The Lifecycle of a Cornstarch Container

We briefly touched upon the lifecycle of cornstarch packaging in our previous section, but it is worth going into more detail about why this material is so much better than traditional plastics.

For starters, at the beginning of this package’s lifecycle, it is derived from renewable resources, unlike petroleum-based plastic. And in the processing and manufacturing phase of its lifecycle, cornstarch plastic emits fewer greenhouse gasses than traditional plastic.

Once this eco-packaging reaches the consumer, it is used like any other product before moving into the end phase of its lifecycle, disposal.

The main characteristic of biodegradable cornstarch packaging is that it naturally degrades or can serve as fertilizer, leaving behind no negative environmental concerns or hazardous gases. Within months, cornstarch plastic can break down into just carbon dioxide and water, further helping to reduce the carbon footprint of both consumers and businesses.

But is it worth investing in?  The short answer is yes.

The Cornstarch Packaging Market

Bio-based materials have many environmental benefits over time, and being renewable can make them an even better alternative to less eco-friendly options. As more companies pledge to change for a healthier planet, identifying and scaling sustainable packaging options is crucial to product and business success.

But what exactly are the benefits of cornstarch packaging for your business?

The main advantage of using cornstarch packaging is that it is renewable since corn is affordable and readily available. Unlike petroleum-based plastic, there is no scarcity of resources, making it easier to utilize this kind of packaging material effectively and for the long term.

Starch packaging materials are also 100% biodegradable, recyclable and compostable, making them great for an eco-friendly initiative.

On top of this, no harmful toxins are present in the material, making it much safer to produce and use for consumers. Cornstarch is effective as food packaging since it is 100% food-safe, has a high aroma barrier, and is resistant to food fat and oils without additional coatings or chemicals.

Furthermore, cornstarch packaging has low flammability and works well for printing applications, allowing businesses to brand their packaging without causing harm to the environment and offer a high-quality customer experience.

But while these cornstarch benefits seem significant enough to make the change, it’s still essential to cover both sides of the coin. Let’s examine the drawbacks to ensure you are well informed about your decision.

Firstly, because cornstarch is so new as a packaging material, infrastructure is not in place yet to fully support it. While this will improve over time, using cornstarch as a packaging material currently poses some challenges. Though the polymers in cornstarch packaging are indeed eco-friendly and compostable, only a few facilities can now accommodate them.

This type of packaging also relies on customer behaviors. Because most customers will not compost the material properly, most cornstarch packaging will likely end up in landfills due to improper disposal. In addition, composting PLA plastic in large quantities could cause other issues, as doing so may make regular compost more acidic, posing a threat to the environmental impact.

The only way to combat these issues is by raising awareness about this packaging material and the proper disposal process to prevent more packaging from ending up in landfills.