Environmentally Friendly DVD and Blu-Ray Cases: Alternative to Troublesome Packaging

If you think about it, plastic packaging for DVDs and Blu-Ray discs aren't really that bad in terms of function and practicality. They're easy and cheap to produce for mass consumption and are quite flexible in terms of design and size. Unfortunately, plastics also tend to be problematic for the environment. They do not decompose well, can produce toxic fumes during production and, let's admit it, not a lot of DVD and Blu-Ray owners actually recycle. So what's the best solution? Try environmentally friendly DVD and Blu-ray cases.

Green packaging: What you can expect
Environmentally friendly DVD and Blu-Ray cases are produced from recycled materials such as paper, foam, paperboard and old plastics. As such, many eco-friendly packaging are categorized as 'no-plastic', 'low-plastic', 'bio-degradable or with bio-degradable content' or 'recycled'. Depending on the manufacturer, the packaging used on certain batches of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs may or may not include certain types of recycled materials.

Advantages of environmentally friendly DVD and Blu-Ray cases
Environmentally friendly DVD and Blu-Ray cases are beneficial in many ways. A few of their benefits include:

Biodegradable and recyclable
Environmentally friendly DVD and Blu-Ray cases are manufactured with the conscious effort of ensuring that materials used can and will break down when disposed of. Materials are also recyclable, which means that they can be re-used again and again, without requiring any additional raw materials.

Manufacturing processes involved in producing recyclable materials are also eco-friendly, in that they produce only 85% (at the minimum) less carbon dioxide than traditional materials.

Flexibility in design
Environmentally friendly cases used for DVDs and Blu-Ray discs can come in a wide variety of designs and color. Although most cases are sold pre-formed (2-panel, 4-panel, with closed pockets, etc.), buyers can almost always order a customized design to suit their needs and preferences.

More lightweight than traditional materials
Environmentally friendly DVD and Blu-Ray cases tend to be lightweight, making them easier to pack, store and ship. Most packaging made from recycled materials are 40 - 50% lighter than traditional materials such as plastic. With lighter packaging, producers and retailers save on costs related to shipping and transport.

Green printing
Producers of environmentally friendly DVD and Blu-Ray cases frequently use inks made from plants and vegetables. This type of organic ink makes it possible to produce texts and design while using waterless printing technology.

Cost
Technology used to produce environmentally friendly packaging make it possible for retailers to take advantage of their cost efficiency. They have been proven to be competitive to pricing associated with the more traditional petroleum-based cases.