Making better choices for the environment is crucial to ensuring a healthy and sustainable world for our future generations. In the last six months alone, Guardpack has seen sales of biodegradable wet wipes, as well as liquid-filled sachets in recyclable laminate, increase by an impressive 300%. We won’t deny that these numbers are great, but there’s always room for more eco-friendly practices. As such, we are continuing to urge clients to follow suit with more environmentally friendly choices.
It’s no secret that there are more dangers posed by the climate crisis than ever before. But if we all started making even the smallest eco-friendly changes, we would see significant changes in our society. The onus is on everyone to do more. With this in mind, the Guardpack team would like to explore with you just how impactful using biodegradable wet wipes can be in the battle against climate change.
The Climate Facts
Before we delve too deeply, however, it’s imperative you understand exactly why positive action is needed. Hard facts are essential in contextulising our precarious situation. They must be remembered to ensure we don’t dismiss our environmental responsibilities. Apologies in advance if we scare you, but here are some alarming climate change facts:
- An estimated 1,000,000 species are predicted to be at risk of extinction.
- Glaciers have been shrinking across the globe since the 1960s. They show no signs of stopping.
- Extreme weather is becoming more and more prevalent worldwide. Everything from intense hurricanes to devastating wildfires.
- Globally, the warmest 8 years on record have all been since 2015.
Biodegradable Wet Wipes
The efficacious practicality of a wet wipe can’t be disputed. From wonderfully gentle baby wipes, to lemon-scented single sachet restaurant wipes, to the industrial strength wipes used on a construction site, they’re an indispensable part of modern-day society. It’s a terrible shame, then, that the majority of wipes are made from non-biodegrable materials, causing great harm to the environment.
This is no exaggeration. Each year, millions of wet wipes are sent to landfills where they fester for years on end. With the majority of wipes composed, at least partially, of plastic, they can remain there for 100 years. The 100% viscose biodegradable wet wipes produced by Guardpack, are made from plant based renewable fibres which are fully compostable in as little as six months. The tissue is converted into pure water and carbon dioxide, which are part of photosynthesis, returning back to nature.
Biodegradable Wet Wipes Are NOT Flushable Wet Wipes
There is a hugely damaging misconception that biodegradable means flushable. In fact, there is an even more damaging misconception that wet wipes, in general, are flushable. Simply put, no wet wipe should be flushed. The only exception are those that have been certified as flushable. This is typically reserved for wipes that come into contact with human waste and used in a bathroom setting.
In 2017, the Guardian reported that wet wipes make up a disgraceful 93% of annual UK sewer blockages, ultimately making them the cause of the famously putrid ‘fatbergs’. It’s vital that you stick to the 3 Ps when flushing anything. If it isn’t pee, paper or poo, then it doesn’t go down the loo.
Recyclable Laminate
Some climate change facts are relatively unknown and continue to shock the general public, but the damage that single-use plastics (SUPs) cause certainly doesn’t fall into this category. The overuse of SUPs has given many brands, businesses and even entire industries a bad name for years on end, and sadly, this includes the wet wipe manufacturing industry.
The production of plastic results in greenhouse gas emissions, whilst the plastic itself continues to pollute our oceans at an alarming rate. By 2050, it’s even estimated that there may well be more plastic than fish in our oceans! But all hope is not lost. Just as we should remember the 3 Ps, the 3 Rs should also be kept at the forefront of your mind: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The recyclable laminate used in the packaging our wet wipe and liquid filled sachets and flowpacks is, naturally, covered by the third R.
We are exceptionally proud of both our biodegradable wet wipes and our recyclable packaging. Conducting our corporate and commercial activity in an ethical and sustainable way is incredibly important to us, and we hope you will join us in reducing the impact of climate change in any way you can.
Contact Us
If you’d like to find out more about our biodegradable wet wipes or our sustainable sachets, please get in touch! You can contact Guardpack today on 01245 505 807 or email us at trade@guardpack.co.uk. Don’t forget to check out our Instagram!