Wondering how plastics can be sustainable & eco-friendly? You might be amazed by this fact but the infamous plastic is deemed to be the most environment-friendly material for packaging because of its extremely low carbon footprint. This has been proven in a report by the UK government & many other studies conducted worldwide. However, the root cause of its defamation lies in its association with the linear economy that results in waste creation. This is why responsible organizations are now embracing the power of circular economy that draws upon the policy of Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. In this blog post, we’re going to discuss some polymer-based biodegradable & recyclable materials that are here to revolutionize the future of the packaging industry.
BIOPOLYMERS & BIOPLASTICS FOR BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGING
Plastics are formed from polymers which can be synthetic & natural. Biopolymers are the ones formed from organic materials like rice which makes them largely biodegradable in a shorter time, unlike synthetic plastics. Some bioplastics are even compostable under suitable conditions. Made from renewable resources, all bioplastics are recyclable which limits the use of fossil fuels. These are used in the production of bio-based conventional plastics like PET (polyethylene terephthalate) & PLA (polylactic acid).
However, one of the key challenges with these is the cost associated with it which tends to be drastically high. This is why many organizations worldwide have been researching to find cheaper bioplastic solutions & promote their use. At present, the key reliable solution is a move towards a circular economy with eco-friendly alternatives as opposed to non-recyclable packaging.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
The need of the hour is a circular economy which is possible with the switch to better plastics. Responsible companies are making a switch to recyclable plastic to make the closed plastic economy a reality and reduce the pollution from discarded plastic in the environment.
Europe has witnessed great success in reducing PET water bottles & PE carrier bags. However, it would need drastic alterations at the end of both producers and users to achieve 100% recycling. At present, only 9% of the total plastic produced is actually recycled. One of the key drawbacks is the lack of awareness of users regarding their handling, and the common use & throw attitude which often leads them into landfills instead of recycling stations.
SHIFT FROM THE THROW-AWAY PLASTIC CULTURE
Not just the manufacturers but the consumers too are required to keep a check on their attitude towards the use of plastics. Increased collaboration between businesses & consumers can help create awareness amongst consumers to shift from the throw-away culture and facilitate a circular economy. Strengthening plastic waste collection from both households & industries can reduce waste creation and the by-product can, in turn, be used as raw material by other companies.
Cosmo Films, as a responsible organization, to become a part of this change, has taken various steps. With a range of products engineered using PP (poly propylene) based material, we aim to promote reuse & recycle of plastic & sustainable development. To tackle the high-cost challenge of bioplastics, our global R&D teams have been working on creating low-cost biodegradable solutions. We’re in this together and we will change this together! Let’s create a better future by switching to sustainable plastics.
