Green Design: Compostable Packaging: Futher Research

Using compostable material for my transport packaging would be very beneficial to the environment and also work well with my idea of reusing the paint container as a flower pot. Perhaps some of the compostable material could be placed in the flower pot to help the soil, for example. However, in my previous blog post I had yet to find a suitable material. Sealed Air's "mushroom" packaging did not look premium, while the bamboo packaging did not appear to be strong enough and I was doubtful that this material would be able to hold two heavy paint containers. I therefore researched the subject further and, after discovering different greener packaging (see references), then discovered paperboard.

Paperboard has similar properties to paper, except that it is thicker and much stronger. It is light, can be easily cut and formed and is used mainly in packaging, making it perfect as a solution for my problem.

100% recycled paperboard is made completely from recovered fiber. It is recyclable as well as compostable. It is said to biodegrade at a faster rate than many food product packaging. It is also reasonably priced. Fold-Pak, a company that deals with corrugated packaging and recycling solutions, use paperboard to promote a greener image.

Paperboardpackaging.org says: "Paperboard packaging comes in several different grades that possess unique characteristics making each grade suitable for different packaging requirements and needs."

Biodegradable 'packaging peanuts'
Packaging peanuts are a loose-fill packaging and cushioning material, which are often used to protect delicate products during their transportation.

I felt that they would be useful to include in the transportation of my paint containers, a method to ensure that my containers would be more protected and therefore more unlikely to scratch or the paint to spill. However, I wanted to make sure that these packaging peanuts were also environmentally-friendly and so did some research into biodegradable packaging peanuts.

Before an environmental alternative was offered Compost-bin.org explains that these products were very harmful to the environment. Because they were so light weight they were impossible to collect and were constantly picked up by the wind, while they would last for years and years without composting.

A website called Foam Fabricators show that they have developed Milex Loose Fill. This is made from grain protein and contains no petrochemicals, meaning that it is 100% biodegradable. Also, no harmful chemicals were produced during its process. On their website it explains that this product, "Is not only safe for our landfills; it can be recycled into fertilizer that nurtures the growth of future plant life. It is so safe in fact, that it’s edible."
That it encourages plant growth was a definite plus for my product, as homeowners could even place some of this packaging in the flower pot my paint container can be reused as.
Also added on their website: "Milex Loose Fill performs so well that, ultimately, less fill is needed. In fact, Milex beats polystyrene and starch fills in several areas of performance testing. This translates to less damage to shipped goods. “These are all compelling factors that add up to over-all savings for businesses”."
This would be very profitable to be in included in my design.