Eco Pouches and Recyclable Pouches: What’s the Difference?

Like many industries, we’ve really noticed sustainability becoming a major focus for food packaging in recent years. More businesses than ever seem to be exploring alternatives to traditional plastics, whether driven by customer demand or simply a growing awareness of their environmental impact.

However, while terms like eco pouches, recyclable food pouches, and biodegradable food pouches are often used interchangeably, they don’t necessarily all mean the same thing. So, we thought we’d put together some useful info to help you choose the best food packaging to meet both your environmental goals and your product requirements.

What Is an ‘Eco-Friendly’ Food Pouch?

When we refer to an ‘eco-friendly’ food pouch, this is usually a broad term used to describe food packaging designed to have a reduced environmental impact. This can include anything from recyclable food pouches to compostable and biodegradable food pouches – or anything packaging that aims to cut back on plastic pollution.

Each type of eco-friendly packaging serves a different sustainable function, but the most appropriate choice depends on your product and how you expect your customers to dispose of the packaging afterwards. Let’s take a look at a few different types in detail.

Recyclable Food Pouches

Recyclable food pouches are a popular choice as they offer a great way to reduce your carbon footprint without compromising anything in the way of functionality. These pouches are typically made from mono-materials like polythene, which can be recycled through most local authorities and recycling centres.

Benefits of recyclable food pouches:

• Maintains excellent protection and shelf life.
• Often compatible with existing filling and sealing machinery.
• Clear, consumer-friendly messaging when combined with recyclable labels.

Biodegradable Food Pouches

Biodegradable food pouches – or ‘eco’ pouches – are engineered to decompose over time through natural processes. Unlike recycling, which requires processing, biodegradable materials simply break down under the right environmental conditions. They tend to be best suited to products with a shorter shelf life, but they still pack a huge range of benefits.

Benefits of biodegradable food pouches:

• Designed to return to nature, helping reduce landfill waste when disposed of correctly.
• Using biodegradable food pouches sends a strong message to eco-aware consumers who value sustainability.
• In most cases, can be composted at home, offering convenience to end users.

How to Choose the Right Eco-Friendly Food Pouch

When it comes to choosing the right sustainable packaging, there’s no set solution that’s better than the others. What works for one business may not work for another. At Weald Packaging, we always advise businesses to start by understanding their customers’ disposal habits and their product’s shelf-life requirements.

Ask yourself:

• Who is our target audience, what do they value, and are they likely to be environmentally conscious?
• How does each option perform in terms of product protection and shelf life?
• What are the cost implications for each option?
• What are our long-term brand and regulatory considerations?
• What are our sustainability goals?

Need Expert Advice on Your Eco-Friendly Food Packaging?

Whether you’re looking for eco-friendly food pouches that can be placed in household recycling bins, or biodegradable options that will naturally break down in compost, we can help your business find the most suitable solution. We have decades of experience and a wide range of innovative packaging options, ensuring you can balance sustainability alongside practicality.

Get in touch today to discuss your bespoke food packaging requirements. Our team are always on hand and happy to offer tailored advice to provide the service you need.

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