Eco-friendly garments are produced with consideration for environmental impact throughout their lifecycle, including raw material sourcing, manufacturing processes, and packaging. Packaging for such garments should also be environmentally sound. Key principles for eco-friendly packaging:
- Reduce: Minimize the amount of packaging material used.
- Reuse: Use packaging that can be reused.
- Recycle: Use packaging made from recycled materials and/or that is easily recyclable.
- Renewable resources: Prefer materials from renewable sources (e.g., paper, bioplastics).
- Biodegradable/Compostable: Prefer materials that can break down naturally.
- Avoid harmful substances: Avoid materials that are toxic or contribute to pollution (e.g., certain plastics, inks, adhesives).
Let's evaluate the options in this context:
- (a) Clips & pins: Metal or plastic clips and pins are often used in garment packaging to maintain shape or presentation. While small, they contribute to waste. Metal pins can be recycled, but plastic clips are often single-use plastic. Minimizing or eliminating them is desirable for eco-friendliness, but they are not as big an issue as primary packaging material like bags.
- (b) Poly covers (Polyethylene bags / Polythene bags): These are plastic bags commonly used to individually pack garments for protection. Conventional polyethylene is derived from fossil fuels, is not biodegradable, and contributes significantly to plastic pollution if not properly recycled (and recycling rates for thin films can be low). While recycled poly bags or biodegradable/compostable plastic alternatives exist, standard "poly covers" are often a target for reduction in eco-friendly packaging. These are generally considered less eco-friendly than paper or other natural material options.
- (c) Paper covers (Paper bags / Wraps): Paper is made from a renewable resource (wood pulp, or recycled paper). It is biodegradable and widely recyclable. Paper packaging is generally considered a more eco-friendly option than conventional plastic bags, provided it's sourced from sustainable forests (e.g., FSC certified) or recycled content.
- (d) Jute fabric tags: Jute is a natural, biodegradable, and renewable plant fiber. Using jute fabric for tags is an eco-friendly choice compared to plastic tags.
The question asks what is "to be avoided" for eco-friendly garment packaging. Comparing the options, conventional
Poly covers (polyethylene bags) are the most problematic from an environmental perspective due to their fossil fuel origin, non-biodegradability, and contribution to plastic waste. Eco-friendly initiatives often focus on replacing these with alternatives like recycled poly, compostable plastics, paper bags, or no individual bag at all. Therefore, poly covers are generally to be avoided or minimized for eco-friendly packaging. \[ \boxed{\text{Poly covers}} \]