Benefits from Plastic Packaging

Containment against damage, loss, and waste by spillage. Convenience in ease of handling and portioning in food packaging 

Protection of contents against spoilage due to oxidation, hydrolysis, and intrusion by chemical species. Preservation of freshness of the packaged food items 

Screening out of ultraviolet or infrared (IR) radiation that may degrade with the packaged item 

Conununication of information about the contents and their use to the consumer 

A US study in 2009 (funded by a plastics trade organization) reported a similar comparison of 12oz aluminum (cans), glass bottles, and PET bottles but also taking recycling into account in the EGA. Recycling rates of different materials in the United States at the time of the study were used in developing the estimates summarized in Table 5.4. 

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Recycling of polymer materials is also increasingly desirable due to the overall environmental and social benefits, particularly for plastics from post-consumer waste. Energy recovery from plastic waste and the biodegradation of packaging materials are other areas of recent development. 

Figure 13.36. Cost-benefit analysis for mechanical recycling of plastics packaging from households in Austria 1996 (/t collected material [21]).

Applications that benefit from these improved properties include gas barriers for bottles (beer bottles), food packaging (boil-in bags, stand-up pouches), fuel tanks, automotive applications, electronics and electrical applications (components, printed circuit boards), electrically conductive parts, wires, cables, and many others. Most major plastics companies and compounders are developing, manufacturing, and marketing such products. 

PET is a thermoplastic polymer, which is produced on the most strength plastic widi high mechanical, diermal, and chemical resistance. PET is made from resin (polymer) synthetic, derived from oil, and its chemical composition is highly resistant to biodegradation. Plastics have significant volume md its separation brings many benefits, because the packaging its can be reused [16]. 

Many polymers are used in barrier applications, either to keep contents in or contaminants out. Food packaging is an excellent example of such usage. Plastic films and containers of many types are used to package food. Blow moldedbottles often contain numerous layers, each of which provides specific benefits. Polyethylene layers are excellent water barriers, polyvinyl alcohol is a good oxygen barrier, and polyethylene terephthalate impedes the diffusion of carbon dioxide from carbonated drinks. Other barrier applications include toothpaste tubes, diaper backsheets, tarpaulins, and geomembranes, which are used to line containment ponds and landfill pits. 

These flat screens have allowed miniaturisation of the whole computer screen assembly, and substantially less plastic, glass and electrical components are required. In addition, transport and packaging are reduced, and the enormous volume of these products means that even small improvements may have major environmental benefits. Ongoing work at York University has discovered that these liquid crystal molecules may be effectively recovered from TFT screens via a supercritical extraction process, giving the potential for reuse of these useful high value fluorinated compounds [79],... 

Packaging in the post-World War II period benefited immensely from the commercialization of plastics, which were little known or used in prior years. Since then, the packaging industry has openly adopted plastics as a powerful new tool in the development of new packaging forms and functions. 

Product presentation must be in keeping with the organic production of the products no plastics in the packaging clear product labelling additional information on the methods of production, etc. It should highlight the additional benefits for the customer from local production, protection of the environment and conservation of the landscape. 

Medical plastics present a large opportunity for filled products but much more work is needed. A review of the literature indicates that efforts arc concentrated on materials used for replacement of body tissues. Much less attention is being paid to items produced for everyday use such as packaging, hoses, syringes, etc. which can benefit substantially from incorporation of fillers. 

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