ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC PACKAGING NOT ALWAYS MORE SUSTAINABLE

A fascinating new report from the independent U.K. thinks tank Green Alliance finds that, despite retailer and Consumer Packaged Goods companies’ promises around reducing or eliminating plastic packaging, some dynamics are immutable. Among them, sustainability is a complex supply chain issue that requires complex solutions; there is no silver bullet—the sustainability of packaging material is dependent on the application; consumer surveys rarely reflect consumer realities, and quick fixes can often result in unintended consequences.

The report, “Plastic Promises, What the grocery sector is really doing about packaging,” provides the results of interviews with five of U.K.’s major supermarkets as well as with major CPG companies. The aim, says Green Alliance, was “to understand the public pressure companies are under and how they are reacting to the joint challenges of plastic pollution and packaging sustainability.” The interviews were confidential, and the responses were made anonymous to ensure respondents would be as candid as possible.

One worrisome find was that brands report that decisions to switch from plastic are often made without considering the environmental impact of the substitute materials chosen or whether there are an adequate collection and treatment infrastructure in place for them. Says the report, “One respondent called the process ‘fairly quick and fairly cut and dry,’ prompted by a mandate to office managers to ‘be more environmentally friendly,’ which results in a ‘kneejerk reaction to exit plastic.’”

As a Roman writer, Publilius Syrus said, “Some remedies are worse than the disease.” This is especially true when the full environmental impact of the packaging material is not evaluated before being used as a replacement for plastic. For example, the trend in U.K. supermarkets toward eliminating plastic bags in favor of reusable bags or those made from paper has had the opposite effect in cutting down emissions. According to the report, paper bags, which in some stores are replacing plastic for loose produce and bakery items, can have much higher carbon impacts—in some cases, they require up to four times more energy to manufacture than plastic bags. If reused as bin liners, they would need to be reused 43 times to have a lower impact than the average plastic bag.

Citing the failed promise of reusable carrier bags made of more durable plastic (for which, shoppers in England pay a cost of 5 pence per bag), Green Alliance cited information from Greenpeace and EIA indicating that shoppers are often using these bags like single-use bags, purchasing an average of 54 per year, which results in more plastic use and waste.

Even more worrying than companies making changes to their plastic packaging without understanding the potential negative consequences though, the report found that due to consumer pressure, some are also making the changes even though they know the new packaging could increase some environmental burdens. Said one supermarket representative, “We are aware that [by switching from plastic to other materials] we may, in some cases, be increasing our carbon footprint.”

Highlighting the chasm between consumer perception of packaging materials and their practicality, the report also addresses the use of bio-based and compostable packaging. According to a 2019 Grocer survey of 1,000 consumers that Green Alliance cited in the report, consumers think that plant-based compostables are the most environmental friend packaging materials, ahead of paper, glass, cardboard, conventional plastic, and aluminum, in that order. However, in the interviews conducted by Green Alliance, brand owners and retailers said they worry about public confusion around the term, which could lead to the mismanagement of the packaging. Other concerns center on the cost of these materials, their suitability for some applications, and the lack of consensus in the industry on what to do with the packaging, where it should be used, and how it should be marked so that it can be identified.

Another issue the report covers is attitudes around refillable or reusable models, such as those being used by U.K. supermarket chains Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco, which allow shoppers to bring in their own containers to the deli counters, for instance. But, the report notes, “Amongst our interviewees, there was a sense of caution around seeing in-store refills as the ‘holy grail,’ with several noting the need to explore other refill models.” Part of the concern, interviewees noted, was around the reduction in shelf life for some products. Noted one, some fresh drinks would last just two days if poured in a customer’s own bottle, compared to 20 to 30 days in a factory-sealed container.

In general, the report indicated that supermarkets are under the most pressure from the public. Said one supermarket representative, “It’s been mostly complaints, saying that plastic is evil and has no place, regardless of any positives it might have in addressing food waste and whatnot…. It’s been ferocious. We’ve seen an 800-percent uplift in customer queries in the last year.”

However, despite the loud kerfuffle by consumers over plastic packaging, the Green Alliance report found that “this outrage is not necessarily translating into changes in purchasing habits.” Said one interviewee succinctly: “When it comes down to real consumer behavior, they ain’t changing yet.”

Survey interviewees expressed a sense of caution around in-store refill models, such as this one at U.K.’s Waitrose supermarket, due to issues such as product shelf life.

PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing, States Position on Sustainability

PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing, believes:

· Packaging plays a critical role in our world. It safeguards our food, protects our medicines, shields our purchases, and allows for the transportation of goods; protecting what keeps us healthy and happy.
· The packaging industry has a responsibility to limit its environmental impact. We are driving innovation across all packaging types, throughout the supply chain, to increase the use of recycled materials and reduce the amount of packaging being used.
· Making packaging as sustainable as possible is not about eliminating any single material, but rather making smart, eco-friendly choices that help packaging meet the needs of consumers, and the environment.
· The solution requires a combination of many things, from infrastructure to education to innovation. Everyone has an important role, including consumers,
· The move toward sustainable practices, products, and materials is ever-present and a priority in the packaging industry. Sustainable solutions are being thought about and innovated every day so that packaging can continue to play an important role in our lives.
We need packaging to safeguard our food, protect our medicines, shield our purchases, and transport our goods; packaging protects what keeps us happy and healthy. Because of its essential place in our world, we have a responsibility to limit its environmental impact.
The solution requires a combination of infrastructure development, education and engagement, innovation, and clean-up efforts. Everyone has an important role, including consumers, who must play an active part and be willing to share in the cost of innovation. Our industry is driving innovation, and we see this in the ongoing push to improve sustainability across all packaging types, throughout the supply chain.
This is true for a variety of packaging formats; from the plastic used on bottle caps, to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, to the recycled corrugated cards used in cartons and cases and recycled, high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) film.

Sustainability initiatives in packaging have advanced considerably, leading to increased use of recycled materials, as well as a reduction in the amount of packaging being used. This is being addressed by redesigns to reduce the footprint of the packaging, careful monitoring of the amount of packaging used to reduce wastage, increased use of biodegradable materials like BioFilms, and production of thinner packaging, be that thinner carton walls or thinner film on a wrapping machine. And to facilitate this, OEMs are developing machines with improved functionality to minimize waste and maximize productivity speeds with innovative and environmentally friendly materials.
These are just some of the examples of what the packaging industry is doing—the speed of innovation is rapid. PMMI reports on sustainability issues and innovations regularly, published daily via our Media Group’s digital platforms, monthly in Packaging World magazine and annually in our Innovations Report—a roundup of technologies seen at PACK EXPO, where there is an emphasis on education, ideas, and technologies advancing sustainability efforts.

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