How does one respond to uncertainty that is no longer their future but staring at them in their present? That is the key question we have all faced since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The same question faces the global polymer cycles but in an inverse way. In the case of the menace of plastic waste, the world is aware of its certain future. We will be living on top of landfills and waste-filled water bodies in a bleak and desperate future if we don’t make the necessary changes, and we have the technology, resources and skill to make the change right now in our present.

What we lack is the conviction to execute the tasks needed to get to that goal. The greatest task ahead of us is not what we have to change in our actions but our current attitude toward waste, and the fact that there is no such thing as waste. Whatever is wasted in one process is the product of use in an alternate value-added process.

Sustainable choices we have made since the pandemic has brought about a change in packaging as well. Plastic in packaging has facilitated the life and safety of products across categories seamlessly. It has revolutionized the way customers identify a brand and recognize their choice of product on the retail shelves. Around the world, human beings subconsciously interact with packaging multiple times every day, right from starting our day with that hot coffee and cereal to those medicinal pills we take at day’s end. Thus, the primary role of packaging in retaining the integrity and quality of the packed product in addition to extending its shelf life (an essential for food) can’t be negated.

Mishandling of packaging waste, however, has had quite an impact on the earth, and as a core member of the flexible packaging fraternity, I can say that all efforts are being made toward the creation of better packaging offerings for generations now and in the future. Our generation has a big role to play, as well, to be part of the change that can uplift our quality of life and our choices and actions that create a better environment. Making conscious, positive choices doesn’t necessarily mean that we need to eliminate plastic packaging from the face of the Earth, instead it is all about the responsible use, reuse and disposing of plastic packaging. 

The shift in asking for environment friendly packaging has catapulted brands to take more responsible actions and prepare for a future where packaging is completely sustainable and/or recyclable for further use. That said, this will be a gradual process, and companies will have to lay a strong foundation to build a sustainable, circular plastic economy.

What is circularity?

A circular economy is one where it looks beyond the end of lifecycle of a product. It is an eco-system where manufacturers design and create products that can be put to re-use easily and restored multiple times through recycling and upcycling. For instance, plastic packaging waste can be recycled into chips to be used in different and better forms and this process can be repeated again and again. So, unlike a linear economy that practices "use and throw" philosophy, a circular economy ensures the "use and repurposing" of plastic packaging so that it doesn’t become a waste.

With only 9% of plastic waste being recycled across the world, a linear economy model of "take–make and dispose" constrains the overall growth of the world’s economy. Hence, a transition from linear to a circular economy is imperative. It is, of course, not easy given the volume of waste generated; and the gaps between waste generation and the lack of adequate infrastructure for efficient processing of waste makes the road to circularity quite bumpy. It will take untiring efforts and collaboration between the stakeholders, as well as investments to develop sustainable packaging solutions. A better, more efficient recycling infrastructure will be required, as well, to make this overall shift, and it will require companies to place the good of the planet above their own short-term bottom lines/profits.

In my view, we can tackle this challenge at the source, and for that we need to take care of the stock of plastic waste piling up and the flow of new polymer products to cut down plastic packaging waste and ensure that the materials’ virtues are reinstated. Toward this, we must start looking at waste as a resource and make reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, re-design and re-manufacture a part of our cultural ethos.

Why sustainable plastic packaging?

With more than 75% of US consumers preferring to buy a product that is labeled “environmentally friendly," product packaging is just as important as the product itself. And, given that consumers are becoming more and more aware of the existence of sustainable plastic, green packaging truly needs to go from “alternative” to “mainstream.”

Sustainable packaging not only reduces the amount of materials used but is also easily recycled and biodegradable. This cuts down on waste and reduces a company’s overall carbon footprint. At its core, this form of packaging is a perfect combination of the unique versatility of plastic and the importance of nature. It not only increases customer loyalty to a brand (and boosts sales of the product) but it also softens the brand’s environmental impact and enhances its social standing.

Lately, various innovations in the realm of sustainable plastic packaging have surfaced with alterations and advancements in packaging design for the safe recycling, reusing or composting of these materials. Technologies developed include easy recycling of post-consumer plastic waste generated from MLP mixed plastic (which was traditionally considered difficult to be recycled) and PET bottles.

Packaging companies are continually working on creating a perfect closed loop synergy with brands where plastic waste is upcycled into high quality PCR films’ based packaging structure that further re-enters the loop to be recycled. Another notable invention to address is uncollected plastic waste with enzyme-based films that break down into fertilizer within a fixed period of time after coming into contact with soil. Mono-material packaging is another interesting development adopted by certain brands in a bid to shift to green packaging. However, this is an inadequate solution if there is a lack of infrastructure created for its recycling.

Stakeholders are gradually coming together, taking baby steps to embrace the transformation toward sustainability in packaging, and as time progresses we are sure to witness many more interesting formats of sustainable plastic packaging that will highlight the wonders of plastic packaging that doesn’t cause harm to the planet.

We resolve to be the change that brings about a positive coexistence of beneficial plastic packaging and life on this beautiful planet.

About the author: Anantshree Chaturvedi has been with UFlex for over 13 years and has worked from the ground up in every unit of UFlex. He learned the trade both domestically and internationally by being an apprentice in India, Mexico, Poland, Egypt, Dubai and the USA. He has spearheaded the expansion of UFlex global packaging films’ subsidiary Flex Films in multiple regions, including the US.

A believer in turning plastic into a genuinely-loved product for its virtues and ability to be sustainable, Anantshree has been driving development of new products and solutions that help plastic find life beyond its original purpose. He strives to make UFlex’ global sustainability initiative “Project Plastic Fix” a blueprint for the industry to follow and achieve circular economy.