One of the key areas that humanity must address on the path to a more sustainable future is packaging. According to Eurostat, 2021 saw the largest increase in packaging waste in a decade, with 188.7 kilograms per capita in the EU, almost 11 kilograms more than in the previous year. As much as 40% was waste from packaging made of paper or cardboard, followed by plastics at 19%. However, the share of recycled packaging per capita has also grown along with production, rising by 22% since 2010.Under certain conditions, such as long transport distances, they do not bring relief to the environment.
Returnable packaging is greener than various types of disposable chinese overseas america database packaging, according to a 2020 review of studies analyzing the life cycle of packaging by Zero Waste Europe , Utrecht University, and Reloop . However, their success depends on several key factors. The number of cycles that returnable packaging completes is essential .
Returnable plastic boxes must be used at least 32 times
A 2023 study compared the environmental impacts of single-use plastic versus cardboard packaging from a global supply chain perspective . Despite the many advantages of cardboard, such as its origin from renewable sources and easier recycling, in supply chains dependent on long-distance transport, the higher weight of cardboard contributed to a higher carbon footprint . In addition, when cardboard packaging goes to landfill, it releases methane, which has many times greater environmental impacts than CO2 .
When choosing whether to use disposable or reusable plastic silicon carbide wafer industry size and growth projections for 2032 packaging, it is crucial to know how many cycles the returnable packaging can be “cycled”. According to a 2020 study, returnable plastic bags offer a more environmentally friendly solution in the field of e-shopping compared to disposable ones in most cases after units of use. However, reusable plastic boxes only paid off environmentally when compared to the disposable alternative if they completed at least 32 cycles.
In an imaginary competition for lower environmental impacts between cardboard boxes and returnable plastic crates, the balance is that in most cases the use of returnable plastics is more environmentally friendly . Among other things, disposable cardboard packaging contributes significantly more to waste pollution. If we leave aside purely ecological impacts, reusable plastic packaging also has an advantage over cardboard from the perspective of the local economy – it supports regional logistics and transport, thus reducing dependence on imports.
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As a result, companies have several options to choose thailand data from when it comes to eliminating the environmental impact of packaging. Following a successful pilot project last fall, T-Mobile introduced a system of returnable plastic boxes and envelopes .
