(^18) FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal July 2019 http://www.industrysourcing.com
packaging
C
ALLS for more sustainable production, use, and
disposal of plastics are getting stronger, and along with
them, the urgent need for effective unified actions.
Statisticsfrom the UN Environment bear these
out. On the manufacture and consumption side:- 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced, using 17
million barrels of oil each year - 1 million plastic bottles, 10 million plastic bags are bought
every minute - 50% of consumer plastics are single use, and 10% of all
human-generated waste is plastic - 80% remains in landfills or the environment
Given that it takes about 100 years for plastics to degrade in the
environment, and considering problems with improper disposal and
plastic waste leakage, the world is now faced with: - 13 million tonnes of plastic that enter the oceans each year
- 100,000 marine animals killed by plastics annually
- 90% of bottled water found to contain plastic particles,
83% of tap water
The UN Environment urges governments to enact strong policies
for a more circular model of design and production of plastics. It
likewise encourages citizens to demand sustainable products and
embrace sensible consumption habits. The global body is also pressing
for greater accountability from the private sector to introduce changes
and adopt business models that reduce downstream impact. Its key
messages: innovate and use alternatives. Innovation means: - taking a long-term view of reducing consumption of single-
use plastic - eliminating difficult-to-collect and recycle items
- harmonising plastic quality standards and types of recycled
plastic and packaging - designing packaging that is easier to reuse, collect and recycle
- collaborating with waste management and recycling
industries to a Circular Economy in the plastic value chain
Cohesive approach to solving
the plastics waste problem
JEAN ALINGOD-GUITTAP highlights actions being taken to reduce the impact of plastic
waste in the environment.
In addition, the UN is pushing for reusable objects, natural
polymers, bio-massed based compostable bio-polymers.
Such messages are of course being taken seriously by big
brands with significant stakes in Asia. Among them, Atlanta-based
Coca-Cola and Swiss packaging firm Tetra Pak.
In its World Without Waste Framework, Coca-Cola stresses that
“every package has value and life beyond its initial use and should
be collected and recycled into either a new package or another
beneficial use. It submits that it is “unacceptable that packages end
up in the wrong place, in our oceans and waterways or littering the
communities where we work and live”. The beverage giant also
accepts its responsibility “to ensure that our impact is a positive one
and our actions inspire others to help generate solutions that leave
our world better for generations to come”.
The Framework has a three-pronged approach: Design, Collect
and Partnerwhere the companytargets to make all its packaging
100% recyclable by 2025, and to make bottles with an average of
50% recycled content by 2030.
To support this, the company has invested in bringing low-quality
PET waste back to virgin-quality, food-grade PET. It also established
a way for authorized bottlers to purchase 100% recycled Loop PET^2.
Coca-Cola has likewise set a bold target to collect or recycle
a bottle or can for every one it sells. This it does through detailed
studies to establish baseline and collection and recycling rates and
on-the ground realities; collection partnerships with industry; and
catalytic funding to scale.
In engaging various stakeholders to partner with it, Coca-
Cola has initiated recycling efforts including those tied to winning
rewards or mobile load, and concert drives that encourage
attendees to bring empty PET bottles as part of donations.An integrated scheme
Tetra Pak, takes a more cohesive approach to plastic waste
reduction. It is also further along in terms of innovation and the
use of alternative materials.
In line with its efforts to use plastic made of renewable
feedstock, the company has launched the world’s first fully
renewable package made from bio-based closure and coating.
Its Tetra Rex milk carton in 1000 ml size boasts the use of wood
fibres for its paper board, and sugar-cane derived bio-ethanol
plastics, specifically high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cap, and
low-density polyethylene (LDPE) neck and coating. In addition,
its Tetra Brick is the world’s first aseptic packaging certified for
its use of materials from renewable sources with the highest class
available. According to a life cycle analysis study, this significantly
reduces carbon footprint by up to 17%. Both the Tetra Rex and