Now that I am a mom I have been finding the aspect of going green to be important. I find myself working on adding small changes in our lifestyle that are green such as using metal straws instead of plastic, using reusable items, and recycling when I can. Food waste is an area I have been trying to improve on and trying to teach my kids about as well.
I want my children to live healthy lives. This means that besides just giving my kids healthy foods and exercise I want them to have clean water to drink and clean air to breathe. I want them to enjoy the beauty of nature and also be able to be mesmerized by a clear night sky. The only way to really ensure this is by doing our part to be green and sustainable. My children are a big reason why I want to help keep the planet healthy. You may have your own reasons.
I recently learned about a whole other realm of going green and that is the flexible packaging industry.
So what is flexible packaging? Think of it as a kind of packaging that can change shape when filled up. It is like a bag or pouch that is more flexible rather than stiff and hard like a bottle or jug.
But what you may wonder about is why it matters and what does flexibility have to do with being green?
Flexible packaging not only increases the convenience of food (eg. applesauce pouches vs applesauce cups), but it also reduces environmental footprint and even extends product shelf life, therefore, reducing food waste.
Flexible packaging not only increases the convenience of food (eg. applesauce pouches vs applesauce cups), reduces environmental footprint and even extends shelf life therefore reducing food waste.
Flexible packaging is a great green option because:
-it uses less raw materials
-uses less water and less energy to produce
-lighter weight and takes up less space which leads to lower shipping costs
-reduces greenhouse gas emissions
-extends product life which leads to less food waste
Being a busy mom I really appreciate the convenience factor of flexible packaging. Flexible packaging allows for an easy way to store and carry snacks and can easily be resealed. I’m not sure about your kids but mine don’t always finish what I give them. Flexible packaging allows me to reseal the food and keep it fresh for a later date. No need to throw away and waste! I can toss it in my bag without a fuss.
I also have a job that consists of me not always being static. Some days I spend time in the office for lunch and other times I am out in my car, seeing patients and basically living in my car. Being able to have packaging that is easy to reseal, conveniently carry around with me from home, car, and office, and be able to stay fresh is a gamechanger.
Oh and did you know flexible packaging can be upcycled and reused? About 50% of flexible plastic packaging is easily recyclable through in-store drop-off programs, while the other half can be chemically recycled. There are a number of flexible packaging recycling initiatives in operation such as the Materials Recovery for the Future (MRFF) pilot program (https://www.materialsrecoveryforthefuture.com/) and the Hefty® EnergyBag® (https://www.hefty.com/products/hefty-energybag) program.
After learning all this I plan on changing things up at the grocery store. My goal is to be intentional in purchasing flexible packaging, reducing my environmental footprint and helping to reduce my family’s food waste.
You can find more about flexible packaging, why you should support it, kinds of packaging, and brands HERE.
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