Halloween is just around the corner, so if you’re looking to sell or give away some treats to the kiddies this year, it’s time to get your packaging sorted just in time for spooky season.
Assuming you’re an eco-conscious company that wants to have as little impact on the environment as possible, ensuring you get the right type of packaging is crucial. Every year, Halloween generates a shocking amount of plastic waste, but it doesn’t have to be that way as these days there are so many eco-friendly options that are much kinder to the planet.
To help point you in the right direction, we’ve put together this blog post which covers some of the sustainable options you can use to package your sweet treats this Halloween – all of which are available on our website!
Kraft Paper Carrier Bags
Kraft paper carrier bags are an ideal choice for giving to trick-or-treaters or handing out Halloween goodie bags.
Crucially, as they’re made from biodegradable and recyclable materials, these bags are eco-friendly, so kids and adults alike can carry their hard-earned Halloween loot in style, knowing that they’re not contributing to the mounds of plastic waste that’ll be accumulated this year.
Bagasse Packaging
Bagasse packaging is made of sugarcane fibres, which makes it another excellent choice for Halloween. These biodegradable and compostable materials can be transformed into plates, bowls and containers for handing out treats to guests or passing trick-or-treaters.
Biodegradable Cups
When it comes to selling or gifting Halloween beverages, opt for biodegradable cups. These cups are typically made from materials like cornstarch or PLA (polylactic acid), which, unlike plastic, break down naturally over time.
So whether you’re serving a petrifying punch or a hairraising hot apple cider, these cups come with a clear conscience.
Why Sustainable Packaging Matters At Halloween
Although sustainable packaging is clearly an important year-round consideration, it’s particularly important during Halloween as every year a scary amount of waste, much of which is single-use plastic, is used. What’s even worse is a lot of this ends up discarded on the ground, which creates pollution and harms ecosystems.
From individually wrapped sweets in their millions to disposable decorations, the environmental toll is substantial. But by embracing eco-friendly packaging solutions, you can help the environment in a number of ways. These include:
Plastic Pollution Reduction
A massive proportion of Halloween waste consists of plastic wrappers, bags and cups. Switching to sustainable alternatives like kraft paper and bagasse can help curb the plastic pollution problem and ensure you’re not adding to the issue.
Teaching Eco-Friendly Values
I know you love getting dressed up and going to fancy-dress parties, but let’s face it: Halloween is all about the kids. This makes it a great opportunity to teach them about sustainability and the importance of looking after the planet. Choosing eco-friendly packaging can help you do just that.
Shows Your Commitment
Choosing sustainable packaging options shows your company is taking the climate crisis seriously, which customers are paying closer attention to these days.
Celebrating the Beauty of Nature
The autumn season is a time to celebrate the beauty of nature. Eco-friendly packaging aligns with this theme by using natural materials and minimising harm to the environment.
Changes In The Law
Along with the moral and ethical incentives, if you own a business then avoiding single-use plastics is now a legal requirement, too.
From October 1st, UK takeaways and food outlets were no longer permitted to use single-use plastics in the sale of food and beverages. The list of items the government is banning includes single-use plastic cutlery or balloon sticks, polystyrene containers and cups and single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls.
The ban will include online and over-the-counter sale and it covers items from new and existing stock. Furthermore, the rules incorporate all types of single-use plastic including biodegradable, compostable and recycled.
So if you’re a business owner and you plan on selling any of the Halloween treats then you’ll need to comply with the rules. For anyone still using single-use plastic, Trading Standards departments will have the authority to fine and prosecute.
So those are the main ways you can have a positive impact on the environment this Halloween. If you’re handing out goody bags or drinks this Halloween then reduce your footprint with these green alternatives which you can find in our range of wholesale takeaway packaging.
If you would like to find out more about how Elpack Packaging Solutions can assist your business, or discuss your bespoke packaging needs, get in touch with our expert team today! Call us on 01425 524021 or drop us an email at info@elpack.co.uk
