| Many people have the misconception that food | | | | packaging industry are always looking our for |
| packaging makes up a great deal of the total | | | | ways to ensure that every effort is made when |
| waste in the world today. The truth is, however, | | | | it comes to the design of products so that they |
| that packaging suppliers have always been big | | | | have the least amount of impact on the |
| proponents of recycling and have always sought | | | | environment. The biggest hurdle in these attempts |
| to have as little impact on the planet as possible. | | | | has been the market for recycled goods; although |
| Learning a bit more about the philosophies of the | | | | it is growing, it is still quite limited and profitability |
| packaging industry can help you gain a better | | | | is, naturally, a concern. |
| understanding about why such misconceptions | | | | Balancing Profitability With Environmentalism - |
| about waste are so false. | | | | It goes without saying that, as an industry, |
| How Much Waste Does The Packaging Industry | | | | packaging suppliers need to make a profit in order |
| Account For? | | | | to stay afloat. Finding a market for recycled and |
| Although packaging is everywhere, it only | | | | used packaging materials is often easier said than |
| accounts for approximately 10% of total urban | | | | done. Right now, a large proportion of used |
| solid waste. That is a paltry figure when one | | | | packaging is shipped overseas - especially to Asia. |
| considers how many much larger offenders there | | | | One goal for 2010 was for the packaging industry |
| are out there today. As ubiquitous as food | | | | to attain a 65% recycling rate. Such goals are |
| packaging is, it is also often designed with | | | | excellent tools for improving the industry and for |
| recycling in mind; also, manufacturers usually strive | | | | reducing its impact on the environment in general. |
| to use the least amount of packaging possible in | | | | Public Opinion Matters - |
| order to make their products more streamlined | | | | More and more pressure is being exerted by the |
| and easier to ship. When all is said and done, then, | | | | general public, who are demanding more |
| packaging is but a tiny percentage of the overall | | | | Earth-friendly products on every level. In this way, |
| amount of waste that is produced every year. | | | | the packaging supply industry can hopefully ramp |
| Moving Forward With Recycling - | | | | up its efforts to provide more used and |
| The packaging industry has long been a strong | | | | recyclable materials for its packaging in the years |
| proponent of recycling. As technologies have | | | | to come. With the ever growing focus that is |
| improved, the industry has made additional and | | | | taking place on 'saving our planet', consumers can |
| more strident efforts to recycle as much as | | | | expect the packaging industry to continue it's |
| possible - and to make their products as | | | | product development and come up with new |
| recyclable as possible, too. Leaders within the food | | | | ways to do its own part. |