Visitor numbers were noticeably down on previous years and the majority who came were already known to us
Some new contacts who came with specific briefs were made and we are now working with them to develop suitable solutions
It was no surprise that the main conversation topic was plastic and the environment
Below is a collection of facts, views, opinions resulting from those conversations:
1) Plastic (PET) used to make our packaging consists of minimum 60 % post-consumer waste (old bottles) and after use it can travel through the re-cycling process 7/8 times before it needs treatment to carry on further. It is not single use
2) Alternative transparent materials made from wood pulp & certified bio-degradable/compostable are under- going trials which so far, are presenting processing challenges for the type of work we do. These materials are around 5 x the cost of re-cycled PET with, as yet, no recovery systems in place. The bio-degradable/compostable credentials apply to very thin film below what we would normally convert. Some visitors were concerned that bio-gradable/compostable material would lead to an increase of littering as consumers may just discard and expect the elements to take care of it
3) Bio-Plastic made with 70% fossil-based resin and 30% re-newable sources (sugar cane) is also under investigation. Prices are higher due to smaller demand, which may change in time. It does reduce exposure to crude oil volatility but comes with no re-cycling disadvantages over PET and is not bio degradable. Concerns were raised about where does the extra land come from to grow more sugar cane and does it affect food production in those countries that grow those crops?
4) The view of most Packaging Industry professionals is that it will be impossible to entirely eliminate plastic packaging from our daily lives and as such are focussing on reducing their plastic consumption where possible. Consumers need more information on what can/can’t be re-cycled so that industry can effectively collect & process. Plastic should not be labelled “waste”, it is a valuable resource that must be captured. Government, Brand Owners and Retailers have a part in making this happen.
Get in touch with us for sustainable packaging solutions
At Staeger Clear Packaging, we design and produce custom plastic packaging solutions for retailers. We use British recycled plastic to produce eco-friendly and recyclable packaging solutions. Complete our enquiry form or call us at 024 76 581197.