Page 45 - Plastics News September 2023

FEATURE

terials to reduce waste and enhance  Biodegradability: Paper based the environment.
efficiency. By staying informed about packaging naturally breaks down One possible solution involves invest-
these trends and utilizing cutting edge over time whereas plastics can ing in recycling technologies that can
technologies businesses operating in remain in the environment for effectively process flexible packaging
the packaging paper industry can po- hundreds of years. For example, paper. Moreover, companies can ex-
sition themselves for success. in the ocean paper products bio- plore materials and coatings that en-
Sustainability in numbers degrade within weeks to several hance the recyclability of their prod-
To highlight the eco nature of flexible months while plastics can take ucts. By joining forces with industry
packaging paper, let’s explore some centuries to decompose. stakeholders, we can work towards
intriguing statistics.  Consumer Preferences: Accord- creating a more sustainable future, for
 Recyclability: The United States ing to a survey, it was discovered flexible packaging paper.
has a recycling rate of 66%, for that 74% of consumers world- Conclusion
paper products as reported by wide are willing to modify their In summary, flexible packaging paper
the American Forest and Paper consumption patterns in order to plays a vital role in the packaging sec-
Association (AF&PA). This figure lessen their environmental foot- tor owing to its versatility, cost effec-
exceeds the recycling rates of print. Opting for packaging op- tiveness and eco friendliness. It finds
other packaging materials. tions that align with these prefer- applications in areas such as food
 Reduced Carbon Footprint: A ences can greatly contribute to packaging, medical packaging and
the success and growth of busi-
study found that the utilization nesses. consumer goods packaging.
of flexible packaging has been As the flexible packaging industry con-
shown to decrease the over- Challenges in the flexible packaging tinues to evolve through innovation
all impact on global warming by paper industry businesses that adopt packaging pa-
34% when compared to rigid The flexible packaging paper indus- per can capitalize on its potential, for
packaging options. try encounters obstacles, such as the growth and meet the needs of today’s
 Resource Efficiency: Flexible requirement for improved recycling consumers. Opting for packaging pa-
packaging paper usually needs infrastructure and the growing com- per not only allows us to reduce our
plastic or polypropylene com- petition from plastic packaging. carbon footprint but also contributes
pared to plastic in order to pro- Although flexible packaging paper is towards building a more sustainable
vide the same level of protection. environmentally friendly and cost ef- future.
This efficiency helps in conserving fective it necessitates appropriate dis-
resources and minimizing waste. posal techniques to prevent harm to

Start-up establishes UK’s first pilot plant for recycling plastic lab waste

n today’s paced society, the role of
Ipackaging is extremely important
in preserving and delivering products
while also minimizing harm to the en-
vironment.
As both consumers and manufactur-
ers become more environmentally
conscious, there is a growing demand
for packaging solutions that are sus-
tainable. One interesting response
to this demand is packaging paper,
which is a versatile material that can
be easily moulded and shaped to fit
various products.

PLASTICS NEWS 4545
September 2023 PLASTICS NEWS