The world produces an average of 460 million metric tons of plastic each year, two-thirds of which is used for a short period before being thrown away.
It’s no secret that landfills are harmful to the environment. But if that much waste is produced yearly, it has to go somewhere. Unfortunately, in addition to ending up in landfills, 30 metric tons of plastic waste end up in oceans and another 109 metric tons in waterways. And as the amount of waste being generated increases, the health of our planet declines.
Cultural movements and initiatives have started promoting more eco-friendly choices, like paper straws and compostable cutlery, to reduce environmental harm. However, it’s going to take more than these small-scale changes to fix the packaging waste problem.
The Growing Need for Sustainable Packaging
According to National Geographic, 40% of the plastic produced each year is single-use plastic. To make matters worse, most of that plastic isn’t being recycled. Packaging and containers, many of which are petroleum-based plastics, which can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, account for nearly 25% of municipal solid waste in the United States.
These statistics are alarming, and as consumption grows, consumers and regulators are demanding solutions that enable the reuse of materials. This presents an exciting opportunity to create sustainable alternatives that offer the benefits of virgin PET while preventing plastic waste from ending up in landfills or the ocean.
Recycling post-consumer plastics has many positive impacts on the environment. For starters, it doesn’t require mass amounts of oil to produce packaging, which reduces fossil fuel consumption. It also reduces the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills and the ocean. And when you consider the fact that recycled plastics keep toxic pollution out of the environment, the need for innovative recycling solutions becomes even more compelling.
The Impact of End-Users on Sustainability
With growing environmental awareness worldwide, there is an increased demand for eco-friendly packaging. A 2020 Gartner study found that 37% of U.S. consumers prioritize sustainability when making buying decisions, and 30% are willing to pay more for products that make sustainability claims.
While sustainable packaging gets a bad rap for being more expensive, modern advancements are making it more cost-effective. As a result, eco-friendly solutions are quickly becoming a critical part of business success. Companies that embrace sustainable packaging often gain a competitive edge. In fact, a recent analysis of over 10 million transactions at U.S. grocery stores found that products promoting sustainability had 6.4% higher revenue than other products.
At Verdeco, we know that finding high-quality, sustainable packaging is easier said than done. That’s why we use a rigorous research and development process to create rPET solutions that meet and exceed our customers’ packaging standards. We know our customers want to implement sustainable practices, but we also understand that they are wary of using poor-quality packaging that damages their reputation with end-users. With this in mind, we work alongside them to find solutions that add value to their business and allow them to meet the rising demand for sustainable packaging.
The Future of Sustainable Packaging With Verdeco
At Verdeco, we empower companies to implement sustainable practices, specifically through rPET packaging solutions. With our customizable rPET pellets, companies can elevate their commitment to sustainability while maintaining their quality standards.
Our heet™ and kleer™ solutions are just two examples of sustainable solutions designed for specific packaging purposes. Our heet process creates 100% rPET pellets for products requiring hot-fill. Our kleer rPET offers transparency with a focus on reducing visible haze, making it the ideal solution for bottles, containers, trays, and other applications where clarity is vital. Both of these solutions, among our other product offerings, can be customized to achieve various colors, IV levels, and characteristics based on each customer's specific needs.
Transitioning to sustainable packaging is a big undertaking that doesn’t happen overnight. We are committed to being the long-term partner our U.S. customers can trust for sustainable rPET packaging solutions, helping them smoothly transition to a new packaging process that contributes to a more sustainable future.
Start your rPET project with us today.
