There are two types of Packaging, one recyclable and the other non-recyclable. In today’s world, where almost everything comes in plastic packaging, it is causing harm to the environment since most packs contain plastic. It is well known that plastic is a non-recyclable material and is not eco-friendly.
Recyclable vs. Non-recyclable resources
Recyclable resources or Affordable and Eco-friendly Recycled Shipping Boxes are those that can be recycled or renewed by some process. Examples of these resources are paper, cardboard, office paper, and glass. On the contrary, non-recyclable resources are the ones that you cannot recycle. Examples are plastic packaging, wrappings, shredded paper, colored paper, and bottle caps.
Adverse effects of Non-recyclable resources
Non-biodegradable materials have a lot of adverse effects on the environment. Some of these effects have been discussed below.
1: Ground Water Contamination
Long-term exposure to petroleum-based plastics emits toxic pollutants. In producing water bottles and hard plastics, a chemical called Biphenyl A, low doses of this pollutant have been detected in the groundwater. And consumption of this polluted water causes cancer, insomnia, heart disease and deficiency of Vitamin D.
2. Out-gassing
When slow-degrading plastics endure high temperatures, they ultimately begin to melt and emit dangerous and harmful gases through a process known as out-gassing.
3. Harm to marine life
Polystyrene harms marine wildlife. When foam enters the ocean, it tends to break down into small parts, non-biodegradable pieces. Small fishes and birds ingest these pieces, thus endangering their lives.
These plastic and polystyrene packages float on the water through storm drains and gutters and wind up in the ocean. According to US Occupational and Health Administration, Plastic from waste runoff is the most significant source of marine detritus in the world.
4: Upsetting the food chain
Since plastic comes in different sizes, big and small, plastic affects even the tiniest organisms, such as plankton. After ingesting plastic, these organisms are poisoned, causing problems for the larger animals that depend on them for food. This creates a whole set of issues, along with each stage of the food chain.
5. Land Pollution
When plastic is dumped in landfills, it interacts with water and forms dangerous chemicals. When these chemicals seep underground, they pollute the water and degrade its quality. The wind carries these pieces of plastic from one place to another, thus increasing land litter.
Except for corrugated fiberboard and glass, the above materials contribute to environmental pollution.
How Packaging Increases Garbage
To obtain consumer products in our modern society, we depend on Packaging. Despite having various advantages, Packaging has many adverse effects as well. As the world’s population proliferates, there is an ever-increasing demand for plastic packs. Packaging one of its single, use foods wrapping has created a rubbish problem that now pollutes every corner of the world.
In Thai, a person said that back in the olden days’ people used to wrap their lunch in banana leaves. After its use, it was thrown away, and it did not cause any environmental problems because it decayed and mixed up with the soil.
But now, people have replaced the leaves with plastic wrappers, which has caused the beaches to have a fringed crust of plastic. Beyond our sight, this plastic clusters in the continent-scale garbage gyres in our oceans that get eaten by the plankton, fish, and most probably on our plates.
Conclusion:
In the above discussion, it is clear that packs made up of plastic and other non-recyclable materials do not decay and cannot be reused, hence causing them to congregate on the roads or in the dump yards. Their non-reusability makes it impossible for them to be dumped; thus, there is an increasing garbage rate.
We must switch towards a more eco-friendly alternative such as using paper bags and going for more recyclable options. Many stores and brands have banned plastic packaging and are opting for biodegradable materials.
Apart from this, if you want to know about 6 Crucial Components of Successful Packaging Design then please visit our Business category