Meaning
Post-consumer materials used for the protection and transport of goods enter a specialized collection and recovery system. Current legislative frameworks for packaging packaging waste aim to minimize the environmental impact of plastic films, containers and bottles. These rules mandate specific recycling targets and design requirements for brand owners.
The goal is to move from a linear disposal model to a closed loop system.
Waste Stream
Collection of discarded materials involves sorting complex mixtures of polymers and additives. Management of packaging packaging waste requires separating polyethylene from polypropylene to ensure high quality regrind. Contamination by food or non-plastic components reduces the value of the recovered material.
Circular Economy
Reuse of plastic resins in new containers depends on the purity of the recycled stream. Strategies for packaging packaging waste prioritize the use of mono-materials that are easier to process than multi-layer laminates. This shift in design increases the supply of high quality feedstock for the molding industry.
Manufacturers benefit from a more predictable stream of regrind that behaves similarly to virgin resins during the melt phase. Circular systems lower the reliance on volatile oil prices.
Compliance Cost
Producers must pay fees based on the volume and recyclability of the materials they put on the market. Taxes on packaging packaging waste incentivize the reduction of wall thickness and the removal of hard-to-recycle colors. These expenses directly affect the margin of the finished product and the choice of resin.
