The terms recyclable and compostable packaging are often used interchangeably, which can be confusing for customers who want to know how to properly dispose of their packaging.

If you are a brand that is using or considering using environmentally friendly packaging, it is important to know the difference between the two so that you can properly promote end-of-life care to your customers.

Here's what you need to know to understand the difference between these types of packaging.

The advantages of environmentally friendly packaging

Due to the high environmental awareness of consumers around the world, environmentally friendly packaging is becoming more and more popular.

The impact is being felt in many industries. One example is McDonald's announcement that by 2025, it will switch entirely to renewable and recyclable packaging.

With younger consumers prioritizing environmentally friendly business practices, sustainability has become a necessity rather than an option. 37% of US consumers prioritize environmental protection and sustainability when shopping. There are several advantages to using environmentally friendly packaging:

Improve your brand reputation. By switching to environmentally friendly packaging, businesses can ensure that their brands and products are welcomed by their target markets. People are more interested in buying from businesses that use recyclable or compostable product packaging.

Resonate with environmentally conscious consumers. More and more people buy only green products and are even willing to spend more money on green products.

Improve customer satisfaction. When customers find that their packaging is easier to reuse or recycle, their overall satisfaction increases.

Cost savings. By switching to environmentally friendly, recyclable packaging, companies save on transportation, storage and warehousing costs. That means more profit margins.

Sales growth. By focusing on more niche demographics, businesses using recycled packaging products have witnessed increased customer loyalty and sales.

Two of the most popular types of eco-friendly packaging include recyclable packaging and compostable packaging. Before delving into the differences between them, it is necessary to understand what recycling and composting mean.

Recyclable packaging

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new usable objects and materials. Materials such as plastic, glass and paper are recyclable. Using recycled packaging contributes to the circular economy in two ways.

First, it reduces the need for raw materials to produce new products, and second, it keeps waste out of landfills by reusing existing items. Commonly recyclable materials include metal, glass, plastic, cardboard, etc.

A recent survey showed that about 62% of people worry that their lack of knowledge will cause them to recycle incorrectly. Surveys show that a large percentage of Americans don't know which products can be recycled, so brands need more education and communication.

Compostable packaging

Composting is the process of breaking down materials without leaving toxic residues. Compostable products are organic and made primarily from materials such as starch, which break down completely into compost and do not produce any toxic waste. In general, composting is a controlled process in industrial facilities, but some packaged products may be certified as home compost, like our compost mailers.

Compostable products usually come from your kitchen or garden. Things like vegetable peels and fruit peels are compostable materials.

However, animal waste (such as meat or poultry) should not be mixed with the compost, otherwise, it will mess up the compost pile. Branches, weeds, and leaves from your garden also make great compost.

As the name suggests, compostable packaging is made from materials that can be broken down into compost. Other products that can be made at home carry the "home compostable" logo.

Compostable packaging vs. recyclable packaging

Sometimes, people just think that compostable products can be thrown away and that they biodegrade themselves. However, composting is not that simple.

In order to compost products, the process must be properly followed using industrial composting facilities or home composting. If consumers do not have access to home or industrial composting facilities, compostable packaging is almost impossible to recycle.

Compostable packaging can create handling problems without proper compost. Compostable packaging makes more sense if the customer is educated and understands home composting protocols or knows when to take the packaging materials to the composting facility.

Some experts believe that recyclable packaging is better than compostable packaging because it can use materials that are already available while wasting less energy. Making a plastic coffee cup, for example, takes a lot of energy. Reusing and recycling may be better than composting organic coffee cups. After all, the longer a product lasts, the better it is for the environment.

One of the drawbacks of using recycled packaging products is that the plastic material eventually breaks down multiple times, reaching a point where it cannot be recycled further.

At this point, another disposal method such as throwing in the trash will have to be used. Recyclable and compostable packaging have both advantages and disadvantages when compared with each other. However, this does not mean that they must be used separately. As mentioned above, these two methods can be used in conjunction with each other to minimize environmental impact.

Wrapping it up

Are you considering more sustainable ways to package your products?

Check out our custom recyclable and compostable packaging options and use the frame that best suits your business!