Recyclable vs. Compostable Packaging:
What’s The Real Difference?

Before crafting your custom packaging, you must understand the difference between recyclable and compostable packaging materials. In this blog, you will learn about their pros and cons and their impact on the environment. You will also know which suits your outstanding products and brands.

Javier Morales
Javier Morales
Recyclable vs Compostable Packaging

Concern about environmental preservation and climate change has grown in the past decade. A recent survey shows that 65% of British people view climate change as a serious issue. This marks a significant increase from a few years ago. People choose more nature friendly options, such as recycling cups and custom boxes. But, the realm of nature friendly packaging may be perplexing. Let’s discuss the differences between recyclable and compostable materials in detail. Understanding these distinctions will help make better environmental choices. Also, which one is best for your personalized packaging boxes.

The Waste Hierarchy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Waste management is ranked from best to worst using a concept called the waste hierarchy. This system helps identify the most eco-friendly ways to dispose of waste. It supports governments, individuals, and businesses in making sustainable choices. It tailors waste management solutions based on the type of waste generated. From best to worst, the hierarchy is as follows:

Prevention

Re-Use

Recycle

Recover

Disposal

The trash hierarchy aims to encourage circularity. We should maximize existing resources and materials before extracting new ones. Prioritizing reuse reduces the need for virgin materials. Recycling is, thus, preferable to composting waste materials.

What is Recycling? How It Works And Why It Matters

What is Recycling

The process of turning waste resources into new materials is called recycling. Metals can be repeatedly melted and reshaped without losing quality. The same is true for cardboard boxes; they can be recyclable. In contrast, many plastics degrade with each recycling cycle, becoming less usable over time. In reality, much plastic is "downcycled" into stronger products like composite lumber and park seats. Although downcycling is a better option than nothing, it is still not the best way to recycle.

Recycled poly mailers are not always environmentally harmful. Though most plastic can only be recycled a certain number of times. In an ideal world, we wouldn't have to deal with plastic garbage, but in practice, we use plastics excessively. Using mailers made from 50% post-consumer plastic and 100% recycled poly helps keep plastic waste out of landfills longer. This choice promotes sustainability by extending the life of existing plastic materials. Or, if your business does not use plastic, use 100% recyclable corrugated shipping boxes or 100% recycled kraft envelopes.

What Is Composting? How It Works And Why It Matters

What Is Composting

Composting is the act of turning waste into nutrient-rich soil without leaving behind harmful residue. Bioplastics must undergo specific tests to be deemed acceptable. In contrast, organic materials, such as food waste, are compostable. The final product must meet specific ecotoxicity and regulatory metal limits. Additionally, 90% of the material should decompose within 180 days. Human-made materials, such as paper or bioplastics, can be problematic. They may contain toxins that accumulate in compost. Organic materials like food scraps and yard waste decompose. For this reason, we steer clear of creating compostable packaging for online retailers.

Top Materials You Should Know About

There is now a lengthy list of materials that provide recycling and composting. Thus, you can utilize the following for the creation of your product:

Top Recyclable Materials

Top Compostable Materials

Glass

Bioplastic made from corn

Aluminum

Recycled Bamboo

Hemp

Paper

Paper

Straw Fiber from Wheat

Plastic

Cane sugar

Steel

Cellulose

Cardboard

Fiber

Compostable Or Recyclable: Which Is The Better Choice?

Paper, glass, and plastics can be recycled, while organic materials can be composted. Compared to plastic, compostable packaging is far more environmentally friendly.

Compostable vs. Recyclable: How Do They Differ?

Compostable vs. Recyclable

  1. Items that are compostable instead of recyclable have advantages of their own. They help save natural resources, cut down on waste, and assist the environment. Although they serve the same function, there are clear differences between them. It's important to understand these indisputable distinctions.
  2. Biodegradable, compostable materials are broken down by natural organisms. Fungi and bacteria transform them into nutrient-rich soil. Eco-friendly bowls, food boxes, organic straws, and sustainable packaging are typical examples.
  3. Compostable are nature friendly because they don't contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike standard plastics, they don't fill up landfills.
  4. Recyclable products are made from materials like glass, plastic, paper, fabric, and cardboard. Recycling facilities separate these materials after collection from homes and businesses. They then convert them into new goods. This method lessens the quantity of waste that ends up in landfills. They also convert into electricity and water.
  5. Recycling is crucial for stopping the accumulation of garbage. Its effectiveness depends on a complex system that requires time and effort.
  6. Composting turns the material into nutrient-rich soil that can be utilized to produce plants and keeps our environment's ecosystem healthy, which is something we can all benefit from!
  7. People sometimes assume that biodegradable objects will biodegrade independently and can be thrown away. Composting is not that easy, though.
  8. To compost a product, you need to use either a home compost or a commercial compost facility. Compostable packaging can't be recycled without access to a compost facility. Consumers need either a household or industrial composting option.
  9. Compostable packaging may cause disposal issues if it is not decomposed. Informed consumers can compost at home or take packaging to a facility. When they understand the process, compostable packaging makes sense. Proper knowledge ensures effective composting.
  10. Some experts think recyclable packaging is superior. As it uses preexisting materials and less energy than biodegradable packaging. For example, the production of a plastic coffee cup uses a lot of energy. An organic coffee cup might be better off being reused and recycled than composted. After all, a product is better for the environment the longer it lasts.
  11. One downside of recycling packaging materials is that plastic degrades over time. Eventually, it becomes too worn to be recycled.

It will now need to be disposed of in another way, such as by dumping it in the garbage. Comparing packaging made of recyclable and compostable materials reveals both advantages and disadvantages. But, it does not imply that they must be applied separately. As before said, the two approaches can be combined to reduce carbon footprints.

Recycle Or Compost? What Goes Where

Many people frequently ask whether something should be recycled or composted. Making the crucial distinction between recyclable and compostable materials is necessary to help reduce the quantity of waste that ends up in landfills. Composting works best with organic materials like food scraps, plant-based goods, and yard waste. These materials can be converted into biodegradable, nutrient-rich soil for gardens and landscapes. Comparatively speaking, recycling works best with non-organic materials, including paper goods, cardboard boxes, cotton bags, aluminium cans, and plastic bottles. Although these materials are not biodegradable, they are readily reusable.

Shaping The Future With Sustainable End-Of-Life Strategies

Shaping The Future With Sustainable End-Of-Life Strategies

When assessing its influence, the full lifetime of custom eco-friendly boxes must be considered. Unfortunately, you have no control over your consumer packaging's end-of-life stage. You must trust your customers to dispose of it properly. There are a few things you can do to increase the likelihood that your custom packaging will be recycled at the end of its useful life.

  1. The package prominently displays instructions for recycling and non-recycling. To do this, you can collaborate with The Custom Boxes' talented graphic designers.
  2. Customers who post a photo of their packaging in the recycling bin or otherwise demonstrate that their packaging has been recycled can receive discounts.
  3. Make zero waste packaging a central business component by encouraging circularity on your packaging, website, social media accounts, and other platforms. If you make sustainability a priority in your product design, your customers will be more considerate when it comes time to discard their packaging.
  4. Whenever possible, choose recycled paper boxes, which will eventually biodegrade even if they end up in a landfill.
  5. If poly mailers are more appropriate for your items, invest in 100% recycled materials. This way, you can ensure the materials have been recycled at least twice before ending up in a landfill.

Bottom Line: Choose Sustainability For A Greener Tomorrow

Choosing from the many sustainable packaging options can be difficult. Finding the right solution for your business or application requires careful consideration. You can get help with this from The Custom Boxes. We have over 30 years of experience in offering environmentally friendly packaging solutions. Skilled designers on our team work to cut the packaging's environmental impact. They are dedicated to creating eco-friendly packaging solutions. Offering reusable, recyclable, and compostable options provides unbiased guidance. This ensures solutions are tailored to your specific needs. This approach helps you choose the most suitable and sustainable solution. Contact our packaging specialists for help with recyclable or compostable options. They’ll guide you to the best solution.

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