Eco-friendly packaging and products are important. Here at Me and a Tree, we do everything in our power to make sure we are not harming animals and the environment. This is why we choose natural plant-based materials in our ingredients; however, eco-friendly packaging is important as well. One way we help is by selecting biodegradable packaging peanuts for all of our online orders. You wouldn't want your purchased goodies to break, spill, or leak out during shipping! This is why we choose biodegradable packing peanuts in addition to recycled paper to help protect items while making sure the materials chosen also easily break down in an eco-friendly way. Biodegradable packing peanuts are made from natural, nontoxic sources, such as rice, grain & corn starch. They dissolve in water and can be thrown right into a compost pile after a single-use.
Sometimes people get styrofoam peanuts and eco-friendly packaging peanuts mixed up. They are similar in shape, but the color and material are not even close to the same thing. Eco peanuts, as noted above, are made from 100% biodegradable material and break down easily and can be thrown into your trash bin. Eco peanuts are also softer and are an off white slightly cream color. They are not bright white and hard like styrofoam, which takes a very long time to break down when not exposed to sunlight. There is a green peanut that is also recyclable but not eco-friendly in the breakdown department if not recycled properly. When styrofoam does start to break apart, it floats out to the ocean and often chokes very small animals in the process. Being a cruelty-free company that would not be an option for us but biodegradable packing peanuts is.
Another important fact about biodegradable packaging is that it breaks down naturally, leaving a much smaller carbon footprint behind. It's great that companies have these options these days and can be more eco-conscious and eco-friendly. It is a little heavier and costly over styrofoam, but we know it's worth it.
We also use "Naked Packaging" for all of our soaps. Minus the small recycled paper with soap names and ingredients (which is required), there is no plastic packaging. Many companies wrap their soaps in cellophane. Soap is over 75% of what we sell. Saving 75% of the plastic that could be used in favor of naked packaging has a substantial positive impact on the environment, and we love that- and know our customers appreciate it too.
When it comes to plastic, technology is still catching up. One thing you can do as a consumer is to make sure your plastic is BPA free and also recyclable. BPA stands for bisphenol A and is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. They are also used in to line food containers and packaging. To learn more about BPA's, and what are the concerns about BPA's Click Here
