Green packaging surface interview (below)

Reuse is the highest level of environmental protection

The internationally popular "reuse, reduce weight loss, and recycling" is widely recognized as the three principles of environmental protection. However, these three items actually have different degrees of environmental protection.

Reuse is the highest level of environmental protection because it maximizes the life of products and materials. For example, glass bottles containing beer and condiments can be reused five times or more, and cans can only be used once and need to be recycled. Another example is beverage packaging. PET bottles are the most commonly used containers, and most of them need to be recycled after one use. For this reason, Europe has already begun to produce thick PET bottles, which can be recycled many times, while China is still making efforts to reduce weight. Similar to dairy products, glass bottles of milk or yogurt, bottles can be reused after drinking, while cartons and plastic cups can only be used once.

The plastic turnover box is a common transportation and packaging method for beverages and beer and can be used many times. However, in recent years, many beer companies have switched to using disposable cartons. This is actually not an environmental protection practice.

Most of the composite materials are not environmentally friendly

Single-layer materials often do not meet performance requirements, so paper and plastic are often used in the form of composites on packaging, such as composite paper containers and some plastic bags for liquid food and beverage packaging.

In fact, composites are often not capable of recreating similar products. For example, a composite paper container is a composite of paper, plastic, aluminum foil, and adhesive. After one use, paper, plastic, and aluminum foil cannot be separated. It can only be used as a plate for other purposes. It actually shortens paper and plastic. And the "life cycle" of aluminum foil. Plastic bags made of PP, PE or PVC can be processed into plastic bags or used for the production of other plastic daily products after use, but if these materials are compounded with nylon or other high-barrier materials, they can only be incinerated after use. There is no value for re-use.

Reducing weight loss and weight loss can reduce the amount of packaging materials used. However, it should be noted that if a thinner single material can achieve thinner composite performance, then using a single material to make the packaging is more environmentally friendly. way of doing. At this point, glass and metal packaging are undoubtedly more environmentally friendly.

Effect of different packaging forms

The same is true for plastic packaging. The environmental contribution of making bottles and bags is even different. This is because the variety of plastics with heat-sealing properties is very limited. Therefore, most plastic bags have to be used in the form of composite materials. Bottles, however, are different. Either injection molded or extruded bottles can be made from a single material. However, a single material product is easier to recycle or recycle after use.

In addition, the manufacture of packaging products also directly affects the recycling and sorting process. For example, ultra-thin plastic bags, due to their light weight, fly in the wind after use, causing difficulties in recycling and causing landscape pollution.

Impact on waste disposal

Recycling is the basis of all waste disposal, and sorting is a key part of processing.

Recycling is driven by policies and interests, and Europe has already had successful experiences to learn from. Sorting, on the other hand, requires technical support, especially when it comes to the production of packaging products.

The effect of sorting

Different packaging wastes of different materials are difficult to sort. The sorting cost is the most important cost component of packaging waste disposal.

Metal containers, especially tin cans, are the most easily sorted wastes; glass is the second choice; and the sorting of plastics and papers is much more complicated, and individual types can only be sorted out, such as PET bottles. Packaging paper that cannot be sorted can only be used to produce very low-end products, which is a waste of resources. Many plastics that cannot be sorted are even difficult to re-enter the cycle circle and can only be burned or landfilled.

Incineration and landfill

The life span of materials is limited. Even if the use time can be extended as much as possible, the material will eventually lose the possibility of recycling. Incineration and landfill are the ultimate destinations.

Some plastic products will generate harmful gases when burned, such as PVC, so they should be limited or disabled on the packaging. This is undoubtedly correct because most PVC packaging is used as a composite material and cannot be recycled. This is quite different from the application of PVC in the building materials industry.

Restricting the use of packaging materials that generate harmful gases when incinerated can enable packaging waste to be generated by incineration as much as possible to generate energy and avoid soil degradation caused by landfills.

Protecting the environment and commercial interests

To develop green packaging, we must formulate sound policies. We must not only consider technical factors, but also consider the actual allocation of resources; we must not only consider costs, but also consider social benefits. “Green packaging” should be a package that is environmentally friendly from the processing of materials and products to the disposal of waste. It should not be taken out of context. It is considered that a package that is easy to dispose of is “green packaging”, which is conducive to environmental protection.

If considering the whole process of manufacturing, use and recycling, glass and metal packaging are undoubtedly the most environmentally friendly materials and packaging products, but the reality is that the share of glass and metal packaging containers is shrinking. Because in the modern society, whether a commodity can be recognized in the market may be constrained by many factors.

The decrease in the share of glass packaging market is due to the bulkiness and fragility of glass, which cannot fully meet the requirements of modern society. The reduction in the share of metal packaging is due to the higher cost of metal packaging and the inability to cater to the transparent packaging needs of young people; Although paper packaging is easy to handle, China's forest resources are extremely scarce. In the face of such contradictions, consumers should realize that environmental protection is not a slogan but should be an action. To protect the environment, it may be necessary to lose some convenience and even pay a higher price. Because environmental protection as a whole is definitely not a matter that can reduce costs. Choosing "green packaging" often means paying more money.

Moreover, do not think that "green packaging" is all new products. Selecting "green packaging" is sometimes a return of choice, just like returning to nature.