials it was shipped in. In turn, a lot of unnecessary waste winds up increasing pollution levels.

The Difficulty with Disposing Plastic Biodegradable and Compostable Materials

• EPS Compostable Plastics: While some compostable plastics can be kept in a compost pile at home, many need to be shipped directly to an industrial composting facility. Items with “home compostable” environmental certifications are the only pieces people can safely compost themselves. Adding to the complexity, many commercial composting sites often don’t accept compostable plastic items even if they have that designation.

• EPS Biodegradable Plastics: As we mentioned above, biodegradable plastic is meant to break down naturally in the environment, but since it’s largely tested in lab settings with curated variables, it’s not as reliable as other biodegradable and green packaging materials.

Keiding’s Molded Pulp Offers Consumers More Flexibility Than EPS Compostable and Biodegradable Packaging Materials

Molded pulp packaging is made up of recyclable and sustainable materials, so it’s much easier to dispose of in an environmentally friendly way. Many recycling facilities are equipped to handle it, so people can discard it in their recycling bins at home without having to worry about whether it ends up in a landfill.

The Sustainable Materials in Keiding’s Molded Pulp Are the Best Option

Keiding’s molded pulp contains sustainable, eco-friendly materials that can be reused and have little impact on the planet. It’s more easily recycled than EPS, breaks down better in the environment, takes less energy to produce, and protects products during the shipping process.

While biodegradable and compostable EPS is better than conventional plastic, it still doesn’t break down well and is harder for consumers to recycle properly.

If you want to help your business while looking out for the planet, molded pulp is your best shipping solution. Contact us today to make the change.