​How to Respond to Unsustainable Packaging

How to Respond to Unsustainable Packaging

What are the available options for consumers, governments, and manufacturers to reduce unsustainable packaging?

Packaging is inevitable, and robust packaging has been demanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, as consumers are increasingly shopping online.

Today, packaging is made of cardboard, plastic, glass, wood, and metal. The More developed countries are using extra packaging and therefore creating additional waste.

Your options include returnable packaging using metal or glass, removal of unnecessary packaging and/or replacement with lightweight alternatives, simplified packaging, and the increased use of recycled or compostable/biodegradable materials.

To achieve sustainability, the ultimate objective is recyclable material.

Environmental Impact While single-use plastic is the target, we are asking for sustainable alternatives for all types of packaging. There can be many solutions to the variety of packaging materials. Paper and cardboard are biodegradable, but plastic is not. Glass can be reused without loss of quality. Steel and aluminum can be recycled indefinitely without loss of its quality. The most difficult type of packaging to recycle are those defined as multilayer packaging: (79.4%) go to landfill.

Regulatory Pressure Authorities are now beginning to respond. New regulations target both the materials and how they are recycled.

France, Germany, and the UK are introducing fees for non-recyclable packaging. Thailand and Chile are introducing bans on plastic bags. Mexico City has introduced a ban on most single-use plastic items. China has plans to improve recycling, ban plastic bags, and introduce measures to reduce single-use plastic consumption.

Response Many brands are responding with sustainable packaging options. The top 100 fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are committed to sustainability, and the top 10 are aiming at 100% sustainable packaging by 2025.