Packaging materials, how they are made and how they are disposed of, can be hazardous to the environment. To save the earth, there is an urgent need to seek alternatives now, despite the high cost of research and technology. The goal of the research is to find ways to create a material with increased biodegradability and to find ways to reduce amount of packaging used when shipping products.
One danger is that the products used for packing are not biodegradable. These materials, like plastics and foam, remain in the land fills for a long time, because they will not decompose. Another factor is the use of too much wrapping, which just ends up in the trash. This is the case especially with food product, which are wrapped in foam trays, for example, and then further wrapped in plastic.
Another hazard is the manufacturing process of these packaging products. So much energy is used in producing glass and metal containers. Glass containers can at least be recycled. But even the cleaning of the bottles, in order to re-use them, uses up so much energy, that the benefit of recycling is diminished.
What is needed are innovative materials that have faster biodegradability. We also need products that need minimum energy to make. One popular product is paper. Paper is made from pulp, which is naturally biodegradable. We can make paper also by using new materials, like bamboo. A positive development is the use of bamboo of a leading computer manufacturer for the boxing of their new laptops.
Other alternative packing materials are textile and wood, which use less energy to manufacture. Examples of textiles used in packaging are woven jute sacks used for flour and grains, or muslin used for softer products like cheese, and cotton for sugars and salts. Sisal fibers, which come from agave plants, are used to make rope to transport hard fruits.
Better designs can be applied for boxing. Standard sized boxes use up so much space. Polygons or pyramid shaped boxes that follow the contours of the product saves more space. It also eliminates the need to fill in the voided space.
Paper used for instructions or labels can also be eliminated. Companies now try to utilize all available space on the package itself, to put in the instructions and labels. Writing in front and at the back of the boxes can now be found in newer products. Another growing trend is to try to change consumer behavior. Promote the use of reusable shopping bags, instead of plastic bags.
In the end, the success of saving our planet from wasteful packaging materials is in the hands of both the consumer and the manufacturer. Consumer behaviors need to be improved, as well as new technology from manufacturers on newer packing concepts. Even if it may be more expense in the short term, the benefits will be reaped by our future generations.
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