We count on wrapping material to close our gift baskets and boxes. Where is biodegradable cellophane to make eco-friendly gifts?
Both sides of the fence
One question persists in this age of caring about the Earth’s environment and how we tend better to the planet.
Is cellophane biodegradable?
The answer is yes and no according to articles written on this topic. Certain types of cellophane disintegrate quicker than others, and that fact depends on how cellophane is manufactured.
At first this article offers positive news about the way cellophane breaks down naturally. However, as you continue reading the article, you find that some cellophane is not eco-friendly.
Similar information about cellophane’s degrading process is also revealed in other articles such as this one.
Two types of products
What you’ll learn in these and other cellophane-based topics available online is this:
- Cellophane made from wood or plant cellulose is Earth friendly. This type is often labeled true cellophane because it disintegrates quicker.
- Cellophane created using plastic is considered not Earth friendly. This type is often labeled as synthetic because it takes years, and often decades, for it to compost.
After all this time, why isn’t cellophane (gift baskets have been made since the early 1900s) eco-friendly? It’s a question that may be answered in dollars.
Perhaps it’s less costly for manufacturers to make cellophane from plastic rather than from wood. Maybe there’s another reason. Unless you’re inside the industry, you’ll never know, but you can make a difference by requesting and buying the eco-friendly option.
Where is biodegradable cellophane?
It would be beneficial to us for manufacturers and suppliers that sell cellophane bags and rolls to add details on the pages where such products are sold. Nashville Wraps is one company that provides such information at the bottom of this page. Other suppliers may do the same. Your own research will inform you.
If you’re concerned about the cellophane you purchase but don’t see details on the supplier’s website, call or email them for information. Just because they don’t provide insight online doesn’t mean they don’t care. Suppliers need education, too, and calls for eco-friendly products lets them know that buyers want details.
How does this topic change your opinion about the type of cellophane you buy now and in the future, or does the topic not matter in your gift business?
