THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Sustainable packaging covers any materials or packing processes which attempt to prevent the increase of waste products destined for landfill sites. Sustainability involves the use of eco friendly materials used in recyclable packaging or biodegradable packaging which will break down and return to nature once no longer required.Get more news about Biodegradable Packaging,you can vist our website!

Businesses of all kinds and sizes – Coca-Cola, Unilever, McDonalds and Danone among them – are committing to sustainability targets, and not just as a ‘greenwashing’ public relations exercise.

There is now a realisation that in spite of short-term increases in costs, a commitment to greener working can be a way of building sustainable profits.

The UK government has also made substantial commitments to the environment, targeting a range of issues including air pollution, clean water, waste, harmful chemicals and biosecurity.
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING IN THE NEWS
Eco friendly packaging is a front-of-mind topic for companies operating in all sectors. Growing public concern has recently been ramped up by the scenarios shown in Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet TV series, as well as by a timely realisation by businesses and politicians that, if nothing changes, packaging will cause irreversible environmental damage.

An estimated 80 million tonnes of plastic packaging are produced annually. That’s around 10 kilos of plastic for every person on the planet, every year. If left unchecked the figure will triple by 2050 (source: Talking Retail). Forbes.mag reports that there were 3.4 trillion units of packaging produced in 2016, 92% of it for food and drink.

Environmentally friendly packaging is agreed as a top priority by virtually everyone – the way we package goods of all kinds has to change. Leaving aside the Attenborough effect, the issue has come closer to home with China and other nations in the Far East now refusing to accept plastics for low-cost recycling. The opportunities to shift the burden of environmental responsibility elsewhere are reducing.
WHAT PACKAGING IS SUSTAINABLE?
When looking for sustainable packaging solutions, it is important to consider the entire life cycle of a product. This includes how its materials are sourced, how long it takes to manufacture and package goods, and what happens to the packaging when it enters the waste stream.

Sustainable packaging often utilises renewable resources such as plant-based plastics, cardboard or paperboard made from sustainable forestry operations or post-consumer waste, compostable or biodegradable packaging materials and renewable energy sources where possible. It should also be designed for reusability and recycled into new products whenever possible. By thinking holistically about sustainable packaging solutions, companies can make eco-friendly decisions that help keep our planet healthy for generations to come.