There is a crisis going on in the world that few people even know about, and it has to do with the plastic packaging that we use for various items. Of the 78 million metric tons of packaging that was used across the globe in 2103, 40% of it wound up in landfills, and another 32% was improperly disposed both on land and at sea. IN fact, plastics pollution in the worlds’ oceans is a huge problem. It’s estimated that there currently is about 150 metric tons of plastic floating in oceans worldwide, and a report has estimated that without changes, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. This problem can’t be solved all at once, but a good place to start is with green packaging that can be recycled.
With nearly 32 million metric tons of plastic waste improperly disposed of each year, it is important that companies cut down on the amount of plastic they use in retail packaging while also using as much recyclable plastic as possible. Customizable packaging solutions/options can help cut down on waste by ensuring that packaging is the right size for products. This can be more expensive than using one size fits all packaging, but it is better for the environment.
Another solution can be to use reusable packaging, such as reusable clamshell packaging. Clamshell packaging is reclosable, which makes it ideal for food packaging and the packaging of other products that are likely to be used over and over over a period of time. Reusable clamshell packaging is style of packaging rather than a type. So in addition to plastic, it can be made out of paper, cardboard, styrofoam and other materials.
One additional solution to the packaging problem is for companies to ensure that their packaging, especially their plastic packaging, is recyclable. While they cannot guarantee that the packaging is recycled, they can focus marketing efforts on reminding consumers to recycle. Another way companies can be environmentally friendly with their packaging is to use recycled content in the packaging itself. This helps to ensure that no more new plastic or other materials are manufactured than are necessary.