As we take a closer look at packaging to ensure it’s plastic-free, an element to consider is one that sometimes gets overlooked – tape.

Tape is a necessary component of packaging in many cases and can be confusing to figure out what the best eco-friendly version is to use. From materials to adhesion, every aspect has to be considered.

There’s no denying that the speed and convenience of e-commerce shopping is a game-changer, especially during the pandemic when brick-and-mortar stores are inaccessible. However, as consumers, we need to understand the environmental cost of online retail, particularly when it comes to packaging.

During the pandemic, online purchases and returns are surging like never before. Since March of 2020, corrugated box shipments have jumped 9 percent according to the Fiber Box Association. Technavio, a market research firm, estimates that demand for filled-air products is poised to swell by $1.16 billion between 2020 and 2024 because of the spike in online sales.

Currently, less than 14 percent of the nearly 86 million tons of plastic packaging produced globally each year is recycled. The majority of it is left for landfills, incinerated, or left to pollute the earth.

More than 50% of all plastic thrown out is packaging. Single-use plastic has become a scourge on our planet in the past 60 years. It’s cheap to make and widely considered to be hygienic and time-saving. Unfortunately, one of the qualities that makes it valuable also makes it extremely detrimental to the health of the planet: its durability. Plastic is estimated to last anywhere from 450 years to forever.

Nearly every piece of plastic ever made is still with us and every piece we manufacture adds to the problem. Creating it involves fossil fuels, which aren’t so great for our atmosphere. When plastics enter rivers and the ocean they slowly leach chemicals into the soil and water, harming the health of our entire ecosystem.

This is why it’s so important to seek out alternatives to plastic packaging. But what are these options exactly? Here are a few to consider when looking to take your packaging in a plastic-free direction:

Every brand’s journey to eliminate plastic is unique. Whether it is born out of the inspiration to eliminate a plastic need, or it evolves into wanting to reduce use altogether, all roads can be challenging.

Coconut Bowls’ journey is no different. They are on a mission to replace plastic with natural products and in doing so inspire a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. The story of Coconut Bowls began when Australian digital nomad Jake McKeon was on a surfing/backpacking journey. During this trip, he witnessed the enormous amount of plastic pollution everywhere he traveled: on the beaches of Central America, down the coast of Southern California, and all around Europe.

Last month, the Plastic Free July initiative urged people to join a global movement to rethink habits and boycott single-use plastic. Many tips were posted and information was spread on the dangers of plastic throughout the month, but the plastics fight shouldn’t slow down just because July is over.

SeaHive is proud to announce our collaboration with Breeze Bag, a Kickstarter-funded project that redefines the classic beach bag. For this partnership, SeaHive helped Breeze Bag review their packaging processes and materials, and specify zero-plastic packaging solutions for their product.