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Plastic container

January 01, 1970

Plastic containers are containers made exclusively or partially of plastic. Plastic containers are ubiquitous either as single-use or reuseable/durable plastic cups, plastic bottles, plastic bags, foam food containers, Tupperware, plastic tubes, clamshells, cosmetic containers, up to intermediate bulk containers and various types of containers made of corrugated plastic. The entire packaging industry heavily depends on plastic containers or containers with some plastic content (e.g. plastic coating or when made of composite material), besides paperboard and other materials. Food storage nowadays relies mainly on plastic food storage containers.

Heat resistant plastic container
A plastic bottle of antifreeze
Home storage containers with latched lids
Stackable reusable plastic euro containers

A basic but important distinction is between single-use / disposable and multi-use / durable containers. The former makes up a notable portion of the global plastic waste (e.g. toothpaste tubs, food delivery foam containers, most plastic bottles, etc.).

Because of the multitude of container applications, the types of plastic vary widely. Because of the material variety (combinations are no exception), the waste will make up a significant portion of plainly visible plastic pollution although some containers like bottles are recyclable.

The convenience and low cost of plastics are the main reasons for their continuously increasing use. Plastic packaging can keep food fresh longer, prevent food waste, and provide consumers with a greater variety of food. In addition, goods in plastic packaging can be easily transported and distributed.[1] Plastic has replaced traditional materials like wood, paperboard, and metal for the manufacture of containers because of its price, moldability/formability, durability and light weight.[2]

Waste edit

It is estimated that 3.4 billion tonnes of plastic packaging were created between 1950 and 2017.[1] Most plastic packaging is disposed of within a relatively short time. Discarded packaging accounts for 46% (158 million tonnes) of total annual plastic waste generation. Most plastic packaging waste is estimated to come from household waste. According to a 2010 survey by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), 73% of all plastic packaging waste in the United Kingdom came from households. Waste plastic packaging makes up a considerable portion of collected aquatic litter (15.9% in the oceans and 74.5% in rivers).[1]

In a 2019 report, The Coca-Cola Company divulged the company created 3 million tons of plastic packaging in 2017 with Nestlé creating 1.7 million tons, Unilever creating 610,000 tons and Colgate-Palmolive nearly 300,000 tons.[3]

In the late 2010s, 150 companies signed up to be part of The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's commitment to reduce plastic pollution.

Alternatives edit

Alternatives such as cotton bags, cardboard boxes and aluminum cans often have larger ecological footprints because these use up more energy and water to manufacture and transport than their plastic equivalents.[4] In addition, very few countries have facilities for recycling materials that are deemed to be less environmentally harmful than plastic. In most cases, this allegedly safe packaging gets in the natural landscape in the form of waste.[5]

Trade groups edit

In the U.S., the industry is represented by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Closure & Container Manufacturers Association, Flexible Packaging Association, and others.

Global market edit

Today packaging is the largest use of plastic resins, accounting for 36% (158 million tonnes) of the world's total plastic production by mass. Plastic packaging is used in the commercial, retail, household, tourism and agricultural sectors. Consumption rates vary among and within countries, with developing countries generally less reliant on packaging. In China annual plastic packaging consumption is approximately 14 kg/capita; in Europe the rate is much higher, averaging 174 kg/capita.[1]

Asia Pacific dominated the global plastic packaging market in 2016. In second place comes North America. The pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries contributed the most to the use of plastic packaging products. During 2016, Asia Pacific accounted for more than 30 percent of the shares of the total volume consumption in this market.[6] The Ocean Conservancy reported that China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam dump more plastic in the sea than all other countries combined.[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Environment, U. N. (2021-10-21). "Drowning in Plastics – Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Vital Graphics". UNEP - UN Environment Programme. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  2. ^ [1] [dead link]
  3. ^ Staff Writer (2019-03-14). "Coca-Cola reveals how much plastic it uses". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  4. ^ "The inflexibility of plastic". The Economist. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019. Given the environmental footprint of substitutes like cotton bags, aluminium cans or paper boxes—which often require more energy and water to make and transport than plastic equivalents—new regulations could in fact end up doing harm to the planet.
  5. ^ "Plastic packaging ban 'could harm environment'". BBC News. 9 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Growth of the plastic packaging market in regard to regions". Openpr.com. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  7. ^ Hannah Leung (21 April 2018). "Five Asian Countries Dump More Plastic Into Oceans Than Anyone Else Combined: How You Can Help". Forbes. Retrieved 23 June 2019. China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are dumping more plastic into oceans than the rest of the world combined, according to a 2017 report by Ocean Conservancy

Sources edit

  This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under Cc BY-SA 3.0 IGO (license statement/permission). Text taken from Drowning in Plastics – Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Vital Graphics​, United Nations Environment Programme.

Bibliography edit

  • Soroka, W, "Fundamentals of Packaging Technology", IoPP, 2002, ISBN 1-930268-25-4
  • Soroka, W, Illustrated Glossary of Packaging Terminology, Institute of Packaging Professionals, [2]
Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-08704-6

January 01, 1970
plastic, container, containers, made, exclusively, partially, plastic, ubiquitous, either, single, reuseable, durable, plastic, cups, plastic, bottles, plastic, bags, foam, food, containers, tupperware, plastic, tubes, clamshells, cosmetic, containers, interme. Plastic containers are containers made exclusively or partially of plastic Plastic containers are ubiquitous either as single use or reuseable durable plastic cups plastic bottles plastic bags foam food containers Tupperware plastic tubes clamshells cosmetic containers up to intermediate bulk containers and various types of containers made of corrugated plastic The entire packaging industry heavily depends on plastic containers or containers with some plastic content e g plastic coating or when made of composite material besides paperboard and other materials Food storage nowadays relies mainly on plastic food storage containers Heat resistant plastic container A plastic bottle of antifreeze Home storage containers with latched lids Stackable reusable plastic euro containers A basic but important distinction is between single use disposable and multi use durable containers The former makes up a notable portion of the global plastic waste e g toothpaste tubs food delivery foam containers most plastic bottles etc Because of the multitude of container applications the types of plastic vary widely Because of the material variety combinations are no exception the waste will make up a significant portion of plainly visible plastic pollution although some containers like bottles are recyclable The convenience and low cost of plastics are the main reasons for their continuously increasing use Plastic packaging can keep food fresh longer prevent food waste and provide consumers with a greater variety of food In addition goods in plastic packaging can be easily transported and distributed 1 Plastic has replaced traditional materials like wood paperboard and metal for the manufacture of containers because of its price moldability formability durability and light weight 2 Contents 1 Waste 2 Alternatives 3 Trade groups 4 Global market 5 See also 6 References 7 Sources 8 BibliographyWaste editIt is estimated that 3 4 billion tonnes of plastic packaging were created between 1950 and 2017 1 Most plastic packaging is disposed of within a relatively short time Discarded packaging accounts for 46 158 million tonnes of total annual plastic waste generation Most plastic packaging waste is estimated to come from household waste According to a 2010 survey by the Waste and Resources Action Programme WRAP 73 of all plastic packaging waste in the United Kingdom came from households Waste plastic packaging makes up a considerable portion of collected aquatic litter 15 9 in the oceans and 74 5 in rivers 1 In a 2019 report The Coca Cola Company divulged the company created 3 million tons of plastic packaging in 2017 with Nestle creating 1 7 million tons Unilever creating 610 000 tons and Colgate Palmolive nearly 300 000 tons 3 In the late 2010s 150 companies signed up to be part of The Ellen MacArthur Foundation s commitment to reduce plastic pollution Alternatives editAlternatives such as cotton bags cardboard boxes and aluminum cans often have larger ecological footprints because these use up more energy and water to manufacture and transport than their plastic equivalents 4 In addition very few countries have facilities for recycling materials that are deemed to be less environmentally harmful than plastic In most cases this allegedly safe packaging gets in the natural landscape in the form of waste 5 Trade groups editIn the U S the industry is represented by the Society of the Plastics Industry Closure amp Container Manufacturers Association Flexible Packaging Association and others Global market editToday packaging is the largest use of plastic resins accounting for 36 158 million tonnes of the world s total plastic production by mass Plastic packaging is used in the commercial retail household tourism and agricultural sectors Consumption rates vary among and within countries with developing countries generally less reliant on packaging In China annual plastic packaging consumption is approximately 14 kg capita in Europe the rate is much higher averaging 174 kg capita 1 Asia Pacific dominated the global plastic packaging market in 2016 In second place comes North America The pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries contributed the most to the use of plastic packaging products During 2016 Asia Pacific accounted for more than 30 percent of the shares of the total volume consumption in this market 6 The Ocean Conservancy reported that China Indonesia Philippines Thailand and Vietnam dump more plastic in the sea than all other countries combined 7 See also editFibre reinforced plastic tanks and vessels Health concerns of certain non biodegradable fossil fuel based plastic food packaging Intermediate bulk container Flexible intermediate bulk container Packaging and labelling Packed lunch Closure container Lid container Plastic milk container Plastic crate Litter box Toolbox Disposable lighter Blister pack Tub container Euro container SystainerReferences edit a b c d Environment U N 2021 10 21 Drowning in Plastics Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Vital Graphics UNEP UN Environment Programme Retrieved 2022 03 21 1 dead link Staff Writer 2019 03 14 Coca Cola reveals how much plastic it uses BBC News Retrieved 2019 03 15 The inflexibility of plastic The Economist 25 July 2019 Retrieved 31 July 2019 Given the environmental footprint of substitutes like cotton bags aluminium cans or paper boxes which often require more energy and water to make and transport than plastic equivalents new regulations could in fact end up doing harm to the planet Plastic packaging ban could harm environment BBC News 9 January 2020 Growth of the plastic packaging market in regard to regions Openpr com Retrieved 2018 08 30 Hannah Leung 21 April 2018 Five Asian Countries Dump More Plastic Into Oceans Than Anyone Else Combined How You Can Help Forbes Retrieved 23 June 2019 China Indonesia Philippines Thailand and Vietnam are dumping more plastic into oceans than the rest of the world combined according to a 2017 report by Ocean ConservancySources edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a free content work Licensed under Cc BY SA 3 0 IGO license statement permission Text taken from Drowning in Plastics Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Vital Graphics United Nations Environment Programme Bibliography editSoroka W Fundamentals of Packaging Technology IoPP 2002 ISBN 1 930268 25 4 Soroka W Illustrated Glossary of Packaging Terminology Institute of Packaging Professionals 2 Yam K L Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology John Wiley amp Sons 2009 ISBN 978 0 470 08704 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Plastic container amp oldid 1198581508, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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