Effects and solutions of using plastic in food packaging

The food packaging industry is large and growing. Plastic packaging is widely employed. We explore the reasons why plastic is favored as a packaging material.

• Plastic bags offer ease of recyclability. They need relatively lesser energy to manufactured compared to other packaging materials. Compared to paper plastic bags need 40% less energy to be manufactured and output 80% less solid waste.
• Plastic packaging is very inexpensive and can be employed by industries regardless of their size. The low-cost model is particularly attractive to smaller players as it enables access to quality packaging options on a low budget.
• Plastic packaging is durable. This quality lets manufacturers print aesthetic, high quality, unique designs thus ramping up product visibility in a retail environment.
• It is possible to easily reuse and recycle plastic. Thus, there is lesser wastage of resources and minimum adverse impact on the environment.
• Plastic packaging can withstand extreme environments. They are resistant to degradation in hot and cold temperatures keeping intact their contents. Plastic offers protection from odours, light, dust, oxygen as well as moisture.
• Plastic packaging ensures that their contents are well preserved at all times. So, there is no wastage of inventory and reliability in product delivery which boosts brand value.
• Plastic packaging is a highly adaptable as well as flexible form of packaging. So, manufacturers can tweak its style, size and shape as per the market trends.
• Plastic packaging is very light weight. It doesn’t take up lot of storage space. Thus, they are very easy to transport minimizing the carbon footprint in the transportation process.

There are rising concerns manifesting as a result of climate change. They include waste as well as breakdown of plastics in the natural environment. Hence the development and use of biodegradable plastics. The latter is employed in food packaging and disintegrate naturally into organic agents from contact to natural environment elements such as heat as well as moisture. Traditional plastics are produced employing petroleum. However biodegradable plastics are generally manufactured employing plant sources such as corn.

The process involved in producing Biodegradable plastic consumes 65% less energy compared to generate traditional petroleum-based plastics. This talks a lot about this new plastic version’s energy efficiency. Also, this type of plastic makes use of renewable sources such as potato starch, corn as well as sugar cane.

Presently efforts are on to develop plastic eating bacteria to consume plastic waste already accumulated on our planet. The plastic waste is a hazard to both domestic animals as well as wildlife. Many animals, birds and fish have died or suffered by consuming plastic waste.

Biodegradable plastic is the future. Hopefully increased awareness will lead to its widespread adoption.