Aiming for a fully circular system, with alternatives to plastic and poly bags, in which everything is collected, recycled, and made into something useful is a great goal. A good packaging solution should be able to meet the needs of the product, provide protection, optimize resources, and leave a minimal carbon footprint. Only optimal design can achieve these goals.
Packaging is a major consumer of virgin plastic and paper. According to studies, 50 percent of the form and 40 percent of the plastic produced annually is used in packaging. Only 36 percent of municipal solid waste is made up of packaging.
Fashion has steadily increased over the past decade. It is the largest segment of the e-commerce industry. This industry has a value of more than $520 Billion per year. The industry is expected to grow at a rate of almost 10% per year to reach over $1 trillion in 2025 (Holdings, 2019).
There are not many studies that have been conducted to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impacts of compostable packaging. The existing research indicates that the packaging industry has focused more on business-to-business (B2B), indicating the need to study business-to-consumer (B2C). Reusable packaging does not provide an immediate answer to the current packaging challenges (Nelson 2020).
Retailers who use cartons or corrugated boxes often find it hard to determine the right size for the shipment. The cartons are a major contributor to the waste that must be disposed of. More and more people are unhappy with the amount of packaging that must be disposed of with household waste. About 30 percent of CO2 emissions due to ecommerce come from the packaging used for shipping. The traditional single-use shipping packaging is manufactured, used, and discarded. Incineration or exportation of larger plastic packaging components is done in countries with difficult disposal.
In general, the most important aspect of the polybag is its protective properties. The poly bag must protect against dirt, dust, and moisture. A 2018 survey found that price sensitivity was also a top factor. Most brands don’t want to pay for more packaging. Most companies rated transparency, or the ability to see both the garment and its hang tags, as very important to somewhat critical. Most companies rated the ability to store clothing for a long period as only somewhat or slightly important. This aspect was not ranked as high in importance by many companies compared to other factors, such as the organization’s purpose, resistance to tearing or stretching forces, and durability. Most companies do not find it important to meet the requirements of their retail or logistics partners, although some do (Hiatt 2018).
Plastic pollution of the oceans and harming flora, fauna, and the environment are images that have been in the spotlight for some time. Each garment shipped in a plastic bag could result in the production of more than 150 billion bags per year. The amount of plastic packaging often found on garments is a complaint from both customers and staff. This is especially true for retail ecommerce customers who are the first to see the packaging.
The above factors define compostability. These are important, but not enough. For a material to be compostable, it must disintegrate in the composting process and not pose any problems for the operation, final product, or compost (Degli Innocenti 2002). Understanding that biodegradability is not sufficient is crucial.
Composting can be a useful waste management method, especially in areas with limited landfills and densely populated areas. Polylactic acid is primarily degraded by hydrolysis. This process is catalyzed mainly by temperature. Bacteria then attack the fragmented residues. The moisture and heat of the compost pile break down the PLA chains and produce lactic acid. The microorganisms that live in compost heaps use the polymers and acids produced to make energy. Bacteria and fungi degrade the PLA. The result is carbon dioxide, some water, and humus.
The culture of single-use packaging has dramatically increased the amount that a person produces daily, weekly, and monthly. Plastic is one of the most common packaging materials used across industries. It has a huge negative impact on the environment. It pollutes natural landscapes, and when it decomposes, microplastics are formed that end up in oceans. It also affects marine biodiversity.
Businesses, organizations, and academics alike are increasingly looking for sustainable and renewable alternatives. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (Holding 2019) has developed a definition for sustainable packaging. The figure below illustrates the characteristics of sustainable packaging according to this definition.
Due to this pressure, brands are demanding alternatives. There is not enough information about the choices and actions that can taken. Some brands like H&M and Bestseller have pledged to switch from plastic to recyclable, compostable, or reusable packaging. This commitment is in line with those outlined by UKthe Plastics Pact. The UK Plastic Pact encourages signatories of the pact to reach their goals by 2025. Signatories must also reduce single-use packaging and recycle or compost 70% of all plastic packaging. They are expected to include 30% recycled plastic content on average across plastic packaging.
The products we use every day have a short life expectancy. The impact of these products is long-lasting. The circularity of materials must be increased. It will also reduce the amount of packaging that is single-use.
A good packaging must meet certain criteria. It should be able to serve its purpose, protect contents, optimize resources, and have the smallest carbon footprint. Only optimal design can achieve these goals. For environmentally friendly packaging, the user-friendliness of the packaging and its efficient material cycle is also important (Tiuttu 2020).
It is still a complex system despite the universality of its use and its apparent simplicity. Aiming for a system that is fully circular for polybags or any other material, such as alternatives to plastics, in which everything is collected, recycled, and made into something useful is a worthy goal. It is a difficult task that one can only dream of completing.