The Impact of Packaging on Our Planet: What You Need to Know

Today, packaging has become mandatory for many products and industries because it gives a voice to the products, helps in branding products and prevents the products from any kind of spoilage, damage, or contamination. But the amount of packaging materials that are being used and left behind is a serious threat to our planet. According to a report by Environmental Protection Agency, in 2014 more than 258 million tons of solid waste were generated from which 63% of packaging material was from the food industry.

The impact of packaging is specifically polluting our air, and harming our land and oceans. And this is a serious problem that cannot be solved overnight.

In this blog, we have discussed the real impact of packaging on our planet:

A Lifecycle of Negative Impact:

You might be wondering how packaging can be so harmful to our planet. What are the impacts of packaging on our environment? Well, everything starts from its life cycle and goes on. Similarly, the lifecycle of packaging leaves a negative environmental footprint each step of the way. The lifecycle of packaging starts from its creation and ends at its disposal.

Let’s have a look at the main stages of its lifecycle to better understand how impactful packaging can be to the environment:

Sourcing and Production:

The problem of packaging starts from its creation. All types of packaging require energy and certain resources to manufacture. And manufacturing emits greenhouse gases that are not good for our planet. It also produces toxic particles waster in water. Additionally, other resources are also used in the making of custom packaging boxes such as petroleum, wood, water, chemicals, and many other resources that contribute to the environmental impact.

Let’s have a look at the production of packaging material to have a better and deeper understanding:

• Glass

Glass is made with the fossil fuels such as petroleum gas or natural gas. The glass is highly customizable and recyclable but the making process emits nitrogen and sulfur oxides into the air that are dangerous for our planet. The emission of nitrogen and sulfur oxides in the air may increase the chance of acid rain which can be harmful to aquatic animals, plants, trees, crops, and vegetation.

• Paper Packaging

A paper bag is excellent and recyclable packaging, right? But you know how much energy it consumes in the making process and emits carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide which are harmful to our planet and environment. According to a report, 42% of harvesting is being done because of increased paper demand in the market which may cause deforestation.

• Aluminum

The production of aluminium also emits harmful emissions like glass. But the most important thing is manufacturing aluminium is also an energy-consuming process that may create caustic sludge and toxic particles that may contain radioactive elements. And radioactive elements are enough to emit harmful particles and damage the environment.

• Plastic Packaging

The production of plastic packaging involves around the burning of fossil fuels that are highly pollutant and harmful to the environment.  Plastic pollution is also a big reason behind greenhouse gas emissions in the US, and chemicals such as mercury are also polluting the water as waste. This chemical may affect marine life such as fish with its methylmercury chemical. And eating a fish with methylmercury is dangerous for humans as well as animals.  

• Transportation

It’s not about the production of packaging only but it is also about the transportation that is used in the production of packaging boxes. Transportation consumes petrol or diesel which may also emit toxic particles into the environment.

Solutions to Reduce the Impact of Packaging on the Environment:

With the advancement of technology, business owners have started to take appropriate steps to reduce the packaging impact on the planet and the environment. There are plenty of ways to turn your packaging into eco-friendly and sustainable packaging for the betterment of this planet.

• Use of Sustainable and Recyclable Packaging Material

To make the environment clean, businesses and industries can use sustainable and eco-friendlier packaging materials to produce their packaging boxes. There are different types of biodegradable packaging materials to promote sustainable