With all of the propaganda in the news about being ECO- friendly, are so-called compostable better overall for the environment? I say, so far, the science points to NO.
While customers seeking to improve the “eco-friendliness” of their product packaging have flocked to Clearly Clean’s recyclable PET trays, many potential customers remain confused because of the greenwashing tide. Greenwashing can be defined as the dissemination of non-scientific misinformation about plastics that can result in food processors and grocery chains making material choices that, in reality, are actually harmful to the environment.
Biodegradable and compostable polymers may sound greener than polyethylene terephthalate (PET), but are they truly biodegradable and compostable? These plant-based polymers, in fact, are not as green as they might seem at first glance. Many industry experts agree and are working hard to dispel the myths of bioplastic materials, such as PLA, by educating consumers that recyclable PET actually may be the greener option.
For example, the National Association of PET Container Resources noted that 29.2% of all PET bottles were recycled in the United States in 2017. PET’s recycling success comes from the fact that it is used to make products (bottles) that do, in fact, get thrown into recycling bins and are collected by municipal recycling programs. Rigid food packaging (PET and HDPE) is intended to be—and increasingly is—recovered in recycle streams, especially in the case of PET. So, it makes sense to use recyclable materials.
The benefit of using PET is that there is a large, well-organized PET recycling infrastructure in the United States, as well as increasing demand for recycled PET (rPET) for products.
A serious shortcoming of biodegradable and compostable plastics is that even a small amount of these bioplastics can turn a large batch of traditional valuable PET recyclate into non-recyclable trash that either must be incinerated or landfilled. This is why biodegradable and compostable plastics must be carefully screened from the recycling stream.
The problem is that most composting sites will not take compostable plastics at this time. And they do not mix well with current PET and HDPE recyclers either. As a manufacturer using plastic sheets, I find the actual use of the products to be cumbersome and an tremendous energy sink. The stuff must be transported and stored in refrigeration. It has a short, useful shelf life that is sometimes less than the food product it wraps.
As a packaging engineer, I have been forced by market demands to look seriously at Biodegradables and compostable materials. Customers want the virtue of using such eco friendly packaging. But so far, I am unconvinced we are ready for a major rollout. Unfortunately, major markets, like the UE, are demanding it. Despite the science, governments are greenwashed and will act. Get ready for government mandates for lower quality and higher cost groceries.
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