Sustainability and Circularity Assignment Sample
Introduction
Successful food businesses, such as fast food restaurants, are dependent on packaging , which includes items such as speedy foods, ready meals, on-the-go beverages and snacks, and other item Packaging is one of the most important components of successful food businesses, such as quick serve restaurants. There are presently 7.7 billion people on the planet, with a predicted increase to 9.7 billion by 2050 , with the global food supply required likely to increase by 50%, according to current estimates (Borg,,2020).
Background
In my persona day to day life experience I found that in tandem with the increase in the world’s population, there is an increase in the need for food production, which in turn increases the demand for food packaging materials, resulting in a positive feedback cycle. As a result, food packaging materials are becoming more and more widespread in the food manufacturing business. I found that The use of packaging during the food preparation process keeps external forces such as physical, chemical, and biological elements away from the meals that are being prepared. In order to protect food from the harmful effects of these external influences, it is critical that it is properly packaged.
Intervention
I found that According to historical records, people have been using polymers for a wide range of applications since the beginning of time, and this practise has continued to the present day. The ability of Plastisol to easily integrate itself into our daily lives has resulted in it becoming the most adaptable polymer material currently available on the market as a result of this ability. Since the early seventeenth century, when the term “plastic” was used to describe material that could be molded or was well suited for molding, the term “plastic” (also known as “polymer”) has been in common usage to describe materials that can be moulded or are well suited for mounding.
In addition to their numerous applications and low cost, these materials have a number of distinguishing characteristics that have made them useful in a variety of applications . I found that Their widespread use in the field of food packaging can be attributed to a variety of factors, including their distinctive properties, high utility, and low cost. According to a recent study, when it comes to strength-to-weight ratio, plastics outperform all other materials in the vast majority of situations (SWR). This method is advantageous because it requires the least amount of material in the container’s construction. When using this method, packing material can account for up to 3 percent of the total weight of the packaged product when using a container of this type (Zanghelini,2018).
Baseline for intervention
Only in the 1970s was an increase in the volume of plastic rubbish discovered, which was related to an increase in the use of plastic products, which in turn resulted in a deterioration of the situation.
I found that The fast-food business, in particular, is well-known for delivering food to consumers on time and in good condition. On our planet, there is an increasing number of fast-food outlets, which has resulted in an increase in the amount of rubbish generated by this industry as well. As is customary in the industry, the vast majority of rubbish generated was disposed of in landfills, and the vast majority of solid waste generated was primarily made of packaging debris , according to the EPA’s estimates (Hoge,2020).
(Source: Dam,2022)
I found that As soon as plastic packaging materials are no longer required for their intended use , they are discarded, resulting in the generation of large amounts of post-consumer waste. This rubbish, in addition to ending up in landfills and the environment, has the potential to end up in recycling facilities, incinerating facilities, and landfills, among other places. In the absence of any known cause, I found that it is possible that these discarded plastics will persist in landfills and the environment for extremely long periods of time. I found that The length of time they can exist depends on a variety of elements, including their genetic makeup, the habitat in which they are housed, and the conditions surrounding the disposal of their bodies, among other considerations. After entering the environment, plastics have the potential to produce a variety of difficulties for the ecosystem, including the contamination of water supplies (Adell,2020).
Measure of impacts over time
I found that As well as blocking sewers and serving as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and disease-carrying bugs, structural roots have the potential to choking and entangling animals, releasing hazardous substances into the environment, and entering the human food chain, to name a few of the many negative effects they can have (Asmuni,2021).
I found that Taking a sustainable development approach was critical to ensuring that resources available at the time of writing were preserved and that future generations would be able to reap the same advantages and take advantage of the same opportunities that exist today. Consequently, it is necessary to reduce garbage volumes, promote recycling as a financially feasible choice, and design incentives that will incentivize both consumers and businesses to recycle products when they reach the end of their useful lives (Chitaka, 2021) . I found that Extensive use of existing food plastic packaging solutions, which are predicated primarily on linear economies, will result in depletion of non-renewable resources, emission of greenhouse gases during manufacturing and transportation, as well as production of solid waste, according to the World Resources Institute. In the food sector, single-use plastic packaging is used in huge numbers and is particularly common across the industry’s supply chain, making it one of the most distinguishing aspects. To prevent future environmental damage, it is vital to complete the development and implementation of environmentally friendly packaging solutions, in addition to the proper handling of packaging waste, at the earliest feasible opportunity(Wozniack,2019).
Results and outcomes of intervention
I found that a huge number of research have been carried out in order to obtain a better knowledge of the concerns that can occur as a result of the widespread use of plastics in everyday life, and it is crucial to emphasise that the results of these studies have been published. The current research project’s goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of key aspects of food packaging waste management (Liu,2021). It will begin with the production of plastics and progress through their use and disposal, with a particular emphasis on the concepts of reduce, reuse, and recycle in order to achieve a circular economy. According to predictions provided by the United Nations Environment Programme, Africa is predicted to generate a rising amount of plastic food packaging garbage in the future, and this document provides an update on the current situation in the management of plastic trash in the continent (Dam,2022).
In my observation in order to reduce the amount of material used to package a product, as well as its weight, the packaging industry requires materials that are both lightweight and durable. This allows companies to save money on shipping expenses by reducing the amount of material used to package a product, as well as the weight of the product. Additionally, it contributes to a reduction in the quantity of waste packaging generated by the product throughout the course of its useful life, which is beneficial. Throughout history, plastics have demonstrated remarkable efficiency in this area, and they have proven to be unquestionably dependable in this regard over an extended period of time. In the case of beverage packaging on aeroplanes, switching from glass bottles to plastic containers resulted in a savings of more than USD 1 million in fuel expenses, according to Marsh , due to the lighter weight of the plastic containers.
We must remember that fossil fuels are the primary raw material for the production of plastics, with up to 8% of global oil being channelled towards their production in 2009 , with 50% of the oil being used as feedstock and the remaining 50% being used as a fuel throughout the conversion process (Roy,2021).
Critical evaluation
Plastic manufacturing accounted for 10% of global oil output at the time of this writing, ten years after the publication of the initial report, with 40% of that amount devoted to the production of single-use plastics. According to annual growth rates in plastics consumption , global plastics consumption is expected to reach more than 500 million tonnes by 2050, with single-use goods accounting for the vast majority of total worldwide plastics consumption by that time. Thermal plastic polymers are the most common type of polymer found in the packaging industry, accounting for 84 percent of the total market share for plastics (Rana,2021).
In my observation Petroleum-based polymers have experienced rapid growth in the packaging industry in recent years, owing to a variety of factors, including their low weights, excellent mechanical properties, and barrier properties, among other characteristics. Petroleum-based polymers are used in a variety of applications, including food packaging. In the packaging industry, materials such as petroleum-based polymers, such as polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS), as well as polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene (PE), as well as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), are used (PET) (Nair,2019). It is common practise to dump them in landfills, where they can sit for hundreds of years before decomposing. The fact that they are nonbiodegradable means that they contribute to a substantial amount of environmental contamination (Bali,2021).
In my observation In order to restrict the quantity of waste that ends up in landfills, the packaging industry has begun to incorporate recyclable polymers into its designs in order to lessen the amount of garbage that ends up there. Clearly, this is a huge step forward in the correct direction. To ensure that the levels of pollutants in recycled plastic are adequate for the final product’s intended use, recycling businesses must conduct tests on recycled plastic to determine how much pollution is present in the material. In terms of plastic rubbish, there are many distinct categories, and there are many different types of plastic debris that must be separated and categorised according to their composition. In my observation At this point in the process, achieving success has proven to be a difficult, time-consuming, and expensive undertaking. As a result, if this is the case, it is probable that the plastic wastes will need to be cleaned thoroughly in order to remove the numerous polluted residues from the objects that they included. Some plastic additives (such as the well-known phthalates) have also been shown to be persistent in recycled plastic and to continue to pose a health risk indefinitely. In my observation This is due to their low molecular weight, which allows them to easily migrate from plastics into packaged foods and drinking water before becoming a significant environmental problem (Godfrey,2019).
Recommendations from my personal experience
In my observation When it comes to acquiring packaging materials, customers continue to favour plastic packaging materials over other materials such as paper for the majority of the time. In fact, these types of plastics account for the great majority of plastics produced across the world, and they are utilised in a wide range of industries such as electronic devices and automobiles as well as agricultural products, toys, and textiles, to mention a few examples. They have gained considerable popularity in the packaging industry, notably in the food industry, where packaging is mostly used for single-use items, such as single-serve items, and has grown in popularity over time. Their short functional lives, which is frequently less than a year, causes them to decay quickly and to be disposed of in the environment once they have completed the process of decomposition. In my opinion, the use of plastics continues to raise the possibility that they will have a harmful influence on both animal and human health with each passing year, despite the fact that they are causing environmental damage and entering the food chain. I found that there have been some indicators that a little amount of plastic has made its way into the food supply. This is concerning. The damage wrought by plastics on land and water resources has prompted some to speculate that some of the plastics employed in this process may have found their way into the food chain as a result of the contamination of food supplies by these substances.
Conclusion
I concluded this, As a result of the increased demand for these types of items, packaging materials that are cost-effective, simple to use, and environmentally friendly are becoming increasingly popular. When looking for environmentally responsible packaging options, the amount of material used, the amount of time it is reused, and the amount of material that is recycled are all key concerns. In order to mitigate climate change, it is critical to maintain regulatory control while also encouraging innovation in corporations, academic institutions to conduct research, and citizens themselves to take action to reduce emissions. A number of factors contribute to this importance of maintaining regulatory control while simultaneously promoting innovation. In the event that a forward-thinking working society contributes to the development of a plastics circular economy through the deployment of appropriate waste management systems, it is possible to mitigate the pollution problem produced by the usage of plastic materials to some extent.
References
Adell, R., 2020. Banning Plastic Straw by Straw: Why California needs a more harmonized approach to plastics management. IIIEE Master Thesis.
Asmuni, S., Yusoff, S. and Mohd Jafri, N.L.A., 2021. Predictors of intention to use reusable drinking straw: A case study in Selangor. Journal of Emerging Economies & Islamic Research, 9(2), pp.88-101.
Borg, K., Curtis, J. and Lindsay, J., 2020. Social norms and plastic avoidance: Testing the theory of normative social behaviour on an environmental behaviour. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 19(6), pp.594-607.
Chitaka, T.Y., 2021. Environmentalism or greenwashing? Responses of South African value chain actors to plastic straw marine pollution. South African Journal of Science, 117(7-8), pp.1-5.
Dam, H.F.R., 2020. Grasping at Plastic Straws and Working with Frames: Perspectives and Prospects of Advocacy NPOs and NGOs Promoting Zero Waste and Plastic Reduction Initiatives in Japan (Master’s thesis).
Godfrey, L., 2019. Waste plastic, the challenge facing developing countries—ban it, change it, collect it?. Recycling, 4(1), p.3.
Hoge, S. and Brandão, M., 2020. Straw wars–a consequential saga: the life cycle climate change consequences of replacing plastic with paper. In Handbook of the Circular Economy. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Liu, C., Nguyen, T.T. and Ishimura, Y., 2021. Current situation and key challenges on the use of single-use plastic in Hanoi. Waste Management, 121, pp.422-431.
Moran, M.E., 2018. An Environmental and Cost Comparison Between Polypropylene Plastic Drinking Straws and a” Greener” Alternative: An Oberlin Case Study.
Nair, P.S. and Kraus, J.H., 2019. Food industry trends towards sustainability & the circular economy & the mixed effect of laws. Scitech Lawyer, 15(4), pp.10-25.
Rana, K., 2020. Plasticless: a comparative life-cycle, socio-economic, and policy analysis of alternatives to plastic straws (Doctoral dissertation, Michigan Technological University).
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Wozniacka, G.O.S.I.A., 2019. Plastic to-go containers are bad, but are the alternatives any better?. Civil Eats.
Zanghelini, G.M., Cherubini, E., Dias, R., Kabe, Y.H.O. and Delgado, J.J.S., 2020. Comparative life cycle assessment of drinking straws in Brazil. Journal of Cleaner Production, 276, p.123070.
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