Every material has an environmental footprint.
- Extraction/harvesting
- Transportation
- Processing
- Energy use
- Product use
- Disposal
All these activities leave a footprint on our environment.
Plastic Packaging Versus Alternatives
Ever wonder how plastic compares to alternatives? Well, folks at the Michigan State University’s School of Packaging wondered.
They asked: What’s the environmental impact of replacing packaging made of plastic (e.g., bags, films, and containers) with packaging made of paper, glass, aluminum, or steel in the U.S.?
FYI: They looked at polyethylene packaging, the most common type.
Findings: Plastic = Lighter Footprint
The findings? Their research reveals that plastic packaging made from polyethylene results in a 70% savings in global warming potential compared to alternatives. 70%! Plus, plastic outperforms alternatives when considering mineral resource use, fossil energy consumption, and water scarcity.
Surprised?
We’re not. This MSU life cycle study builds on decades of research that has found that use of plastic generally results in a lighter environmental footprint than alternatives.
The researchers reiterated a key point made by multiple other researchers: “The mass of packaging material required to meet the functional unit is a significant driver of the …results.”
In other words, plastic typically is lighter than other materials.
Lighter material = lighter environmental footprint.
Packaging Policy Implications
So… what? Here’s why this study is useful, according to the authors:
“The insights gained from this study are intended to assist stakeholders and policymakers in making informed decisions that balance environmental impact mitigation with maintaining product functionality and achieving sustainability objectives.”
“Insights can help avoid potential unintended consequences from material switching.”
In other words, when making decisions about packaging and the environment, look to science for assistance. Not conventional wisdom.
Interested in digging into the study’s findings? Click here to hear from the authors themselves.
