Packaging and the Environment Part IV

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In the last issue, we looked at the complex framework of some discrete but interdependent concepts that come into play when we discuss the packaging-environment interface or, to put it more correctly, ecosystems. It is now generally accepted that, in order to preserve scarce and rapidly depleting natural resources, to put less strain on the environment and to make all packaging systems energy and cost-efficient, one has to adopt a 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) approach. Ideally, one has to look at reducing usage of materials to optimum levels so that natural resources (petroleum, natural gas, minerals, wood etc.) are extended as much as possible. On the other hand, the energy required to manufacture, convert, transport and dispose of them has to be minimised; this would automatically optimise the cost-efficiency of the system and help conserve fuels. Once this is achieved, the next step is to see that packaging is reused wherever possible to achieve not only the objectives listed above but also to see that used packages do not get into the waste stream and cause ecological problems. ...cont´d

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