Isn’t it crazy to think that in the eco-conscious world we live in, plastic is still such a big part of many businesses — in some cases, it’s their only option. However, not all packaging (especially plastic!) needs to end up in landfill and can be recycled through various recycling channels such as APR Plastics, RecycleSmart or traditional kerbside recycling.
Recycling is not as tricky as you may think and is an easy first step in your journey towards sustainability. Although it doesn’t feel like you’re changing the world, the truth is you are one recycled product at a time. This article breaks down four popular protective packaging products and provides tips on the dos and don'ts of eco-friendly packaging disposal!
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is a form of protective packaging that protects products in transit to ensure they get to their destination undamaged. As it is such a popular type of protective packaging, many people wonder — can you recycle bubble wrap? Unfortunately, since RedCycle’s collapse recycling bubble wrap is not as accessible, but if you live in either Sydney or Melbourne there are other options available! If you are located in Inner West, Waverley, Randwick, Penrith or Burwood Council areas in Sydney, RecyleSmart is available to drop off (or even collect!) your soft plastics. In Melbourne, APR Plastics is also now accepting soft plastics.
DO
- Drop off at an APR Plastics location if you live in Melbourne, or if you are Sydney based organise RecycleSmart to collect from your doorstep
DON’T
- Throw out in general waste, recycling or garden waste bins, or any other bin that does not specify soft plastics
If you are on the hunt for fully recyclable protective packaging, Signet has a range of sustainable alternatives including Geami Kraft Honeycomb Paper. Geami is a fantastic eco-friendly protective packaging product that is made from renewable FSC paper that can be recycled or reused after use!
Cardboard
Cardboard is most commonly used to ship and protect goods while in transit or storage. It’s one of the easiest items to recycle and makes up a huge part of recycled items due to its popularity in packaging products. In many deliveries we receive, there is often cardboard throughout, whether it be the box the delivery was sent in, or cardboard sheets to protect the goods inside, it can be easily recycled in your home or kerbside recycling bin.
DO
- Reuse old boxes for storage
- Ensure all labels and tapes are removed unless an eco-friendly tape is used, such as paper tape, this can then be recycled
- Break up and place in the kerbside recycling bin
DON’T
- Place in any other bin other than your recycling bin
- Leave tapes and labels attached to the box
Stretch Film & Pallet Wrap
Stretch film and pallet wrap are used to secure goods on pallets, helping to protect the products from being damaged in transit. This is another item that can often cause some confusion when considering the recycling process. So, is pallet wrap and stretch film recyclable? In short, this item can be recycled, when done correctly. Stretch films and pallet wraps are known as soft or flexible plastics and can often be broken by hand or scrunched into a ball. When recycling stretch films, it’s important to ensure they are separated in order to be turned into new plastics.
DO
- Drop off at an APR Plastics location if you live in Melbourne, or if you are Sydney based organise RecycleSmart to collect from your doorstep
- Remove any contaminants that may have stuck to the plastic wrap from the product or its outer packaging
DON’T
- Throw out in general waste or any other bin that does not specify soft plastics
Biofill
Biofill, also known as packing peanuts, are used to protect products in transit. They are used as void fill to eliminate empty space within a carton and provide superior shock absorbing protection. Biofill can be mistaken for the traditional plasticky packing peanuts that are terrible for the environment and can only be disposed of in the bin. But Biofill is actually the eco alternative that is made of cornstarch and can be composted, making disposing of packaging easy without filling up your bins as it simply dissolves in water!
DO
- Simply immerse the Biofill in water and watch as it dissolves, leaving behind no harmful residue or waste
- Place in compost bin to degrade
- Collect your Biofill and reuse
DON’T
- Throw out in general waste
Eskies
Signet’s Eskies are made from Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) products, and they consist of 98% air and 2% polystyrene. Although many people believe these products are not environmentally friendly, turns out, they actually are! Did you know EPS is 100% recyclable and once they’ve kept your products cool, they can be transformed into many different products and materials such as, plastic goods, packaging products, outdoor furniture and more! The national EPS Industry Group have several collection areas that accept all types of EPS, so recycling this product is as easy as finding your closest drop off location.
DO
- Find a drop-off location near you by visiting - https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/polystyrene
DON’T
-
Throw out in general waste, kerbside recycling, or garden waste bins
Here at Signet, we are doing our part by creating recyclable, renewable and biodegradable packaging. We have an entirely eco-friendly product range, and each product in that range has one (or more) of the following eco-friendly characteristics: Compostable, recyclable, biodegradable, reusable and/or made from recycled or renewable resources. To view our eco-friendly range, click here.
To speak with a Signet team member about an environmentally friendly packaging solution for your business, call us on 13 7446, email sales@signet.net.au or Live Chat with us by visiting www.signet.net.au.
