Page 58 - Plastics News October 2023
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tainers specifically designed to trans-  environmental pollution. It’s been es-  accuracy.
          port and store dry goods like grains,  timated that a staggering 8.3bn tonnes   Sustainability in industrial pack-
          seeds  or pet  food. Both drums  and  of plastic have been produced far re-  aging
          bulk  bins  play  a role  in  safeguarding  sulting in around 6.3bn tonnes of plas-
          the contents during transit and stor-  tic waste that either ends up in land-  Industrial  packaging  plays  a crucial
          age to ensure that the products reach  fills  or  finds  its  way  into  the  natural   role in safeguarding products during
          their destination intact and, without  environment.                    transit and storage but it also affects
          any damage.                        On the one hand metal packaging can   the  environment.  With  consumers
                                                                                 growing more conscious of the con-
          In industrial packaging drums and bulk  be quite heavy and costly to produce   sequences of their purchases it’s cru-
          bins find applications in the transpor-  while paper packaging may not be as   cial for companies to take measures
          tation of chemicals. The primary con-  resilient as some alternative options.   to minimise their carbon footprint.
          cern during chemical transportation  However, despite  these  downsides
          is to prevent any leakage or spillage.  each material serves a purpose in the   One  approach to achieve  this  is by
          Drums serve as a choice for chemical  packaging market and finds extensive   embracing friendly practices, in in-
          transport due to their durability and  use, across various industries.  dustrial packaging. Companies can
          ability to withstand the challenges of   Market trends and opportunities  opt for materials minimise packaging
          transportation.  Conversely  bulk bins                                 waste and design packaging that is
          are specifically designed for transport-  In the  industrial  packaging  market  easily recyclable. This not only helps
          ing chemicals like fertilizers or pesti-  there  is a noticeable trend towards  to reduce their environmental impact
          cides allowing for convenient storage,   embracing sustainable and eco-friend-  but  also appeals  to  consumers  who
          in large quantities  and dispensing as   ly  solutions.  A  significant  number  of  prioritise sustainable products.
          required.                          companies have already begun adopt-  Challenges in industrial packaging
                                             ing environmentally friendly practices
          Materials used in industrial pack-  by utilising  recycled  materials and   One of the hurdles in industrial pack-
          aging                              products with lower emissions.      aging is the issue of cost. As businesses
          Industrial packaging can be crafted   This shift can be attributed  to the   aim to reduce expenses and enhance
          using a range of materials each pos-  growing  awareness and concerns   efficiency  they  frequently  search  for
          sessing its distinct characteristics and   surrounding the environmental ef-  methods  to decrease  their  packag-
          advantages. Plastic is a choice due to   fects  associated with  conventional   ing expenditures.  However, this  ap-
          its durability and versatility. It can be   packaging materials like plastic and   proach can potentially jeopardise the
          molded into shapes and sizes making   metal. Consequently, there is now an   protection of products. Raise the like-
          it  suitable  for products  of different   increased  demand, for packaging  al-  lihood of damage, during transporta-
          forms and dimensions.              ternatives  that’re  biodegradable and   tion and storage.

          Metal  packaging is renowned for its  compostable.                     Designing  packaging  that  fulfills  both
          robustness  and  ability  to  withstand   Besides  sustainability, technological   aesthetic  needs poses another chal-
          extreme  temperatures.  This makes   advancements have also had an impact   lenge. On one hand the package must
          it an excellent option for transporting   on the industrial packaging sector. For   be durable and offer protection. On
          goods over distances or storing them   instance, the adoption of automation   the other hand, it should also be visu-
          in challenging  environments.  Paper   in packaging operations has enhanced   ally attractive and represent the brand
          packaging  is  also commonly  utilised,   efficiency while reducing expenses.  effectively. Achieving this balance can
          in the food industry. It is lightweight,                               prove to be a time consuming task.
          environmentally friendly and easily re-  Moreover, the integration of  tech-  Regulations  also pose a challenge  in
          cyclable.                          nology like  sensors and RFID tags   the field of industrial packaging. Each
                                             has  greatly  improved  supply  chain
          While  every  type  of material  has   management and product tracking.   country has its set of regulations per-
          its  advantages  it’s  important to also   Manufacturers and distributors  who   taining to packaging materials labeling
          consider the  potential  drawbacks.   incorporate  RFID technology  into   obligations and environmental impact.
          For instance, plastic packaging is not   their  supply chains witness  an 80%   Companies must navigate these regu-
          biodegradable and can contribute to   enhancement, in shipping and picking   lations to ensure compliance while



          58   PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS                                                               October 2023
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