A planetary crisis is the term used to describe the pollution of our oceans by the United Nations. This is just a small part of what our environment is facing.

Food packaging has a big role to play in the pollution of our environment. Food packaging are designed to protect our foods and are mostly made to be used once. Such packaging is usually discarded and they end up in waterways, floating in the air and polluting our soil. They in turn cause harm to people, animals, the environment and restrict plant growth.

The process of creating these food packaging is also a problem. Most food packaging manufacturing processes generate toxic gases, metals and toxic sludges which are harmful.

An alternative way that helps to combat these problems is Green food packaging. It is less harmful to the environment, people and animals. 

Below are some of the types of Green food packaging:

Kraft paper

Kraft paper is commonly called either brown paper or butcher paper. The name Kraft is German and it means three things which are strength, resistance and effectiveness. The material used in making this bag is wood pulp and as a result it's very environmentally friendly. Environmentalists are going to love this packaging because they are recyclable and compostable.

Cornstarch

The material used in making this food packaging is biodegradable, they are sourced from corn and maize. This is an essential part of environmental conservation, however, they must be disposed of effectively so they can decompose rapidly. Once discarded off in the right manner, the materials are broken down into harmless carbon dioxide. This is a very effective food packaging type for companies who package a lot of food because cornstarch is cheap.

Metal packaging

This is a veteran in food packaging, it has been used as far back as the early 1990s. It is mostly used for packaging carbonated and non-carbonated drinks. Reports state that about 75% of all metal bottles ever made are still being used today.

Metal packaging is arguably the best Eco friendly packaging out there because it helps in reducing the waste in landfills and also aids environmental conservation.

Glass packaging

Glass packaging is also another popular Eco friendly packaging for consumers because it can preserve the integrity and taste of food. Glass packaging, like metal packaging, can be used many times without the loss of quality. Most food Glass packaging are jars, pots, bottles which are both safe and healthy.

Compostable bowls and lids

The materials used in manufacturing this product are obtained from sugar-cane fiber. It's easy to source because it's a byproduct from the manufacturing of sugar. They can be used as take-home packs because they can be used in microwaves. As a byproduct from a natural material, it is biodegradable and as such must be disposed of in the right manner.

In recent years, the world has realized how much we pollute the environment. There is now a need to try and reduce the amount of things we throw away.  Green food packaging is a way of doing that and choosing one of these types of food packaging will be a step in taking responsibility for the planet we live in.

In this era of climate destruction, the onus is on humans to find a way to save this planet which we reside in, and one way to do that is to stop using things that harm the environment. One of such things is plastics. Now, we use plastic for a lot of things, mostly to carry food and water. However, we could make use of a safer option and in this case it is biodegradable plastic.

Understandably, making the change from what you are used to something else based on the fact that the climate is getting destroyed can be a bit hard. Maybe because you are not exactly seeing the effects of the destruction on your end. So, here are a few benefits of joining the green team by using biodegradable plastics. 

Non-Toxic

Plastics are made of chemical compounds and contain toxic substances. More often than not, plastics have been linked to cancer. Even though there is no full research to completely prove this, it is important to reduce the amount of toxin-bearing substances we allow closer to our bodies. Using biodegradable plastic takes you away from these toxic substances. 

Safe decomposition

When plastic hits the earth, it will remain in it for years. While it slowly decomposes, it releases some of the toxins in its makeup into the earth and the air. Some of these include methane which tends to displace oxygen, which you need to breathe. Biodegradable plastic on the other hand are not made with such compounds so there is no need to worry about the decomposition process. More importantly, biodegradable plastics decompose very fast. In a few months they dissipate throughout the earth with ease. 

Reduced Fossil fuel effects

There are a plethora of health issues generating from the use of fossil fuel. Fossil fuel is used to a great extent when making plastics. However, their use is minimal when making biodegradable plastics. It is almost not needed. This in turn helps in reducing the health issues and complications which can be a result of the use of fossil fuels. Many of these ailments are life-threatening. It can be safe to say that if we all use biodegradable plastic, we would be saving our own lives. 

 You may want to think that that one plastic bottle of water you threw into the trash has no effects. However, when you see how many plastic bottles of water you throw out in a month, coupled with 10 other people using plastic multiplied times a billion then you are looking at a really large number. All of these bottles end up in the landfills and harm the environment. It is a slow and steady process that you never see coming until the damage is done. Going green saves us all, but more importantly, it makes sure that our children have a better environment to grow and thrive in. An environment free of harmful toxins is the kind of environment our children deserve to live in. We can help make this happen by ditching the plastic and make a conscious effort to purchase products made with biodegradable plastic.

Leonardo DiCaprio, the popular actor, and TV producer, who became popular after his remarkable character in Titanic, is an environmental activist. He is a dedicated lover of the environment and views this as the place we call home. He does not just talk about saving the environment from deterioration, he also practices this. 

DiCaprio promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle through social media platforms and with his foundation. In one of his lectures, he talked about the global climate change of 2017 which happens to be the third warmest climate. In this period, the world experienced the devastating effect of climate change. There were extreme hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. In fact, the damages cost more than $100 billion. 

DiCaprio founded his foundation, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF), to raise funds for not just the preservation of the environment but also the creatures who are fast becoming neglected. The foundation organizes programs and raises funds to trigger a global transition to 100% renewable energy. 

In 2015, DiCaprio bought the Blackadore Caye, a wild unpopulated piece of land off the coast of Belize. He transformed the land to an eco-resort known as "Blackadore Caye, a Restorative Island." The place is opened to friends and visitors who want to experience the beauty of everything eco-friendly. 

The best way to enjoy a stable climatic condition both in terms of temperature and water is to preserve our environment. Preserving our lands has a lot of advantages. Below are some of the things we enjoy when we preserve our land:

• Improve air quality

Have you ever wondered why people who reside in the rural area live longer than those who reside in the urban area where there are many companies and industries? The reason for this is because trees are known as the earth's lungs. They do not just provide us with pure oxygen but also clean the air of its different pollutions. When we protect our environment, including the trees and natural plants in it, we enjoy better air quality. 

• Climate change

Over the past 100 years, the temperature of the urban area has increased by about 0.5 - 3.0°C. This situation is known as the "heat island effect, " and is caused by the reduction of eco-friendly environments and the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. However, trees and parks can help to avert this. With trees and parks, we have access to natural carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.  

• Improve water quality

When we preserve our open lands and environment, we enjoy more natural infiltration which is responsible for storm water management and water quality. Preservation of our natural environment also helps to reduce improper water management systems which is responsible for storm water runoff that often leads to erosion, floods, and water pollution.  

• Biodiversity and Habitat Protection

Preserving our environment is not only beneficial to ourselves but also to the natural plants and inhabitants of the environment. Wildlife and vegetation depend on the natural environment for their survival. 

The importance of biodiversity cannot be quantified. Most of the herbs and species we used for cooking and medications are products of biodiversity. Biodiversity also improves recreations and aesthetics, and the overall quality of human life. 

Destroying our lands and its inhabitants reduces biodiversity.