Packaging waste is one of the worst outcomes of industrialization. This article explores this problem and presents some possible solutions. Read on to find more!
By Salman Shahid, CEO of OXO Packaging
Packaging waste is a significant concern because of its negative environmental impact. Both industries and consumers contribute to packaging waste, harming the environment badly. Industrial growth and consumers’ improper disposal are making packaging waste a global problem. This is why organizations from all around the world aim to protect the environment by implementing go-green strategies.
Some major factors like poor waste management, extraction of natural resources, energy consumption, and improper disposal contribute to it. However, effective strategies like plant-waste packaging, ethical waste management, go-green campaigns, reusable packaging, and circular economy models help overcome this global problem – read on!
What is Packaging Waste?
Packaging materials that are discarded once the product is used or consumed are referred to as packaging waste. These materials are manufactured to pack, protect, and store consumer goods. They include glass, tin, cardboard, plastic, and paper. One of the most problematic packaging materials is plastic, which takes hundreds of years to decompose.
The waste is caused by industries and consumers while manufacturing packaging and after product consumption. A major chunk of packaging waste is created when consumers improperly dispose of bottles, cans, boxes, and wrappers.
Industries contribute to packaging waste during the manufacturing and transportation of packaging stock.
How is Packaging Waste Affecting the Environment?
Finding the root cause of packaging waste can help create the right strategies and solutions to mitigate this problem. Some factors leading to the harmful environment due to packaging waste are as follows:
Poor Landfill Waste Management
The landfill is one of the ways to dispose of waste to prevent disease transmissions and the cleanliness of communities. Landfill packaging waste disposal needs careful consideration because poor management can affect the environment. Poor landfill management includes the following factors:
- Overfilling
Every landfill reaches its capacity where no more waste can be placed for secure closure. Overfilling solid waste in landfills can lead to the leakage of hazardous gasses. Postclosure maintenance should also be done to prevent environmental instability. The US has 10,000 closed and 3000 active landfills, which means that we have sufficient landfills to dispose of the waste without overfilling.
- Open Dumping
It is important to comply with regulations when creating a landfill. The location, design, and operation must align with the law. Open dumping is one of the illegal processes of creating a landfill, which involves the open burning of packaging waste that can create smog in the air. Open dumping should not be confused with legal municipal solid waste disposal landfills.
- Poor Control
Lack of close monitoring of closed and old landfills can cause environmental instability. Gasses like methane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and water vapors are released under closed landfills. Poor control of these gasses can lead to climate change and smog.
So, poor landfill management hurts the environment in the following ways:
- The amount of waste in the landfill contaminates the soil.
- Methane gas lights up easily due to poor landfill management.
- It releases toxins and leachates that cause groundwater pollution.
Extraction of Natural Resources for Packaging Material
One of the solutions industries are opting to reduce environmental threats is eco-friendly packaging, which is sourced from natural resources. However, it has the drawback of extracting natural resources by deforestation. The following are some key contributors to the packaging waste caused by the extraction of natural resources:
- Deforestation
Cardboard and paper are widely used materials, sourced from wood pulp and paper fibers. This is why they are made by cutting down trees. Also, deforestation results in the loss of natural habitats for wildlife. A study says that 1 ton of paper waste can save 15 to 17 mature trees.
- Landfill Creation
The landfill creation for packaging waste disposal also requires an average of 600 acres of land for each landfill. As discussed earlier, there are 3,000 active landfills in the USA, which means 1,800,000 acres of natural habitat have been lost already.
- Energy Consumption
When extracting natural resources such as cutting down trees and making wood pulp also consumes energy, affecting the environment. The forest loss for making packaging materials and other purposes contributes to 10% of global warming. This will include the energy consumption from deforestation and the removal of greenery that can be beneficial for the environment.
Energy Consumption in Packaging Manufacturing
Industrial growth is one of the reasons for environmental instability. Packaging manufacturing includes energy consumption, which is harming the environment. The following are a few factors contributing to the affected environment due to packaging manufacturing:
- Packaging Customization
Energy consumption in the packaging sector is high due to customization, which includes manufacturing, printing, finishing, cutting, and molding the materials into desired packaging. The energy consumed by printing, coating, sealing, labeling, and filling machinery also hurts the environment.
- Plastic Manufacturing
Plastic manufacturing is one of the key contributors to all-time high energy consumption in the packaging sector. A report shows that the packaging sector is responsible for 40% of global plastic consumption. Large manufacturing and consumption of plastic packaging leads to significant energy waste.
- Packaging Machines
Tin, acrylic, mylar, and rigid packaging also require significant energy for manufacturing. The machinery used to refine raw materials for packaging also needs energy that can harm the environment. Packaging waste created during the manufacturing of boxes, tins, cans, containers, and bottles also pollutes the water and creates an imbalance in the ecosystem.
- Transportation
The smoke released by the transportation used for taking the raw materials to the factories and then delivering the final packaging product to the industries also pollutes the environment. This is how packaging manufacturing affects the environment.
https://supplychain.edf.org/resources/sustainability-101-packaging-waste-the-problem/
Improper Disposal of Single-Use Plastic
One of the biggest environmental pollutants is plastic. It makes up 36% of all packaging worldwide and 40% of all plastic is single-use plastic. Consumers use it for one time only and throw it away.
Even the disposal of plastic in the landfill takes hundreds of years to decompose. Plastic packaging turns into smaller and smaller pieces to create microplastic, posing a threat to the environment.
As plastic cannot be biodegraded its recycling is also complicated. This is why it needs to be disposed of properly to prevent imbalance in the ecosystem. One of the major chunks of packaging waste comes from the improper disposal of plastic packaging, particularly single-use plastic. The consumers’ careless behavior toward the environment is one of the reasons for poor plastic waste management.
Secondly, single-use plastic packaging waste is mostly disposed of as litter in the oceans, lakes, and rivers.
Eventually, it causes water pollution and harms marine life. Ingestion of microplastic by aquatic animals can harm them. If they survive and are eaten by humans it can induce the dangerous elements in the human food chain.
A study shows that every year, plastic kills 1 million sea birds and 100,000 sea mammals, turtles, and fish. This is how improper plastic disposal threatens marine life.
From the photographer: “This photo was taken in New York in December 2018 during my Christmas stay in the city. I was wandering the streets and was amazed by a pile of coffee-to-go cups and decided to take a picture. I would call this photo “Trash-To-Go” because the cups are used only a few minutes till they are trash. This photo is my most downloaded photo. I see this photo is constantly used to raise awareness of single-use plastic. Keep up the good work!”
Wayforward for This Global Problem
The environmental threat caused by packaging waste would take a lot of effective strategies and solutions to minimize it. First, every human should behave responsibly to the environment by disposing of the packaging waste properly.
Secondly, industries should focus on energy-efficient ways to protect the environment. Thirdly, work on eliminating the root causes of packaging waste can promote a healthier planet. We have accumulated some effective strategies below to overcome this global problem:
Make Packaging from Plant Waste
The problem is packaging waste. So, what could be more beneficial for the environment than packaging created out of waste? The packaging made from plant waste biodegrades the way plants do could be one of the best solutions.
Plant waste such as bagasse, hemp hurd, mycelium, coconut husk, seaweed, and cellulose helps make biodegradable packaging. These raw materials require less manufacturing energy and cost to create durable packaging.
Sugarcane packaging could be a reliable solution, especially for the food business due to its toxin-free properties. The best thing about sugarcane packaging is that it is made from the waste of an abundantly and rapidly growing crop. Compared to plastic, the production of sugarcane packaging has lower carbon footprints.
Mushroom packaging could be used to make durable inserts to add a premium touch to your product packaging. It is made from the root part of the mushroom.
Packaging made from coconut husk looks visually appealing due to its fibrous texture and rustic color. It also contributes to packaging waste reduction and its production has a lower carbon footprint.
Encourage Reusable Packaging
As discussed earlier, creating more landfills causes threats to the natural habitat. This is why, we also focus on making reusable packaging and promoting green missions by running recollection campaigns. Plastic can be reused but it has a harmful impact on human life and the environment.
Therefore, reusable packaging like rigid boxes and tin containers can help reduce landfill waste. Customers can reuse the reusable packaging for storage purposes instead of throwing it away to harm the environment. Tin is way better than the plastic packaging. For example, cookie tin containers have a great history as they have been reused as storage containers, toys, and decorative stuff. This is why considering reusable tin packaging can help reduce packaging waste.
Likewise, custom rigid boxes are another type of reusable packaging that helps minimize packaging waste. They are sturdy enough to be used for so many years for storage, keepsakes, and decorative purposes.
The luxurious appeal of rigid boxes encourages the customers to not throw away such luxury box packaging. Luxury brands can also contribute to the environment by promoting green campaigns such as recollecting rigid boxes and making them clean to reuse them for their products. They can also consider recycling rigid boxes responsibly as consumers do not recycle them.
Opt Ethical Waste Management
Poor waste disposal is one of the leading factors for the affected environment due to packaging waste. Landfill waste management is one method. However, it also has drawbacks like release of toxins and gasses that can affect the groundwater and contaminate the soil. The ethical way for landfill waste disposal is to comply with law.
Create landfills on permitted sites to protect the environment. Secondly, post-closure landfill monitoring is mandatory to ensure there is no gas leakage from the closed landfills. Thirdly, open dumping should be prevented because burning waste releases hazardous chemicals, which leave the air with smog. Open dumping should not be confused with permitted dumping that is created by following laws and regulations regarding design, operating, and closing standards.
Encouraging customers to get paperless bills is also one of the ethical ways of reducing paper waste. Promoting home recycling so that every individual understands the environmental concerns and disposes of the packaging waste responsibly. Convince people to buy products with reusable packaging and encourage them to give back the containers to the brand for recycling and reuse.
Run Go Green Campaigns
Individuals and businesses can both promote a greener environment by running campaigns and conducting awareness seminars. Brands can use plant waste-based and reusable packaging by labeling the eco-awareness mission on them. Various big brands like Unilever’s waste-free world program are examples of an effort by brands for a safe environment. The following are some go-green campaigns based on sustainable development run by countries to reduce waste:
- Brazil’s Ecoelce
- Australia’s Envirobank
- Germany’s Pfand System
- Spain’s Reverse Sale System
Consumers can also consider home recycling methods, paperless billing, and plantation campaigns to reduce packaging waste for a safer environment. Investing in carbon offsets is also one of the best strategies to positively contribute to environmental stability.
Implement Circular Economy Model
Moving forward another excellent strategy to reduce packaging waste and protect the environment, which is the circular economy model. This approach helps businesses to reduce packaging waste to keep the environment safe.
This model focuses on extending the life cycle of a product which involves:
- Sharing
- Reusing
- Repairing
- Recycling
The circular economy model helps reduce the extraction of natural resources for packaging material. You can also modify the model by introducing new campaigns based on factors like leasing, reusing, and renting your products.
For example, if you run a clothing line, you can introduce a green campaign by offering dresses on a rental basis to secure the environment. This way, packaging waste will also be reduced due to less use of packaging. The circular economy model works best for brands making reusable and recyclable packaging for their products.
For example, Germany has a Pfand system, which encourages customers to deposit extra for a product’s container and when they give back the container for recycling and reuse, customers get their deposit back.
Turn Your Rival into a Collaborator
You should collaborate with businesses that are committed to sustainability to promote your green mission for reducing packaging waste. Start this by running green marketing campaigns as it will also help you build an eco-conscious brand image. Articulate your brand’s green mission statement, and eco-friendly practices, and environmental goals to reduce packaging waste before collaboration.
This way, you can collaborate with eco-conscious brands whose values resonate with your brand. It will also help enhance your brand’s credibility. Find a brand that is making the same products as yours with sustainable practices and exchange the ideas of green practices to reduce manufacturing and packaging waste. The ultimate goal is to save the environment as a brand through collaboration.
Consider how the collaboration of Allbirds with Adidas released the sustainable 2.94 kg CO2e sneakers which created a buzz in the world. They are still teamed up to create a zero-footprint shoe. Likewise, you can approach brands whose mission is to reduce packaging waste, and with collaboration, you both can build an ethical brand image while securing the environment.
Invest in Carbon Offsets
This is an effective way out to contribute to environmental stability. It focuses on investing in projects that compensate for emissions released by different sources. These projects may include methane capture, renewable energy, reforestation, etc. The right calculation of carbon footprints will help you invest in carbon offsets accordingly.
Individuals and businesses calculate the direct and indirect emissions released by them and their businesses. Direct emissions are those that are from sources owned by you or your business directly such as refrigerants of air conditioning units, fuel used in transport, or machinery used for manufacturing packaging.
Indirect emissions are released by sources not owned by your business directly but used for creating packaging for your business packaging waste disposal, transportation distribution, etc.
Get professional aid or use a carbon print calculator to get an accurate number of carbon footprints caused by manufacturing packaging or running business operations. Setting some measurable carbon footprint reduction goals for packaging waste reduction helps you contribute to the environment positively.
Case Studies
We have accumulated some case studies of some well-known international brands that are focusing on reducing packaging waste. Various brands are taking initiatives towards environmental sustainability as they understand that packaging waste has become a global problem. Effective strategies like plant-waste packaging, ethical waste management, go-green campaigns, reusable packaging, and circular economy models help overcome this global problem
- The Body Shop: Refill Scheme
The Body Shop’s environmental activism led to an effective campaign to educate customers and protect the environment. As the name suggests “ Refill Scheme” focuses on encouraging customers to get their products refilled in the same container they were using before. The campaign emphasizes “Why waste a container when you can refill it?”
This brand has rolled out refill stations in 720 of its stores globally to reduce packaging waste. Their focus is to embrace a circular economy and contribute to a safer environment. The Body Shop encourages their customers by giving 50ml free product on every refill.
Compared to other sectors, the cosmetic industry has consumers who are serious about the conservation of the environment. The revised packaging strategies of The Body Shop can surely bring about a positive change in the way cosmetic brands handle their packaging needs.
- Nestle: Packaging Waste Reduction Program
Nestle is one of the reputable brands that runs a “Packaging Waste Reduction Program” to reduce landfill waste. They support a circular economy and emphasize better packaging, less packaging, and better systems. They aim to reduce the use of virgin plastic and opt for paper packaging for a safe environment.
Nestle also ensures the presence of their refilling stations in every country they operate in. They claim to reduce their use of virgin plastic by one-third by 2025. This brand also encourages the use of reusable and recyclable packaging and refilling them for their customers for environmental sustainability.
Although Nestle is one of the biggest FMCG conglomerates that contributes to the packaging waste problem, their initiatives show that they’re serious about improving their packaging strategy.
- The Coca-Cola Company: World Without Waste
Another big international brand Coca-Cola is also emphasizing a waste-free world. They launched their World Without Waste in 2018, focusing on a circular economy model to create recyclable and reusable bottles and cans.
In 2023, 62% of their bottles and cans were collected for recycling, refilling, and reuse. They claim that their 90% of packaging was recyclable globally in 2023. This depicts their success in reducing packaging waste.
Coke is one of the most prominent brands that has the “Domino Effect” on the FMCG sector. Their packaging initiatives can make consumers aware of sustainable packaging, which can lead to more brands choosing green packaging alternatives.
Conclusion!
Packaging waste is difficult to handle because of factors like poor landfill waste management, excessive extraction of natural resources, energy consumption, and improper disposal. Handling this problem is only possible if we review our production and recycling strategies.
From choosing sustainable packaging materials to defining better recycling strategies, we have to cover a long way. We hope that the case studies mentioned above will help you reduce packaging waste if you’re a brand owner.
About the Author
Salman Shahid is the CEO of OXO Packaging, a custom packaging company operating in the USA, UK, and Australia. Known for his exceptional business development skills, he has helped expand multiple brands into successful enterprises. As a BD and marketing thought leader, his mission is to empower others to build thriving businesses without facing unnecessary challenges. Learn more on his LinkedIn profile