Like most people, you probably don’t have a positive opinion on plastic packaging, do you? Plastics got unjustifiably stuck with a very bad reputation of destroying our environment and essentially threatening our lives. But whose fault is it? Can we really blame plastic packaging for our environmental problems? A number of allegations against plastics are a mere prejudice since it is really up to us and the investments we are ready to make in creating more sustainable solutions.
Why do we use plastic packaging so much?
The truth is that plastic packaging meets all the requirements regarding resistance, consumer safety and hygiene standards. Besides that, production costs are very low compared to other materials, making it widely used in the economy throughout the world.
Moreover, plastic packaging is designed to be recycled and reused numerous times. If we consider all these facts, we soon realize that plastic is actually more sustainable than most other materials out there.
Can science save plastics?
As stated above, plastic packaging got a very bad reputation due to numerous media outlets telling us that reducing its use is the only way to save ourselves and our planet. It has become modern and cool to turn down a plastic straw at the bar, bring your own reusable bag to the supermarket and use more sustainable materials, such as glass, for example.
This is all great and we should continue to lead a zero-waste lifestyle or at least try to do so. However, if we check out what the science has been doing in the meantime, we see that they had not yet given up on plastics. There are still ways to enhance the widely-used materials and make them more sustainable and friendlier to the environment.
It is true, we still have a long way to go, but the effects of scientific findings and their implementation in the production of plastic packaging are already showing the results we were hoping for. According to PlasticsEurope, one of Europe’s leading trade associations, the annual use of plastics in Western Europe has decreased by 6,2 million tons since 1991 due to the numerous improvements in the field of plastic manufacturing. Despite lowering the weight of plastic packaging by 25 %, it still meets all the safety and transport requirements, which cannot be said for any other material out there.
The future is bright
We need to understand that plastic packaging is not our enemy. It can be our friend. Trends in moving towards more sustainable and eco-friendly solutions are demonstrated by the industry’s huge investments rising every year. New ideas are sparked on a daily basis, contributing towards creating a brighter future for everyone.
We are aware of the importance of investments in new technologies and engineering innovative solutions. That is why Skaza is firmly maintaining its position as one of the leading companies when it comes to setting high standards in the design and manufacturing of injection molding and custom-made plastic products. With more than 40 years of experience in this field, we are always searching for new partners and looking forward to accepting new challenges in finding new and more sustainable solutions in the broad field of plastics.