BIODEGRADABILITY: A CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE

The terms biodegradable and compostable are often used as synonyms since the difference between these two terms is not always clear, it is important to analyze and briefly define them and give them.

Biodegradability is the ability of organic substances and materials to be degraded into simpler substances through the enzymatic activity of microorganisms. If this biological process is complete, there is a total conversion of the initial organic substances into simple inorganic molecules such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane.

Compostability, on the other hand, is the ability of organic material to transform itself into compost through the process of composting. This process exploits the biodegradability of organic materials to transform them into a final product that is called compost. The compost is, therefore, the result of disintegration and aerobic biodegradation (i.e. in the presence of oxygen) of organic material (usually waste): the mature compost resembles fertile soil and for its richness in organic substances is used as a fertilizer. 

BOTTA Packaging has specialized in innovative and environmentally friendly packaging solutions, in line with its commitment to environmental protection and social responsibility. At BOTTA Packaging, many of the eco-products are biodegradable and some of them are also compostable. Among the  solutions to provide eco-packaging innovation, BOTTA offers: 

– Eco-Sleeves: protective elastic cartons;

– Eco-Paper Fruits Trays: fruit trays made from eco-friendly paper; 

– Die-cut paper-padded envelopes;

– Eco-document pocket/ wallet;

– Eco-Pluripaper: protective embossed cartons;

– Eco-Glue: to guarantee packages more stability during transport and storage;

– Eco-Flex: a revolutionary packaging solution suitable for fragile products;

– Eco-transparent paper PolyBag: transparent bags made of ecological paper. 

Biodegradability is fundamental to bring pollution to 0. 

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CORRUGATED CARBOARD

 

Corrugated cardboard is a material used mainly in the packaging industry. It consists of two flat paper surfaces, called covers, which enclose corrugated paper. The whole is bound together with the use of natural glues derived from corn starch and potato starch, making it biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

The combined action of the flat covers with the internal wave gives rigidity and resistance to the whole and determines its effectiveness in the packaging and transport of goods. In Italy, about 6 billion m² of cardboard are produced every year and are transformed into about 11 billion boxes.

There are three main categories of corrugated cardboard: single, double, and triple wave. This last solution is used only in particular cases: it is very rigid cardboard and not very practical for average use. The model with a single wave instead, is the one that is characterized by a single passage between the two covers. The dimensions can vary both the covers and the waves can have different weights and different thicknesses, up to obtain corrugated cardboard that sometimes can be up to 15 mm thick.

Through corrugated cardboard, it is possible to safely pack goods, organize empty wrappers in the warehouse with simplicity and manage this resource simply and economically. 

The market demand for corrugated cardboard is continuously growing. Corrugated cardboard is 100% recyclable, biodegradable and reusable, making it one of the most chosen green materials for eco-sustainable packaging. Thanks to its 100% natural characteristics, this element is totally biodegradable, but it can also be recycled and find new life. By using this material, therefore, not only is there a considerable economic saving, but it also respects the environment.

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 How to make recycled paper

Have you ever thought of recycling paper yourself by giving new use to all the paper that accumulates at home? In this article, we will explain how to recycle paper at home. 

 

The first step is to collect all the used paper. You can use printer or photocopier sheets, newspapers, handkerchiefs and napkins (clean), wrapping paper, brown bags, notebook sheets, and even old envelopes.

You need to know that the material will shrink and contract during soaking and drying, so you need to use more waste paper than you want to make.

The second step is to tear the paper. You need to reduce the material into small pieces of equal size. The smaller the fragments, the better the result will be. 

The third thing to do is to soak the paper. It is necessary to transfer all the torn pieces to a plate or pan and fill the container with boiling water. Next, you must stir the mixture to make sure that all the paper is well soaked. Finally, it is necessary to let it rest for a few hours, stirring from time to time. 

 

To filter the paper, you need a mesh panel. You need this tool to filter the wet mush and separate the water from the paper lumps. As the mixture gradually dries on the panel, it congeals and turns into recycled paper. 

 

The last step to do is to press the paper. You need to crush the paper to remove the excess water. After an hour has passed, it is necessary to place a piece of sheet or other thin fabric over the layer of paper in the panel. Then, with the help of a dry sponge, you must press on the sheet to remove all the residual liquid. 

Next, simply lift the panel and flip it over. At this point, the paper should fall back onto the fabric. You must lay it down on a flat surface and let it dry overnight.

 

When the paper is dry you need to peel it off the sheet. You should get a dry, firm, and perfectly usable sheet of paper!

Here's how to reuse paper scraps and give them a new life. What are you waiting for to try it?

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Eco-design

Eco-design products combine aesthetic taste with environmental awareness. This trend is increasingly widespread and embraces how houses and buildings are designed and the field of furniture, favoring solutions that optimize space and take into account the context and the impact of each link in the production chain.

 

The field of sustainable design is in full evolution and goes towards innovation following precise concepts: reduction of waste, control of energy consumption and emissions, creative recycling, and reuse.

 

Talking about eco-design today means taking into account the entire life cycle of a piece of furniture: from its production to the methods of transport and distribution, to its final disposal. Considering the impact that an object will have on the environment also means keeping in mind the context in which it will be inserted and used, following the criterion of harmony in its broadest sense.

For a product to fully fall into the category of eco-design, it must have certain characteristics, starting with the materials with which it is made. The materials to be preferred are recycled, biodegradable, and reusable, but also durable and quality.

 

Another crucial aspect that allows the design to take on an increasingly important role in the transition underway to deal with the environmental crisis is its increasing accessibility. Being fully sustainable means, in fact, also being within the reach of a wide audience and not the privilege of a niche that can afford it. Only in this way can sustainable design become a lifestyle shared by all and part of a balance and circularity that leaves nothing and no one out. All this for the well-being of people and the well-being of the environment.

 

As already mentioned, a central aspect of eco-design is the materials used. They must be biodegradable, reusable, recyclable, and non-toxic. Their impact on the environment must also be as low as possible, both in terms of the production of the components and their final disposal.

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SAY YES TO ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS!

We can't continue to pollute by using plastic packaging produced using fossil fuels. This is where BOTTA Packaging steps in, finding new materials and solutions for this problem.

One of the biggest trends in the packaging industry is to use environmentally sustainable materials, produced from renewable sources that are then recyclable and biodegradable. The goal is to promote the use of eco-friendly packaging, safeguarding our environment in line with EU guidelines and regulations in favor of the use of eco-friendly materials and packaging. One of the most important reasons to choose eco-friendly packaging is that consumers are much more in favor of using eco-friendly materials that help make our planet more sustainable.

The latest eco-friendly materials are stone paper or mineral paper, packaging made from mushrooms, packaging made from algae, and finally, packaging made from corn.

Stone paper is made from stones containing calcium carbonate, such as building material residues, mixed with special resins to achieve the right consistency.

Packaging produced from mushrooms is an excellent alternative to polystyrene packaging: environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and compostable. It is produced from agricultural waste processed with mushroom mycelium.

Algae-based packaging is made from seaweed. They are a great alternative to plastic packaging. In addition, there is also an edible version.

To finish, corn-based packaging is made of a biodegradable material consisting of corn residues. They represent a completely bio-based material, which is why they are also referred to as bioplastics.

BOTTA packaging's products include:

– Corrugated paper-padded envelopes: 100% recyclable and composed of paper outside and inside;

– Eco-document pocket/wallet: an ecological and 100% recyclable solution to replace plastic document pockets;

– Eco Pluripaper: recyclable, biodegradable, non-slip, and adaptable protective embossed cardboard to protect and divide products throughout the supply chain;

– Eco-Sleeves: biodegradable, recyclable protective elastic cardboard made of bi-condensed hot foil.

This is how BOTTA Packaging approaches the use of eco-friendly materials, for a greener future.

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