Plastic Reinvented: Swiftpak Explains How Our Relationship With Plastic is Changing Despite What You Think
Prompted by consciousness, perceptions, and necessity; researchers, companies and think tanks are exploring ways to reinvent our relationship with materials to create a more sustainable way of living.
Today, consumers and companies are bombarded with mixed messages and noise on what should be used, what can be used moderately, and what to avoid entirely. Whether that is through influencers like Greta Thunberg, Netflix documentaries and news channels, people have an ambiguous sense of the relationship between packaging and sustainability.
As we are going through unparalleled times, both plastic and paper packaging has been disrupted and impacted due to economic turbulence, geopolitical factors, and socio-cultural change. Swiftpak, a wholesale packaging company with over 45 years of experience is at the forefront of this change and has real commercial insight into the future of plastic.
The research paints a different picture
Contrary to popular opinion, plastics; according to a recent McKinsey report ‘Climate impact of plastics’ stated that plastics have a lower total greenhouse gas contribution in almost all cases examined versus its alternatives. These findings may come as a surprise to many readers due to plastic being painted in a bad light in recent years. However, in 13 of 14 (92%) tested cases, plastic offers lower total greenhouse gas contributions in comparison to non-plastic alternatives.
Factors often overlooked when it comes to the suitability of plastic
Plastics are the subject of frequent global debate. From their impact on wildlife to their recyclability, there are widespread calls to get rid of plastic altogether. But this is not as straightforward as wishing the material away. In fact, there are many positives for the environment which are often overlooked in terms of preservability, safety and flexibility.
The role plastic plays in decreasing food spoilage and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is often forgotten. Rather, plastics are frequently labelled as toxic, the reason behind leakage to the environment, and health hazards to marine wildlife. Whilst these are important points that must be addressed, there are far wider opportunities in utilising plastic for a more balanced impact against alternatives.
Our concern for climate change
In recent times, the energy market has become extremely volatile due to a range of factors that have caused the price of gas and electricity to surge. This has had a large effect on the energy consumption of paper mills responsible for producing materials used in packaging. Paper making is a large scale undertaking with over 886 paper and pulp mills across Europe. With a large portion of these powered by gas, there are concerns surrounding how sustainable and commercially viable running paper mills are right now, and how things will develop in the future.
The current climate and what can we do about it?
As of April 1st 2022, the plastic tax was introduced by the UK government as a way to encourage businesses to move away from plastic packaging. Anything containing less than 30% recycled plastic is now taxable at a rate of £200 per tonne.
Whilst some companies have decided to adopt paper-based solutions, others have pushed to get creative with their packaging as a way to avoid the plastic tax. The tax has also had a positive effect in the sense that it has pushed companies to innovate their plastic products, with many products now containing 30% recycled plastic.
Demonising plastic with false narratives as well as adding plastic tax to try to remove it from the supply chain is counterintuitive and could almost be considered as a form of greenwashing. There’s enough plastic in the world to re-use forever if we recycled it properly. We need to revisit the definition of sustainability and look at how we can meet it rather than make futile moves to replace it with less sustainable paper solutions.
Swiftpak recognises the environmental impact of packaging and are constantly looking for new ways to offer their customers sustainable solutions. This further reflects in their recent B Corp™ Certification, a movement involving trusted businesses that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance.
What’s happening in the industry
There are creative solutions being devised to transform our relationship with plastic. Such examples include seaweed solutions, newer materials, nano science, and circular recycling systems. It demonstrates consistent efforts made by companies, researchers, and business to keep innovating. Plastic in itself is always changing; the industries will continue to adapt plastic until we reach optimum sustainability on industrial scale.
It’s not the plastic, but it’s what you do with the plastic
A stark reminder to the public is that it’s not about the plastic substance but rather; our habits around the usage of plastic. Companies such as packaging producers, logistics, retailers as well as governments need to work together in synergy to develop even more sustainable solutions while individuals are encouraged not to take everything at face value.
People must think critically and look behind who has sponsored the research as well as make habit changes with the way they handle and dispose of plastic in their everyday life Overall, individuals can help support the process by encouraging and celebrating the incremental steps made by companies and scientists. The positive nudges from the public can in turn help steer companies, scientists, and politicians to keep making improvements in science, policy and business decisions