Packaging Sustainability is the Future

June 17, 2024 • Kim Szukaitis

Understanding MURF’s

Sustainability encompasses various technologies aimed at reducing the environmental impact and preserving the environment for future generations. One of the key aspects of sustainability is the efficient management of waste through recycling. Materials Recovery Facilities (MURFs) play an important role in the recycling process. These specialized plants receive, separate, and prepare recyclable materials for reuse. Flat items, such as paper and corrugate (2-dimensional) are separated from containers and bottles (3-dimensional). This separation drives the efficiency of recycling operations and the quality of the recycled material. Near Infrared (NIR) optics are used in the recycling facilities to sort materials based on their polymer type into different resin streams.

Packaging needs an end market

It is important to have an end market for recycled materials, these markets range from construction materials to consumer products. The development of these markets is essential for the sustainability of the recycling industry, as it ensures that recycled materials are effectively reused. These markets provide a destination for recycled commodities, turning them into new products and completing the recycling loop. The types of plastics accepted in recycling facilities vary, but typically include common categories such as PET and HDPE, which are used in a wide range of consumer products. These products include water bottles, detergent bottles, and food containers. Plastic film or bags, as well as multi-material plastic packaging are unable to go through the MURF’s, since they contaminate other materials. Myplas is developing a state-of-the-art facility to recycle flexible film, at full capacity they will be able to recycle 90 million pounds. It is crucial to check local guidelines, as they can vary between municipalities.

Consumer education is key

The use of curbside and store drop-off recycling programs highlights the need for convenient and accessible recycling options to encourage public engagement. Education is key to successful recycling. Programs such as Recycle Check (recyclecheck.org), which provides a convenient way to easily identify if the package is recyclable in municipalities and How2recycle (how2recycle.info) are assisting consumers with understanding recycling. Most recyclables end up in a landfill. Recyclables can be classified as widely recyclable if more than 60% of American’s can recycle the package through curbside of drop off recycling.

Packaging life cycle analysis and carbon footprint

Life cycle analysis assesses the environmental impact of a product from cradle to grave. There are five phases of a product life cycle: raw material extraction, manufacturing & processing, transportation, usage & retail, waste disposal. This analysis helps drive areas for improvement and innovation towards more sustainable practices. Lastly, the concept of a carbon footprint, which measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a company, person, or product. Reducing the carbon footprint is a key goal of sustainability efforts, as it relates to climate change impacts. There are many facets to sustainability, education of consumers is key and will help in working together to reduce, reuse, and recycle, which will ultimately impact the future of our planet.

Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates on all things happening here at BSM Partners.

About the Author

This content is the property of BSM Partners. Reproduction or retransmission or repurposing of any portion of this content is expressly prohibited without the approval of BSM Partners and is governed by the terms and conditions explained here.