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Environment
Packaging prevents waste!
Packaging has recently been the target of criticism in the media, criticism that seems to stem from a dislike of packaging waste. There is reason to point out, that packaging waste is not the biggest contributor to total waste. Packaging on the contrary prevents more waste.
“As manufacturers of barrier packaging materials. we often face questions relating to the consequences of using polymer-coated barrier board. Add to this recent media activity where packaging generally has been portrayed as an environmental problem, we have a situation where the real reason for barrier packaging is completely overlooked”, says Steve Pye, Technical Service Manager at Walki.
He refers to the fact that food waste forms the biggest proportion of general waste, a problem that barrier packaging is designed to avoid.
“This is particularly important for products where a barrier is needed to ensure freshness and good condition at the time of use”, says Pye.
Minimum raw materials, maximum performance
Looking forward, biopolymers offer future potential for barrier materials from sustainable sources. Today their use is however limited, due to lack of availability and unsatisfying performance in terms of resistance to moisture and temperature, compared to standard polymers. Until better alternatives are available suitable infrastructure must be put in place to permit the re-use of all possible recovered material and to recover the energy from what cannot be recycled.
“We of course look forward to the ideal future situation when barrier layers can be produced from biodegradable elements while being both functional and environmentally sustainable. Until then Walki seeks to supply packaging material that uses a minimum raw materials to achieve maximum performance”, says Steve Pye.
