ON THE TOPIC OF | PLASTICS
We all know that plastic
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is negatively impacting
the planet, but do we
know the extent of the
problem? According to a study by
Sciences Advances, of the 8.3 billion
metric tonnes of produced plastic, 6.3
billion has become plastic waste and
only 9% has been recycled.
Consumers are taking action
and demanding that companies pay
more attention to their impact on
the environment. Many now reject
single- use plastic, favour smaller,
more ethical companies and demand
to know the provenance of a product.
Manufactures should acknowledge
this change in attitude and explore
how they can provide a more
sustainable product offering.
MATERIAL WORLD
Reviewing the products used in
goods and packaging can greatly
reduce the amount of new plastic
produced. According to Kantar
Worldpanel, 21% of surveyed
consumers in the UK believe that
businesses should only use plasticfree
packaging.
Removing plastic packaging will
please consumers but also benefit
manufacturers. Investing in materials
that can make packaging reusable,
recyclable or compostable can
save raw material and waste costs.
Researchers are currently looking
into the potential of plant-based
plastics made from corn that is broken
down into PLA to make food grade
containers or drinks bottles.
Advances in product disposal
can also impact how manufacturers
work with plastic. IBM conducted
research into the future of plastics
and how we can prevent the majority
of the material sitting on landfill or in
oceans. It predicts that advancements
in plastics will enable companies to
take bottles, containers or other PETbased
materials and combine them
with a chemical catalyst in a pressure
cooker to break down the materials,
remove contaminants and create a
powder that can immediately be used
to create new plastics.
BACK TO THE BEGINNING
To produce goods with sustainability
in mind, manufacturers should
consider how every aspect of
design and production impacts the
environment. Every stage of the
product lifecycle can be adapted
to improve its footprint.
Raw materials
should be
sourced from
ethical and
sustainable
suppliers
THE PLASTIC Industries must think more about how they can
reduce their contribution to the issue, particularly in
manufacturing. In this article Neil Ballinger of industrial
automation parts supplier EU Automation explores how
manufacturers can improve product sustainability.