PowerPoint eight
Packaging
materials
Materials
Most packing contains a
number of different
materials, although this may
make it more difficult to
recycle.
The most commonly used
packaging materials in the UK
are:
• paper and board (43%)
• plastic (20%)
• glass (19%)
• steel and aluminium (14%)
Selecting the right material
Material selection is based on:
• technical properties (strength, flexibility, etc.)
• fitness for purpose (moisture barrier, cushioning, etc.)
• availability
• manufacturing capability
• cost
• environmental impact
• regulations
Paper and cardboard
Paper and cardboard are
derived from trees. The
extent to which the
forests are properly
managed affects the
environmental
sustainability of paper as
a packaging material.
Paper and cardboard recycling
Paper and cardboard
contaminated with food
residue – like pizza boxes –
cannot by recycled. They
can be home composted.
Paper and cardboard cannot be recycled indefinitely.
When paper is recycled the fibres get shorter. New
material with longer fibre length must be added to
recycled material to make office-quality paper.
Designing with paper
Consider:
• designs that use less paper or cardboard
• designs that can be reused
• using materials with high recycled content
• using mechanical locking instead of staples or glue
• labelling that states where the wood came from and how
the forest was managed
• labelling that informs consumers that the packaging can
be recycled
Metals
The metals most commonly used for packaging are steel
and aluminium. Both of these rely on environmentally
destructive mining practices to obtain new materials.
Metal recycling
Recycling aluminium
cans saves 95 percent of
the energy used to make
aluminium cans from
virgin ore.
Aluminium and steel are infinitely recyclable, and do not
loose their quality as a result of recycling.
Designing with metals
Consider
• designs that use less metal – cylindrical shapes with
straight vertical sides use less material
• designs that use thinner metals – this reduces weight for
transport
• using metals made from recycled materials
• labelling that informs consumers that the packaging can
be recycled
Glass
It takes one tonne of
water to produce one
tonne of glass.
Glass manufacturing is energy intensive and requires
large volumes of water.
Glass recycling
When the demand for recycled
glass is low, many service
providers use a single collection
bin. This low quality cullet is
used as an aggregate in
bituminous concrete.
Glass can be recycled indefinitely, but it must be colour
sorted to maximise its recycling potential. Because so
many products in glass containers are imported into the
UK, more bottles are recycled than are needed.
Designing with glass
Consider
• designs that use less glass – cylindrical shapes with
straight vertical sides use less material
• designs that use thinner glass – this reduces weight for
transport
• a design that can be reused
• a design made from recycled glass
• use organic labels that burn off easily during recycling
• labelling that informs consumers that the packaging can
be recycled
Plastics
Plastics are a group of
materials, typically
made from petroleumbased compounds.
They can also be made
from organic materials
like plant starch.
There are more than 50
different types of plastic and
hundreds of varieties.
Plastic recycling
An international system of
coding is used to identify types
of petroleum-based plastics for
the purpose of recycling. SPI
resin ID codes 1 and 2 are
most widely recyclable.
Bio-plastics can be composted,
but not in home composters.
Designing with plastic
Consider
• designs that use less plastic – cylindrical shapes with
straight vertical sides use less material
• designs that use thinner plastic – this
reduces weight for transport
• a design that can be reused
• a design made from recycled plastic
(SPI resin codes 1-2)
• avoid coloured plastic (they’re more difficult to recycle)
• labelling that informs consumers that the packaging
can be recycled
Biodegradable materials
‘Ecocradle’ is a Styrafoam substitute
corner protector that is grown rather
than manufactured. Fungi are grown
in a waste grain mixture and give the
material its unique structure.
Biodegradable packaging materials are typically made
from agricultural waste by-products, such as grain husks.
Image from http://uo-gpdn.ning.com
Composting biodegradable
materials
Biodegradable materials can be
added to home compost piles,
although some require industrial
composting technologies that
achieve higher temperatures.
Designing with biodegradable
materials
Consider
• designing a new biodegradable
material
• a design that uses
biodegradable materials
• labelling that informs
consumers that the materials
can be home composted
Other materials considerations
Packaging materials themselves are just one
consideration. Other things to consider include:
• Use of composite materials
Packaging made from composite materials are more difficult to recycle
• Other secondary materials
Packaging involves the use of adhesives, tapes, inks, coatings, etc. that all
have sustainable alternatives
• Packaging machines
Manufacturing packaging involves the construction of complex machines
that use resources and energy
Consumer perspective
What role does sustainable packaging
play in consumer choice?