Takeaway food has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, the containers traditionally used for takeaway food – such as plastic, along with Styrofoam, as well as paper coated with plastic – are not environmentally friendly as well as can take hundreds of years to decompose. This poses serious threats to our environment. Thankfully, there are now more sustainable alternatives available in the form of eco-friendly takeaway containers. In this article, we will explore 5 key reasons why to go for eco friendly food containers wholesale.
1. They are Biodegradable
Plastic takeaway containers pose a huge problem as they are not biodegradable as well as can persist in the environment for centuries. When plastic ends up in landfills, it does not decompose or break down over time like other organic materials. It remains intact, taking up space in landfills indefinitely. Even when plastic litter ends up elsewhere in the environment like oceans, forests or soil, it does not break down externally as well as remains as waste.
This causes significant damage to ecosystems along with the environment. Non-biodegradable plastic waste accumulates over long periods of time, along with polluting the soil as well as water sources. Animals may ingest plastic debris, causing injury or death. Microplastics from plastic pollution also enter the food chain. As plastic does not biodegrade, this waste as well as pollution is essentially permanent.
On the other hand, eco-friendly takeaway containers are made from biodegradable materials like paper, bamboo, along with sugarcane as well as leaves. These materials can be broken down by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi within a reasonable timeframe, usually within 3-6 months but never more than a couple years. When these containers decompose, they turn into organic matter like water, along with carbon dioxide as well as biomass. They do not accumulate as landfill waste or environmental pollution.
2. They are Renewable
Eco-friendly takeaway containers are often made from materials that are renewable sources such as paper, bamboo, sugarcane as well as leaves. These plant-based materials can be regrown as well as replenished, making them a sustainable resource that does not get used up. Paper, for example, comes from trees which can be replanted so that more trees as well as paper supply continues into the future. Bamboo is a very fast growing grass that can be harvested within a few years of planting without killing the plant. Sugarcane similarly regrows rapidly each harvest. Leaves used may come from crops like corn or wheat where new leaves will grow back on the plant.
In contrast, plastic as well as Styrofoam containers are typically derived from non-renewable fossil fuels like oil and gas. These fossil fuels were formed over millions of years from ancient biological materials but take extremely long to generate naturally. Once extracted as well as used to make plastic, those fossil fuel resources are permanently reduced. They cannot be replenished on a human timescale. As the world’s population and economies grow, consumption of finite fossil fuels for energy and materials is increasing. This poses risks of shortages as well as environmental damage from extraction.
By opting for containers made even partially from renewable plant-based materials, individuals and businesses reduce reliance on depleting fossil fuel resources. Every time renewable materials are chosen over non-renewable plastic, it helps ensure availability of resources for future generations while putting less strain on the environment. This makes eco-friendly takeaway containers a more sustainable long-term solution compared to non-biodegradable plastic alternatives.
3. They are Carbon Neutral
Plastic takeaway containers are made from petroleum-based plastic resins like polyethylene as well as polystyrene. The process of extracting, transporting as well as refining oil and gas into plastic resins emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases trap heat in the lower atmosphere as well as contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming.
To buy sustainable food packaging materials, once the plastic containers are manufactured, more emissions are generated during transportation as well as distribution. When consumers discard the used containers, they often end up in landfills where plastic does not fully decompose. As it breaks down in anaerobic conditions in landfills, plastic releases methane – a potent greenhouse gas.
All these activities from extraction to disposal add to the high carbon footprint of plastic takeaway containers. In contrast, eco-friendly containers have a much lower embodied carbon footprint overall. Many are made from plant-based materials like paper, bamboo, sugarcane etc. which absorb carbon from the atmosphere as they grow.
4. They are Better for Wildlife and Oceans
Plastic pollution has severely impacted wildlife and ocean health across the globe. Billions of plastic bags, bottles, along with straws, as well as containers are dumped into the environment every year. Much of this plastic waste ends up in waterways and oceans due to improper waste management. Animals that live in as well as around these habitats are at high risk of harm from plastic.
Seabirds, sea turtles, along with fish, as well as marine mammals often mistake plastic debris for food. Once ingested, plastic cannot be digested as well as gets stuck in the animal’s stomach. This causes malnutrition, along with reduced appetite, as well as internal injury. Autopsies have found plastic blocking the digestive tracts of hundreds of dead animals. The animals suffer painful deaths either from starvation or organ damage.
5. They are Often Recyclable
Recycling is a key part of an environmentally sustainable waste management system. While some eco-friendly takeaway containers can be composted, recycling is another beneficial option for disposal of these containers when available. Many eco-friendly containers are made from materials that can be recycled such as paper, along with cardboard, as well as sugarcane fiber. These types of containers will be marked with the appropriate recycling symbol, usually a chasing arrows symbol with a number, to indicate the resin type.
Look for this recycling symbol on the container to know it can be placed loose in curbside recycling bins along with other recyclables like plastic bottles, along with cans, as well as paper. Municipal recycling programs are set up to collect, along with sort, as well as reprocess these recyclable materials into new products. For example, paper takeaway containers can be reprocessed into new paper products like tissue paper or cardboard. This keeps materials out of landfills as well as back within the production cycle.
Conclusion
Choosing to buy christmas design dinnerware online is a small change we can all make that collectively makes a big difference for the planet. While they may sometimes cost a little more, their environmental benefits far outweigh that small price difference. Going green with our takeaway means taking better care of the environment for future generations. I encourage businesses as well as consumers to make the switch to sustainable options. Together, through our daily choices, we can build a greener future.
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