Why Did We Choose Plastic Packaging At All?
While we have all learnt the curse of plastics over time, plastics began as one of the blessings of chemistry and technology. Due to their durability (which is also the problems with plastics, because they don’t degrade easily), and because of their cheap cost of production, they soon went out to conquer the world. One of the most omnipresent forms in which we see plastics now is their use in packaging. What helps plastics win their share in the packaging materials?
- Plastic packaging protects the products from damage as well as from contamination from microorganisms, light, gases, humidity etc. while they are in transit.
- It helps preserve the food items and increases their shelf life.
- It is cheap, lightweight and versatile.
Some of the most important sectors where plastic packaging added its value include healthcare packaging, consumer packaged goods, foods & beverages, home & garden and cosmetic & personal care.
Types of Plastic used for Packaging
There are around 6 different types of plastic used for packaging. These include-
1. Polyethylene Terephthalate
Also known as PETE, this type of plastic is very durable and transparent in nature. It is a recyclable product which is used to make food product bottles, jars, and trays as well as plastic wraps that can be put in both microwave and oven. It can be recycled and moulded into new plastic containers, yarns of carpet, and polyester textiles to name a few.
2. High-Density Polyethylene
The short name for this is HDPE and this type of plastic is used to protect goods against the harsh containers that they are put in. It can be translucent or opaque depending on the good that needs packaging. It is also used in plastic bags to carry household items, shipping containers as well as cable sheathing. It can also be recycled into flower pots and moulded into new containers.
3. Polyvinyl Chloride
PVC has always been associated with pipes, frames, and to develop materials that are used in fencing. Apart from this, it is also used to prepare flexible products such as blood bags, medical tubes, and heavy duty films. This flexible PVC can be recycled to make mats, flooring, garden hoses, and tiles of the floor.
4. Low-density Polyethylene
Also known as LDPE, the thin plastic of this material is used to protect dry cleaning and is also used as bags for bread and newspapers. It is also used to cover disposable plates and food cartons. LDPE can be recycled to produce furniture in the lawn, floor tiles, trash cans, and garbage bags.
5. Polypropylene
All the stiff packaging which does not get affected during high heat production processes is prepared from PP. These include bottles, medicine containers, and automotive products. Polypropylene (PS) can be used to prepare automobile products including ice scrapers, light covers, oil funnels, and bins to store trash.
6. Polystyrene
This material is rigid and is used to prepare lightweight coolers, hangers for coats, and insulate buildings. It can be recycled to prepare containers for storing food, electrical wall plates, rulers, camera casings, and plastic mouldings that are used for construction.
Harmful effects of plastic packaging on the Environment
We have all heard about plastic being ‘toxic’ for the environment. However, nobody has wondered why. The problem lies with the substance that plastic is actually made up of which is a polymer. Out of the types of plastic being used for packaging, two of them pose to be a huge cause of concern namely polycarbonate and PVC.
Polycarbonate which is used to prepare containers and bottles also releases a chemical known as bisphenol which is said to cause a number of health issues. PVC is used to manufacture bottles and seals for jars. Since PVC is hard, chemicals such as plasticisers are added to it in order to make it flexible. Plasticisers such as phthalates and epoxidized soybean oil form about 40% of the plastic and have some serious health concerns.
Studies have shown that BPA and phthalates mimic the natural hormones of the body and cause numerous health problems. Infants and very young children get affected by these chemicals the most due to their low body weight and since their growth is largely dependant on the hormones. The effects of these chemicals is so intense that it can last a lifetime and the effects have been seen in animals as well as human beings exposed to such chemicals which are present in plastic.
Alternatives to Plastic Packaging
The best way to reduce the consumption of a specific substance is by reducing its usage in our day-to-day lives. Some of these bio-degradable and environmentally friendly products that can replace plastic include-
1. Edible cutlery
To make our lives easier and reduce our work, a lot of people go for disposable plastic cutlery despite of the harm it causes to the environment. Bakeys is a firm which prepares spoons made from millet, rice, and wheat. After use, all one needs to do is throw away these spoons in a plant pot or the mud for it t get decomposed. These spoons come in three flavors, are nutritious and have a shelf life of three years.
2. Bamboo Toothbrush
Toothbrush is the most essential part of our day since it is the first thing we use when we get up. Therefore, it is very important that we start from the very beginning of our day. Plastic toothbrushes have also contributed to the second largest plastic waste amounting to around 150 million toothbrushes been thrown in the garbage bins. The handle as well as the bristles of the toothbrush are not able to biodegrade for days. Therefore, switching to a healthy alternative like bamboo will definitely make a lot of difference since it is antimicrobial and good for the environment.
[Read More: How to Replace Plastic with Eco-Friendly Alternatives]
3. Biodegradable bags
At present, the world is consuming around 5 trillion plastic bags in a year which amounts to around 1 million bags a minute. The kind of harm that these plastic bags are causing to the environment makes it essential to come up with a solution to reduce its consumption. Envigreen is a healthy alternative to the polyethylene bags since its bags are made from tapioca which when trashed make for animal food.
Conclusion
By now, you would have definitely come across the cons of plastic and how they definitely outweigh the pros. Plastic is made up of certain chemicals which helps give it all the desirable properties that have turned out to very harmful for the environment. Not only this, but many cases of health hazards due to plastic have also been reported. Some of these include direct toxicity due to lead, mercury, and cadmium, and disruption of endocrine leading to birth defects, cancers to name a few.
People get exposed to these chemicals not only when they are involved in its manufacturing but also if they are using it for packaging food since the chemicals migrate from the plastic packaging to the food item which they contain. As a result of this, a number of incidents of plastic contaminating food have been reported.
Due to the adverse health effects that plastic has on the entire ecosystem, it is time that we eliminate it from our daily usage and start finding healthier alternatives (which do exist) and switch to them TODAY!
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