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The below packaging guide was developed as a resource for Good Market approved enterprises participating in the weekly marketplace events and supplying the Good Market shops in Sri Lanka.
The problem packaging category includes packaging that cannot be safely reused, properly composted, or easily recycled. Single-use plastic lunch sheets, shopping bags, straws, cutlery, and gloves, oxo-biodegradable plastic, plastic #3, and plastic #6 are not permitted at the Good Market events or shops in Sri Lanka. See the Plastics Guide for more details.
Packaging options may vary in different regions. Good Market approved enterprises are expected to avoid problem packaging and minimize waste by transitioning to reusable, compostable, and recyclable alternatives. Have recommendations? Get in touch.
Packaging that is collected for reusable is considered the most environmentally responsible option.
Collected & Reused: glass, food grade stainless steel, ceramics with lead-free glaze, terracotta, wood, bamboo, basketry
+ No waste
Recommended
Compostable refers to materials that fully decompose under normal conditions within 1 year with no toxic residue. Compostable packaging materials are listed below from better to worse.
Edible: bread bowl, waffle cone or bowl, etc.
+ No waste
Recommended
Natural: banana leaf, lotus leaf, areca leaf, coconut shell, corn husk, etc.
+ Local. Minimal energy to produce and transport
+ Can be fully composted
Recommended
Paper & Cardboard: made from recycled material
+ Increases demand for recycling, minimizes deforestation
+ Can be fully composted
– Requires energy to produce and transport
Recommended
Paper & Cardboard: chlorine-free, unbleached
+ No dioxin, reduced pollution
+ Can be fully composted
– Can contribute to deforestation
– Requires energy to produce and transport
Recommended
Paper & Cardboard: white
+ Can be fully composted
– Chlorine bleaches contribute to water pollution and production of dioxin, a persistent organic pollutant and powerful carcinogen that bioaccumulates in animals
– Can contribute to deforestation
– Requires energy to produce and transport
Recommended
Bioplastics: compostable plastics made from plants
+ Can be fully composted
– Production of raw material requires land that could be used for food or conservation
– May not be compostable at home, may require industrial compost facilities
– Requires energy to produce and transport
Recommended
Newspaper
+ Material is being reused
– In some countries newspaper ink contains lead and other toxins. Can contaminate compost
Not permitted for ready-to-eat food at Good Market events
Recyclable means that there is a system of collecting the packaging and returning it to a recycling facility that can manage it. Recyclable packaging materials are listed below from better to worse.
Glass (if collected, washed and reused, comes under Reusable)
+ Nonreactive. No leaching
+ Can be sterilized for reuse
+ Easy to recycle, often contains recycled content
– Heavy, more energy for transport
– Requires significant energy to manufacture from raw materials
Not permitted for ready-to-eat food at Good Market events
Metal: aluminium, steel, tin-plated steel
+ Easy to recycle, often contains recycled content
– Requires significant energy to extract and manufacture from raw material
– Mining for raw material causes significant environmental damage
– May be lined with bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disruptor that is linked to reproductive health issues
– Aluminum leaching is concern for people with renal impairment
Not permitted for ready-to-eat food at Good Market events
Plastic: made from recycled material
+ Reduces material use
+ Increases demand for recycled plastic
– Can contribute to environmental pollution if not recycled
– Chemical leaching may impact health
– Requires energy to produce and transport
Not permitted for ready-to-eat food at Good Market events
Plastic #2: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
+ Less leaching than other plastics, easier to reuse
+ Accepted by most recyclers
– Can contribute to environmental pollution if not recycled
– Made from non-renewable petroleum. Extraction, processing, transport can cause significant environment damage
– Requires energy to produce and transport
– Concerns about chemical leaching
Not permitted for ready-to-eat food at Good Market events
Plastic #5: Polypropylene (PP)
+ Less leaching than other plastics, easier to reuse, resistant to heat
– Can’t be recycled at all facilities
– Can contribute to environmental pollution if not recycled
– Made from non-renewable petroleum. Extraction, processing, transport can cause significant environment damage
– Requires energy to produce and transport
– Concerns about chemical leaching
Not permitted for ready-to-eat food at Good Market events
Plastic #4: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
+ Less leaching than other plastics, easier to reuse
+ Accepted by most recyclers (except plastic bags and plastic film)
– Plastic bags and film cannot be easily recycled, contributes to environmental pollution, harms marine life.
– Made from non-renewable petroleum. Extraction, processing, transport can cause significant environment damage
– Requires energy to produce and transport
– Concerns about chemical leaching
Not permitted for ready-to-eat food at Good Market events
Plastic #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
+ Accepted by most recyclers
– Intended for one-time use, should not be reused, refilled or heated. Heat and detergents can cause antimony and other toxic chemicals to leach
– Can contribute to environmental pollution if not recycled
– Made from non-renewable petroleum. Extraction, processing, transport can cause significant environment damage
– Requires energy to produce and transport
Not permitted for ready-to-eat food at Good Market events
Composites: layers of plastic, paper, and foil
+ Lightweight, less energy for transport
– Difficult to recycle
– Contributes to environmental pollution
– Concerns about chemical leaching
Not permitted for ready-to-eat food at Good Market events
Problem packaging cannot be safely reused, properly composted, or easily recycled. It should not be used by Good Market approved enterprises.
Single Use: plastic lunch sheets, shopping bags, straws, cutlery, gloves
– Unnecessary. Can be avoided or replaced by reusable or compostable alternatives
– Difficult to recycle
– Contributes to environmental pollution, harms marine life
– Made from non-renewable petroleum. Extraction, processing, transport can cause significant environment damage
– Requires energy to produce and transport
– Chemical leaching may impact health
Not permitted
Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic: made from petroleum, contains additives to speed up degradation under certain conditions
– Breaks down into microplastics, leaves behind toxic residue, and doesn’t degrade under all conditions
– Introduces variability into recycling process and affects quality
– Made from non-renewable petroleum. Extraction, processing, transport can cause significant environment damage
– Requires energy to produce and transport
– Chemical leaching may impact health
Not permitted
Plastic #3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
– Contains phthalates, a hormone disruptor linked to reproductive health issues
– Dioxin released during manufacturing process. Dioxin is a persistent organic pollutant and a powerful carcinogen that bio-accumulates in animals
– Difficult to recycle.
– Contributes to environmental pollution
– Made from non-renewable petroleum. Extraction, processing, transport can cause significant environment damage
– Requires energy to produce and transport
Not permitted
Plastic #6: Polystyrene (PS) also known as regifoam or styrofoam
– Contains styrene, a known neurotoxin and carcinogen.
– Difficult to recycle. Estimated to take at least 500 years to degrade
– Contributes to environmental pollution
– Made from non-renewable petroleum. Extraction, processing, transport can cause significant environment damage
– Requires energy to produce and transport
Not permitted