Relationship between packaging and environment (middle)

In recent years, people have dubbed "white pollution" a disposable foaming lunch box and plastic packaging waste. According to statistics, China consumes about 6 billion fast food boxes each year and 5 billion instant noodle bowls.
According to the data, the degradation cycle of ordinary plastics in nature is about 200 years. These plastics that cannot be degraded in a short period of time include agricultural film and convenient bags. Once mixed into the fields, it will affect the growth of crops. If they are eaten by livestock, light ones will suffer from indigestion and those who are severe will die. If it is burned, it will release harmful gases and pollute the air. If scattered in cities or tourist areas, it will not only affect the landscape but also block waterways. If it floats in lakes and rivers, it will damage water quality and affect the growth of aquatic organisms. According to statistics, if 4 kg of waste plastics are left on each acre of land, corn can be used to reduce production by 20%, wheat by 14%, and vegetables by 30%.
In addition to plastic packaging, other types of packaging also pose problems that pollute the environment and endanger people's survival. According to reports, at a construction site in Dalian, Liaoning, a worker was cutting a bucket of bitumen with a welding torch and an accidental explosion of the iron drum caused the death of the worker. For a long time, China's asphalt has been used in iron drums. Not only does it cause inconvenience to the user, but it also makes the waste iron bucket covered with asphalt become the culprit of environmental pollution. In addition, book samples and cartons with plastic laminates have caused trouble for paper mills to recycle. There are also broken glass bottles thrown on the road, waste water discharged from the paper mills flowing to the river, and so on, which all have a negative impact on the living environment of human beings.
2. Develop packaging and protect the ecological environment
Packaging enables products to reach the consumer safely. The credit for packaging is obvious. The problem is not in the packaging, the key is to correctly handle the relationship between packaging and the environment. The development of packaging cannot be done at the expense of the environment and the destruction of ecology. To create a clean, fresh environment for humanity, we must return to nature. The resources of the earth are limited, and development of packaging is harmless to the environment, that is, the development of packaging that can be reused or reused. The design of packaging products must comply with the requirements of environmental protection throughout the entire process of development, production, use, and recycling of raw materials and waste disposal. This is a systematic project and it is necessary to study and solve this problem from the aspects of policies and regulations, science and technology.
3. Overpackaging wastes resources
In recent years, sales packaging has become more and more luxurious. Excessive packaging is changing the original meaning of packaging. On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, at the front of a moon cake counter in a large shopping mall in Shenyang City, eight silver moon cakes packed in fine wooden boxes were sold at a price of 2,988 yuan. The value of commodity packaging has long exceeded the value of the commodity itself. The consequences of overpackaging have not only increased the burden on consumers, but also caused a waste of resources and environmental pollution. Moderate packaging will allow the limited resources of the earth to be used rationally.
The increasing pollution of packaging waste to the environment has aroused the attention of governments and the society as a whole. Many countries in the world have placed excessive restrictions on packaging, advocating "moderate" packaging, and efforts to reduce packaging as an important measure. For example, in 1990, the Connecticut State of the United States proposed a bill requiring vigorous promotion of "moderate packaging" in the packaging of goods. Japan, which has always attached importance to packaging, is also strongly advocating “moderate packaging” to save raw and auxiliary materials, reduce waste, and limit disposable packaging. For example, Matsushita Electric Co., Ltd. requested that the amount of EPS buffer material be reduced by 30% within two years. These measures have received very good results.
Third, develop green packaging
1. Social progress and green packaging
Green packaging is a new concept that has emerged with the progress of society. It is a manifestation of human civilization. Green packaging refers to packaging that is harmless to the ecological environment and human health, can be reused and regenerated, and is consistent with sustainable development. It is also called ecological packaging.
The 21st century is the era of the Green Revolution. Green packaging will become the mainstream of the world. Green packaging has just begun in China. Experts pointed out that the development of green packaging should start from the source. That is, when designing and packaging products, it is necessary to consider whether the package can save resources and whether it can be recycled and recycled. It enables designers to minimize the volume, weight, and quantity of packaging while meeting product flow and aesthetics.
In the development of new materials, China has also made considerable progress. Degradable plastics, pulp molding materials, plant fibers, etc. have been promoted in the packaging field.
Degradable plastics developed in China at this stage are generally limited to the addition of starch, photosensitizers, and other substances to plastics. Strictly speaking, this can't be considered a truly degradable plastic, it can only be called a plastic mixture. Because such plastics do not disappear after decomposition, they will remain in the soil and form secondary pollution. Experts pointed out that promotion of using such products must be careful.
2. The legislative protection of the environment
At present, many countries in the world regard packaging legislation as an important means to coordinate the relationship between packaging and the environment. In the 1990s, the German government passed a packaging regulation aimed at reducing the environmental impact of packaging. It is stipulated that industrial enterprises and the business community must recycle and recycle used packaging, and encourage specialized recycling companies to recycle, classify and recycle packaging waste. (To be continued)