Is Plastic an Environmentally Conscious Packaging Choice for Your Product?

From your daily food consumption to pharmaceuticals, every other item we purchase is wrapped in plastic packaging. There’s no doubt about the versatility of this packaging type, protecting products from damage. However, over time, it’s earned a bad rep.

Plastic has been under scrutiny for decades. A report from Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) states only 14% of the plastic waste is recycled across the world. This raises serious questions regarding the sustainability of plastic and its impact on nature.

Despite all the arguments, plastic is the packaging star of countless products including famous brands like Apple, H&M and P&G. What’s the secret behind its popularity? Is it still a reliable packaging option? Let’s have a look at the sustainability of this packaging solution.

Effects of Plastic Packaging on Environment:

Plastic comprises the majority of our landfills and seas, bringing it under the spotlight for researchers and environmentalists. The abundance of plastic waste has been overshadowing its qualities for years. Although plastic waste contributes most to global waste, it’s still the most sustainable option for packaging.

Plastic is safer than its alternatives for a number of reasons, as concluded by the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC). Plastic packaging is lightweight and has no decomposition when dumped in landfill. If plastic is replaced with another material, we may experience an increase in greenhouse gas emission.

Production Energy of Plastic:

Plastic requires half the amount of energy compared to other packaging materials for its manufacturing. This reduces the emission of carbon dioxide to a great extent. Fewer raw materials are required during the process, saving up to 50% of energy usage.

Due to their lightweight, transportation energy and cost also decreases.

Recycling and Reusing Plastic:

Plastic is cheap and durable. It poses no major threats to the environment if it’s recycled and reused properly.

Almost 80% of plastic waste that ends up in seas comes from lands. Therefore, it’s important to control littering. If the proper collection and disposal of this material is ensured, plastic waste can be eliminated in the near future.

Several public and private organizations are joining hands to find innovative solutions for plastic recycling and reuse. Companies like Unilever are taking prominent stepsto control and recycle their plastic waste. This is improving the present condition encouraging more brands to be a part of sustainable plastic packaging.

If you’re looking for quality plastic packaging solutions for your business, reach out to Premium Vials. Whether it’s clear or amber plastic bottles, we have solutions for all your packaging options. We have an extensive range of packaging options for our clients.