As environmental issues keep increasing we need the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) more  than ever. Of these goals, SDG 14: Life Below Water, which seeks to ensure  the sustainable management and protection of oceans and their resources is a major issue of concern. Plastic pollution is  one of the most pressing threats to marine life, particularly that which comes from packaging. Here, companies  can also stand to gain as consumers are increasingly looking for more sustainable options by aligning with SDG  14 through the use of environmentally friendly packaging, for instance, GableTop cartons to pack edible oil.

In this blog, we’ll explore how GableTop cartons can help support SDG 14: Life Below Water and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future for our oceans.

Understanding SDG 14: Life Below Water

SDG 14 is focused on the conservation and sustainable management of the oceans in order to address issues such as pollution, the protection of biodiversity and the sustainable use of resources. Key targets under SDG 14 include;

• Minimizing Marine pollution, particularly plastics which affect marine life.
• Preserve and protect and restore ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves that support marine life.
• Avoiding overfishing and promoting the sustainable fishing practice

SDG 14 is thus harmed by plastic pollution as one of the biggest threats. Every  year, approximately 8 million tons of plastic make their way into ocean waters, damaging marine life  irretrievably. This problem is largely due to single-use plastics such as plastic bottles and packaging, which are produced  in large quantities. Consequently, businesses must look for ways to decrease their plastic packaging usage, particularly within  food and beverage industries.

GableTop Cartons: A Sustainable Packaging Solution for Edible Oils

GableTop cartons are a very sustainable way of packaging as compared to plastic bottles and other  forms of packaging. The major part of these cartons is made from paperboard, a renewable  resource, and are intended to be recyclable, biodegradable and light weighted. For edible oil  packaging, GableTop cartons have several environmental benefits that are in line with the goals of SDG  14.

Here’s how GableTop cartons can contribute to life below water:

1. Reducing Plastic Waste in the Oceans

The GableTop cartons are taking lead with innovative ways through which they help protect the marine life by reducing plastic packaging that ends up in the seas. While plastic bottles can take thousands of years to decompose, GableTop cartons are made from renewable paperboard, thus making them an environmentally friendly and recyclable product. This means that when GableTop cartons used for edible oils and other food products, companies reduce their plastic waste and thus prevent the plastic waste from entering the oceans. Since plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats to the oceans, using GableTop cartons as sustainable packaging is a realistic way of achieving the SDG 14 targets.

2. Recyclability and a Circular Economy

The structure of GableTop cartons reflects consideration of recyclability. The paperboard and  polyethylene and occasional aluminium components enable material separation for new product creation which decreases virgin material demand and promotes circular  economy principles. Businesses that encourage packaging recycling help prevent increasing amounts of waste from reaching oceans and landfills.

This paper establishes a circular economy as essential for SDG 14 because it alleviates pressure on  ecosystems by reducing resource extraction and waste. GableTop cartons’ stakeholders must agree on a data  collection method to extend the recycling program for correct future comparisons. Companies that use GableTop cartons  should play an essential role in fostering a more sustainable, zero-waste economy.

3. Lower Carbon Footprint

First, the production of plastic packaging is energy intensive and is linked to carbon emissions from the extraction and processing of petroleum based materials. However, GableTop cartons have a relatively lower carbon print. Research shows GableTop cartons reduce carbon footprint by as much as 72% compared to plastic bottles. This is a contribution to the reduction of the green house gas emissions to the fight against climate change, a major cause of ocean acidification and the decline of marine life. It does so by decreasing carbon emissions which are beneficial to both business and the environment and is linked to SDG 14 on marine life.

4. Protecting Marine Biodiversity

Marine life is suffering from pollution, habitat destruction and climate change. This is because companies should  reduce plastic use and replace it with GableTop cartons to help lessen the waste that is threatening  marine habitats. Also, the light weight of GableTop  cartons means that more resources are saved on transportation, hence decreasing the carbon footprint of the logistics and  in turn protecting the oceans from more climate related damage. This is because, GableTop cartons offer a packaging solution that, in a proactive manner, helps to reduce the pressure on marine ecosystems and  the way in which resources are used is much more sustainable.

5. Consumer Awareness and Engagement

Many GableTop cartons are labelled clearly to help consumers how and why to recycle, and  the benefits of sustainable packaging. This not only assists in the correct disposal of the waste but also makes  people more aware of the impact of the packaging and the benefits of choosing products that do not harm the  ocean and its inhabitants.

SDG 14 is achieved through educating consumers about their sustainable choices.  Thus, consumers can have a confident thought that they are contributing to the protection of oceans and marine life when  they buy products that are packaged in GableTop cartons.

Conclusion: Protecting Our Oceans with Sustainable Packaging

Unveiling SDG 14: Life Below Water demands global collaboration from businesses and governments alongside conscious consumption by citizens. Businesses can contribute to pollution reduction and climate change impact diminishment alongside supporting the circular economy through sustainable packaging solutions like GableTop cartons for edible oil packaging.

Hence, this is because the fight for marine pollution concerns packaging decisions as global protection efforts for oceans and their inhabitants continue. By choosing  GableTop cartons companies can harmonize their practices with SDG 14 and real concrete actions towards a  healthier, more sustainable ocean and its inhabitants.