5 alternatives to single-use plastics
Single-use plastic is problematic, so what can we use instead?
Here are a few innovative materials that are exciting us right now…
📷: Bscly
BEGASSE 🌾
Made from the pulp left over after the juice has been extracted from sugarcane, sugar beets, sorghum stalk, or agave, bagasse fibres are an alternative to paper products and are a great alternative to styrofoam and plastic food trays.
Because it’s a by-product it is sustainable to produce and because it’s plant-based, it is easily compostable, taking as little as 2-4 months in a home compost bin - hoorah!
📷: mybacs
MYCELIUM 🍄
This INCREDIBLE alternative to styrofoam is made from fungi!
Its thread-like filaments branch out to be grown into virtually any shape in just 7 days - cool, right?
Biodegradable, lightweight & strong, it’s even hydrophobic and flame resistant - it is a literal wonder material.
📷: Trebodur
TREBODUR 🍺🌾
This is a biodegradable material made 100% from brewers’ spent grain and is a perfect example of a material that fits into a circular economy. 100% natural & biodegradable. A substitute for paper or plastic packaging, it’s a perfect choice for can holders & food trays. And no matter where it ends up at the end of its lifecycle, it’ll safely compost at home, leaving nothing behind.
📷: Notpla
SEAWEED 🌊🌿
Growing up to 1m per day, it doesn’t compete with food crops, doesn’t need fresh water or fertiliser and actively contributes to de-acidifying our oceans.
This edible, biodegradable & renewable plastic alternative lends itself to flexible packaging replacing plastic cups, sachets, film coatings on food containers and even clear plastic bags.
It’s home compostable and if recycled, doesn’t contaminate PET recycling.
📷: Lush
CORK 🍾
This renewable resource is being used for every purpose imaginable – flooring, yoga mats, shoe insoles and furniture. It’s lightweight, naturally waterproof yet breathable and anti-bacterial!
Harvesting cork bark assists in the absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere - that’s 3-5 times more than non-harvested trees.
The bark is removed from a living tree which grows back in around 10 years.
Ultimately, when developing your packaging make sure it’s your branding that’s around in 100 years, not your packaging.
