Reuse and recycle at home
While we take utmost care of your family’s safety with secure packaging, we prioritise sustainable solutions. We leverage cutting-edge innovation and technology to make the reducing, reusing, and recycling process easy for you at home.
Because only when we work together, our sustainability efforts make a difference. Every single effort counts. We believe in the power of collective action. This is why our commitment is to empower you to make eco-friendly decisions.
Discover how simple ideas and habits in your daily life can maximise the use of packaging. Together, we create a lasting impact.
Reduce your impact
- Use products with innovative and sustainable materials: choose products with minimal packaging, thinner paper, or packaging made from recyclable materials. For example, at Asteria, we limit the use of virgin raw materials by using thinner paper and use biodegradable plastics, and recyclable materials in a wide range of our products.
- Reduce single-use packaging: purchase products in bulk or with minimal packaging to reduce waste.
- Reduce the need for single-use packaging: use reusable bags, containers, and water bottles
Reuse your packaging
- Packaging as storage: reuse product packaging as storage or for organising items at home.
- Repurpose packaging materials: turn packaging materials into functional or decorative items or DIY items like gardening, storage, or arts. For example, our cold wash-off labels are easily removable to make reuse easy.
- Gift wrapping: reuse product packaging for gift-wrapping purposes.
- Return for refill: return empty containers for a refill to promote a circular economy.
- Donations: contribute by donating unopened or gently used packaging items like cosmetics, toiletries, or canned goods, to local charities or shelters.
Recycle what you can
- Follow your local recycling guidelines: different areas have different rules, so check what can be recycled in your community.
- Make eco-conscious decisions: prioritise companies and manufacturers that promote responsible recycling practices including resource efficiency. For example, our linerless labels not only generate zero waste, but our suppliers recycle and reuse it to make paper up to 7 times.
- Separate items: make sure you sort and place the items in the designated recycling bin.
- Ensure it is clean and dry: rinse and clean recyclables before placing them in recycling bins to avoid contamination.
- Save space in recycling bins: flatten cardboard boxes and containers.
- Composting organic packaging: compost organic packaging materials like paper bags, coffee filters, and cardboard food containers if your local composting facilities accept them. Did you know Asteria developed the world’s first 100% home compostable coffee capsules as an eco-conscious alternative to traditional aluminum coffee capsules with a biodegradable single-use cup?
How to clean packaging for recycling
Properly cleaned and sorted recyclables help ensure that materials can be effectively processed and reused in an environmentally responsible manner.
Cleaning packaging before recycling is essential to ensure that recyclables are not contaminated which can lead to difficulties in the recycling process.
Here’s how to clean different types of packaging:
- Rinse glass bottles and jars to remove any residue, such as food, sauce, or liquid.
- It is up to you to remove labels or not, but removing metal lids and caps is recommended and can be recycled separately. Our labels can be easily removed for your convenience.
- Empty and rinse plastic containers, like water bottles, milk jugs, and food containers
- Remove any leftover food, liquids, or sauces
- Rinse metal cans, such as aluminum cans and steel food cans, to remove any food or beverage residue.
- Remove paper labels if possible, but you don’t need to remove the metal tabs on aluminum cans.
- Flatten cardboard boxes to save space and make recycling easier.
- Remove any tape, staples, or plastic packaging materials (like bubble wrap) from the cardboard.
- Remove any non-paper elements, such as plastic windows or labels, from paper packaging, like envelopes or cardboard boxes.
- Crumple or tear large paper items to help them fit in recycling bins.
- Plastic bags and film should be clean and dry. Empty and shake out any crumbs or debris.
- Avoid including heavily soiled or greasy plastic bags; these may not be recyclable through curbside programs but can often be recycled at designated drop-off locations.
- Empty and rinse beverage cartons like milk or juice containers.
- Remove plastic caps or straws; these may be recyclable separately.
For example, our Opercules (Lids) solution uses materials like PP (Polypropylene) and paper lids, which make them environmentally friendly to aluminum lids. Our packages are already recyclable where adequate.
How to recognise easily degradable or easily recyclable packaging?
As you strive to make more eco-conscious choices, the initial step is to learn how to identify packaging that is easily degradable or readily recyclable. This helps you to make informed decisions that align with environmentally friendly practices.
Here’s a list of suggestions on how to identify such packaging:
brands that prioritise sustainability often highlight their efforts on the packaging. Look for labels or logos signifying eco-friendly practices. Check for statements like “Made from 100% recycled materials” or “Recyclable.”
look for recycling symbols or codes on the packaging. These are typically represented as numbers inside the recycling symbol like ♻️ 1 for PET or ♻️ 2 for HDPE. They indicate the type of plastic used and whether it’s widely recyclable. Some packaging may have labels indicating that it’s biodegradable or compostable. These are often made from materials like PLA (Polylactic Acid) and are designed to break down more easily.
packaging made primarily of paper or cardboard is typically recyclable.
packaging with simple shapes and minimal components like a cardboard box is often easier to recycle compared to complex multi-material packaging, such as a plastic blister pack with a cardboard backing.
for plastics, familiarise yourself with the different types and their recyclability. Many recycling programs accept PET and PE (polyethylene) widely used at Asteria, and all its variations like LDPE (low-density polyethylene), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), and LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene).
some brands use QR codes or apps that provide detailed information about the recyclability or disposal instructions for their products.
look for packaging with recognised environmental certifications, such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for sustainable forestry practices.
If you’re unsure about a product’s recyclability or sustainability, contact the brand’s customer service. Many companies are happy to provide information.