All Facts & Findings

PCR

Post-Consumer Recycled materials

“There's been such an increase in demand for [PCR] materials and the supply hasn't kept up. Small companies are finding this particularly challenging since they may have trouble meeting minimum order quantities and are competing with large brands. My advice would be to plan ahead and expect delays.”

Recycled content

can refer to pre-consumer or post-industrial recycled material

It is the waste generated from the original manufacturing process that is used again in the same material, or from the waste we put in our recycling bins.

Shortages of recycled materials

are causing big problems

“A lot of the big manufacturing companies are facing a tremendous shortage of recycled paper, because some of the countries have actually stopped the importation of recycled paper, not to mention recycled plastic.”

A Sixfold increase

in exports of packaging material for recycling abroad between 2002 and 2017

A UK audit of packaging recycling practices found this astonishing increase, with exports accounting for half of the packaging reported as recycled in 2017. What happens to the packaging materials once shipped overseas is difficult to trace.

Single-material packaging

is easier to recycle than multi-material packaging

“Most recyclable plastic claims use the universal recycling symbol and a general statement directing the consumer to recycle... While these brands should be commended for giving clear instructions to consumers, it could also be argued that they allow companies to shift the burden to consumers."

Paper bags

have a higher carbon footprint than plastic bags

Paper bag production requires more raw materials and energy and produces more waste than the equivalent process for plastic bags. A UK study stated that a paper bag must be used at least three times to decrease its impact on the environment to match that of a plastic bag used just once.

49%

of consumers

believe paper bags to be more sustainable than plastic. Some consumers consider [multinational fast fashion retailer] Primark to be the most sustainable brand purely because of its use of paper bags.

"Green"

claims on packaging

How much of it is environmentally sound, or greenwashing? It’s difficult to compare the virtues and vices of different packaging materials because each type of packaging has different impacts at different points in its life.

"Glass is not the solution"

to being plastic-free

“People see there’s a packaging problem, and decide to use glass, but glass is not the solution either because glass has got a huge environmental footprint. ...plastic can have a smaller environmental footprint than glass.”

Glass bottles

have a greater negative environmental impact

Life cycle assessments have shown that glass bottles have a greater negative environmental impact than their plastic counterparts.

Customers want more glass

but is it the best choice for the environment?

A survey of consumer sentiments towards sustainability in packaging revealed that for beverages and household products in particular, customers are requesting more glass packaging. However, life cycle assessments have shown that glass bottles may have a greater negative environmental impact than their plastic counterparts.

Mushroom packaging vs polystyrene

More expensive but more environmental benefits

Corner protectors made from mushroom packaging are listed as more than double the cost of that of comparable polystyrene shipping corners, however the environmental benefits of mycelium packaging far outweigh those of expanded polystyrene.

Mycelium packaging

“...mycelial networks are unique, extremely fine, and strong, with high tensile strength and the ability to resist water, decay, and immense internal or external pressures. They come from nature, and under the right conditions, return to nature as nutrients."

Mycelium

from which mushrooms grow

In 2006, Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre discovered that Mycelium could be formed into a packaging material with similar properties to that of expanded polystyrene.

Brown seaweed

used for single-use food packaging

The material is biodegradable in 4 to 6 weeks, and home compostable. It's also competitively priced. So far Notpla has partnered with the likes of JustEat Takeaway UK and Heinz to introduce seaweed-based packaging as a plastic-free alternative.

Notpla

packaging made from brown seaweed

Growing up to 1 metre per day, [brown seaweed] doesn’t compete with food crops, doesn’t need fresh water or fertiliser and actively contributes to de-acidifying our oceans.

Redesigning the wine bottle

to reduce the environmental impact of packaging

Made from 100% recycled PET, 100% recyclable and 87% lighter than a standard glass bottle. However, as customers associate a glass wine bottle with a higher quality product, the use of a less environmentally costly material has created a barrier to acceptance in the market.

For the wine industry

glass bottles are the single largest source of emissions

More economically and environmentally sustainable packaging options will become increasingly attractive for the wine industry.

20% increase

in the price of glass bottles in the US

Global events are driving a price increase in glass. Producers relying on imports of glass have felt the pinch, as US wine producers are experiencing, while the Australian wine industry, which mainly relies on locally produced glass bottles, has been more protected from price shocks.

50 billion tonnes

of sand used globally every year

Given the UN’s warnings of a global ‘sand crisis’, recycled glass should be used wherever possible.

The 'cons' of glass packaging

It's heavy, requiring more energy to transport and distribute.

Although glass packaging is commonly recyclable, contamination is a problem, when mixed with non-recyclable types of glass and other ceramics. When contaminated, recycled glass can’t be used for packaging, and is only suitable for down-cycled applications, such as an aggregate in construction materials.

The properties of glass -

non-reactive to most chemicals, and impermeable to liquids and gases

Glass is one of the oldest packaging materials. It does not degrade, can withstand high temperatures, is strong enough for stacking, and is easy to clean and sterilise. Glass’ impermeability and stability make it a clear choice for perfumes and a range of cosmetics.

Soda-lime Glass

is the most common type of glass, and the most popular for packaging

It’s comparatively inexpensive, durable, and easy to form into various shapes. While soda-lime glass is recyclable, other forms of glass, such as borosilicate (used for products like Pyrex dishes) are not recyclable.

Over 40% price increase

for aluminium in the US in the past two years.

Producers may face aluminium can shortages over the next year or so.

Striking a balance

between environmental and cost considerations.

“[The packaging material] had to be infinitely reusable and recyclable. We had the options of aluminium and stainless steel. In terms of costliness, a steel bottle was five times the cost of an aluminium bottle. While the Indian economy is evolving every day, customers would not be okay with the fact of paying $10 for one particular item of packaging itself. So we chose aluminium bottles, because $1 does not really hurt the pocket. That’s essentially what drove our decision.”

95% less energy used

Recycling aluminium uses around 95% less energy than producing virgin aluminium, where the material is cast and rolled, and formed into a new packaging component.

The environmental credentials of Aluminium

Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and readily accepted

However, the production of virgin aluminium is environmentally costly: it involves mining for bauxite and the smelting process requires significant energy, and releases emissions.

Aluminium is used in ‘metallised plastic film’

This mixed-material, often used in chocolate bar wrappers and potato chip packets, is multi-layered and very difficult to recycle.

Aluminium

retains its properties indefinitely.

It has a range of packaging applications. It can be made into cans - think soft drinks and deodorant - and can also be rolled into sheets for use as aluminium foil and food trays.

Cardboard products hit by inflation

US corrugated cardboard has seen five price increases since 2020

Prices are expected to continue to rise through 2022 and are attributed to a combination of rising energy and fuel costs, as well as a limited supply of corn starch (a small but important part of paper production).

100% recycled cardboard

has limitations for boxing and shipping products.

"When you fold recycled cardboard, it splits in half down the seam. So there are limitations for making boxes that have enough rigidity for shipping products. ...because of the splitting edges problem, we’d have to coat it - and the coatings are usually plastic. So we go for FSC certified material (for boxing products) because at least that is from a renewable source."

Paper & Paperboard

are not infinitely recyclable

The cellulose fibres that make up paper shorten during the recycling process, reducing their strength. In theory, paper and paperboard materials could be recycled up to 6 or 7 times, before the fibres break down too much. Because of the loss of strength, businesses can run into challenges when using fully recycled paper and cardboard.