Did you know that PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) was accidentally synthesized in 1872 by a German chemist named Eugen Baumann?
What`s that got to do with Returnable Plastic Packaging?
Certainly agree that PVC is rarely used in products used in RTP. These are predominantly moulded by high pressure in polypropylene (discovered in 1954) and polyethylene.
My point is that plastics have been around for a long time. And my aim is to combat the negativity around plastic. An American company, Armin Thermodynamic began producing plastic pallets by rotational moulding in 1972 in Oklahoma. 52 years ago.
So, the use of plastic isn`t new. Why?
Very well.
Before you consider the fine tolerances needed in the moving of RTP items, think about the processes, resources, environmental impact of other materials used for pallets. Sketch out the journey of a carbon dioxide absorbing tree in Northern Europe to a sawmill to a pallet yard to you.
Quite a lot of diesel fuel burnt is there?
Steel? Certainly, provides robust products, but is heavy in use. And what happens to cost & availability when British steel-making finally falls over?
What about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and its effect on marine life. Hats off to those are doing their best to stop the inflow of waste plastic, and cleaning up what`s there. Unfortunately due to the differing levels of breakdown and the typical plastics used, they can`t successfully be used in recycling for RTP.
But what can be used is post-industrial & post-consumer plastic waste.
So we need to unpack the public perception of plastic as being a bad thing. We need to pacify the pacifists. And educate them.
Using AI (which is a lot newer than plastic) and asking Why is plastic a good material for packaging?
Plastic is widely used for packaging due to several key benefits:
- Durability: Plastic is strong and resistant to breaking, which helps protect the contents during transportation and handling.
- Lightweight: Compared to materials like wood or metal, plastic is much lighter, reducing transportation costs and energy consumption.
- Versatility: It can be molded into various shapes and sizes, making it suitable for a wide range of products.
- Barrier Properties: Plastic provides an excellent barrier against moisture, gases, and contaminants, which helps preserve the freshness and quality of food and other perishable items.
- Cost-Effective: The production and processing of plastic are generally cheaper than many alternative materials.
- Safety: Plastic packaging is shatterproof and can be designed with tamper-evident and child-resistant features.
These attributes make plastic a practical and efficient choice for packaging a wide variety of products.
So, no surprises to the Exporta team in these points (except child-resistant features isn`t a frequent topic!) that plastic is an excellent material for storage & transport packaging. It can be sized precisely, has an excellent weight to load ratio, doesn`t absorb contamination or dirt. And can be Recycled to start all over again.
So, if you`re an dedicated user of wood for pallets & crates, and cardboard for boxes have a good look at plastic again.
There`s minimal negative points & many positive features to support your operation with Plastic RTP.
