Paper Tubes vs Plastic Packaging: Which Is Better?
Both businesses and consumers are turning to adopt more sustainable solutions due to multiple environmental, functional, and health concerns. Brands are still confused between paper and plastic packaging in terms of their costs, efficiency, and long-term benefits. They want to explore what buyers are interested in buying.
In the packaging industry, custom printed paper tubes are getting much attention due to their smart design, but still the common query of manufacturing circles is: “Are tube packaging more eco-friendly than plastic tubes? Let’s explore:
Beyond the Hype: The Challenges of Packaging
The regulations regarding custom plastic packaging are rolling out in several countries. Businesses are now confined to follow these rules and adapt paper material packaging. From kraft bags to cardboard boxes, the shift signals a new era of sustainability.
However, there’s a twist, Packaging with paper material isn’t a perfect solution. Cardboard production is water-intensive and generates emissions. Choosing low quality, poorly sourced, and non-certified material, leads to drive deforestation. Worse still, paper that’s contaminated with oils or sauces often ends up in landfills instead of recycling bins. Then, how to select the best one? Let us examine the pros and cons of both plastic and paper packaging.
Custom Plastic Packaging
To understand why people are still using it and why several countries banned it, it’s important to know the advantages and disadvantages of plastic material for packaging.
Pros
Affordable: Known as the most cost-effective way to build any type of packaging. As it is recyclable, the raw material costs very less so does the packaging for both manufacturer and seller.
Resistant: Rigid enough to prevent accidental dents and protect items during shipping and transportation.
Lightweight: Reduces transportation costs and emissions as compared to other materials like glass or metal.
Wide options: Plastic material is available in wide options including rigid containers, trays, bottles, or flexible films. This is why they can be used for any type of product.
Excellent protection: These containers are known for their excellent grease, moisture, pest attack and leak protection. Enhancing the shelf life of the product.
Long-Lasting: They are long lasting and remain good for years but this feature is not suitable for the environment. It can remain intact for years without degrading (good for protection, bad for waste).
Cons
Non-Biodegradable – Takes hundreds to thousands of years to break down.
Land fill: plastic is not a biodegradable or compostable material this means that they remain on land for thousands of years. As per the surveys plastic takes 20 to 500 years to fully break down.
Fossil Fuel Dependency: Made from petroleum or natural gas, leading to carbon emissions.
Single-Use Waste: Most custom plastic packaging are made for single time use purpose. These types commonly take 20 years to break down completely.
Harm for marine life: Annually, 8 to 12 million tons of plastic enter the ocean. Marine life is severely affected by these pollutants.
Public concerns: Around 89% of US citizens are concerned about the intensive use of plastic material. From tooth brushes to washing machines everything is made of plastic.
Health hazards: Food industry is rapidly turning towards paper suppliers due to huge health hazards, cancer-causing particles have been found in plastic.
Long-term environmental impact: Accumulates in ecosystems, harming wildlife and food chains.
Custom Printed Paper Tubes
Packaging tubes of paper are often made with paperboard, kraft, or cardboard. People are preferring these materials over plastic. In the U.S. consumers rank paperboard and cardboard among the most sustainable packaging types; plastic ranks among the lowest. Although to better understand it, check out the pros and cons below:
Pros of Paper Tubes
Environment-friendly: These tubes are 100% safe for the environment as they are certified as biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable leading to no landfill.
Sustainable Sourcing: Can be FSC-certified, reducing deforestation impact.
Easy to customize: Without changing the shape, tube packaging can be made in any size, with any suitable printing and finishing. They are good to have customized logos, gloss or matte finishes.
Luxury Appeal: The cylindrical shape rules out on display racks flawlessly and attracts more potential buyers.
Covers wide industries: They are useful in all industries including food & beverage, cosmetic & skincare, apparel, or gift kits. To explore more you can visit iPackU’s wide range of custom tube packaging leading in the US market.
Reusable: The durable material and assembling make them perfect to use again as a repurpose tube storage.
Brand visibility: The prominent logos, vibrant colors, and smart shapes are best for excellent brand visibility.
Sturdy protection: Strong, multi-layered construction protects delicate items like glass bottles or cosmetics.
Positive customer’s perception: The eco conscious people always choose paper or other eco-friendly material. They are aware enough to understand how harmful plastic is for the environment.
Cons
More costly: These tube packaging costs a little higher than plastic
Production footprint: Beside eco-friendliness nature, it still requires water and energy for paperboard manufacturing.
Moisture Sensitivity: Uncoated paper tubes can absorb moisture and de-shaped when exposed to water.
Heavyweight: As compared to plastic these paper material tubes are heavier, leading to increased shipping cost.
Which Is Better: Paper or Plastic?
The answer isn’t straightforward. Plastics are cheap, strong, and sometimes lower in emissions, but they badly affect the environment for centuries.
On the other hand, paper is a sustainable and biodegradable choice, but if not sourced well, leads to landfill and pollution.
The Bigger Picture: Smarter Choices
Beyond debating about selecting between paper or plastic, it is the matter of choosing the best material for sustainable and practical solutions. In the race of custom printed paper tubes and plastic ones, paper material stands out due to its eco-friendliness and functionality.
They are better to reduce carbon foot prints. Perfect solution of adapting the rules without disturbing the cost of raw material. Tube paper packaging offers an ideal source of prominent branding in aspects of smartness, eco consciousness, and vigilance to deliver something best.
