What is the real price of getting rid of plastic packaging?

The role of plastic packaging is very wide and entrenched in the market industry. Nearly every business, from small to big, is using plastic bags to purchase their products in the world. On the one hand, it has incurred great advantages for the business community. On the other hand, a plastic bag has inflicted a great burden and issues on the environment. More than 78 million tonnes of plastic packaging are produced worldwide every year by an industry worth nearly $198 billion. Just a fraction of that is recycled, while the vast majority is thrown away. Plastic litter now clutters every part of our planet, from remote parts of the Antarctic to the deepest ocean trenches.

Now, all world environmental organizations and TV campaigns are championing taking steps to tackle the tide of plastic waste. But how much will this fundamental change to the way we buy our goods actually cost? About 60 countries are enacting legislation aimed at reducing the use of plastic bags and other single-use plastic materials. And even some countries are thinking of banning single-use plastic bags, straws, and polystyrene food containers.

The cost of change can be dear.

Several big supermarkets and multinational companies are making commitments and vowing to reduce the role of plastic in their business affairs. But despite making such big claims and commitments, it is very difficult for the business to get rid of the plastic that has helped to set itself up. Plastics are very lightweight and inexpensive. They are much preferred because of their quality of adaptability. If plastic bottles are to be replaced by them, the cost prices of the glass bottles will increase. It will bring more burdens to the customers. The heavyweight of glass bottles will automatically increase the transportation cost as it will consume 40% more energy than other plastic bottles. More consumption of energy during transportation will bring more pollution to the environment.

Plastic cuts food waste by 75%

There are widespread advantages of plastics. The usage of plastic packaging has extended from small products to large products. The shrink wrap of plastic is used to pack the cucumber, which can keep it safe for about 15 days. It can reduce the wastage of food by half. If the cucumber is placed unwrapped, it will last only 2 days; if refrigerated, it can last 9 days. Similarly, beef can last from 3 to 7 days if they are wrapped with polystyrene foam trays covered with plastic. These wraps keep the food safe and intact. It keeps them preserved and intact, preserving their freshness.

There is a need for smart thinking.

It doesn’t make sense that it is banned outright. We can reduce its side effects sensibly and with great care. If additives are added in the manufacturing of plastic, plastic can break down and become biodegradable. Moreover, the usage of bioplastics can be beneficial for the environment. Now, all big businesses are replacing plastic with bioplastic. Usage of bioplastics can be helpful for the environment. The reusing of used packaging can be a good alternative to outright banning it. Moreover, applying the deposit and reuse scheme is good in Western countries where plastic bottles are returned and exchanged for a cash deposit.

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