One last post before i give it a rest...so thanks for reading & have a MERRY CHRISTMAS x See you in 2011 to talk more about rubbish (preferably biodegradable rubbish :)
I am just reading up on all the packaging types & thinking "what is the ultimate packaging solution?". (please remember whilst i am passionate about this...i don't know all the details/facts)...and i wanted to take a look at the options of packaging.
The way i see it things fall in to on of these categories:
- no packaging
- recyclable packaging
- non-recyclable packaging
- biodegradable packaging
- reusable packaging
- truly reusable packaging
- recyclable & biodegradable packaging
no packaging - this has to be good - so long as having no packaging doesn't cause damage to a product resulting in so much waste that this is more harmful than having it packed well?
recylable packaging - there is debate / concern as to how much of our recyclables actually get recycled. Generous quotes put it at around 30%...but apparently recycling over & over will eventually give a product that can not be recycled anymore. In this category there are also different toxicity & efficiency factors. Some plastics are more effectively recycled than others.
non-recyclable packaging - this is pretty much destined direct to landfill to sit around for the next 25 000 years leaching toxic chemicals in to our soil & water. (ok i am getting worked up about this one:)
biodegradable packaging - there are different types of this & obviously the best type is safe & natural that goes back to the soil. There is the microbe that is added to standard plastic (i am not sure about this one yet. There are some issues with plant based plastics like PLA from corn. Some criticisms say that we can not produce enough corn sustainably to do this...but i don't think we are anywhere near utilizing PLA this enough to be a concern. There is also the option to use by-products from plants grown for food or other purposes to make the plastic. This addresses at least in part, the "growing enough corn" concern The other concern is composting this - it needs to be in the right conditions to break down. I am still a fan of PLA - at least it has a chance to break down and be safe.
reusable packaging this has always baffled me "it's ok to take a plastic bag - i need them - i re-use them" I think this type reusing can be a token gesture - because it is not really "saving" any packaging in many instances. For example - i reuse a bread bag for a mini rubbish bag... Would i not be better to buy bread in no packaging and use no bin bag or an eco friendly bin bag? Like your thoughts on this one. ...anyway if it is really saving something heading for landfill i am all for it
truly reusable packaging not sure how much of this exists these days...like the glass bottles of yesteryear :) So no energy is lost & these things dont head for landfill. A lot of shipping wrap/pack is getting re-used today..but sooner or later where does it end up?
recyclable & biodegradable packaging this sounds awesome...recycle it where possible it may finally end in that dirty place l**df*ll it sweetly biodegrades. Have to find out more about this.
So there it is - an unofficial view of packaging how i (as a currently non expert) see it.
There are soooo many options & that is why i am excited. The way i see it...there are loads of planet based packaging options that can be implemented before these become unsustainable.
But i guess the BEST packaging is NO packaging - or if it exists, packaging that causes less packaging (like packaging that consumers itself and other packaging in landfill?) because with a growing global population...our only choice is to reduce waste.
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