“Responsible for causing environmental pollution is not the packaging, but the way we treat it.”
The advent of plastic and nylon has completely changed the face of the consumer and retail industry. Today, packaging made from plastic and nylon has been used to package almost all kinds of products that are consumed daily: food, drinking water, cleaning chemicals, medical products, etc.
However, in the face of serious plastic pollution, many opinions suggest that it is necessary to limit the use of plastic packaging, even boycott, calling for the use of biodegradable alternatives.
Plastic waste cannot “swim” into the sea if it is disposed of in the right place.
Plastic packaging: Good or bad?
Undeniably, the packaging industry has contributed to the increase in solid waste from consumption. However, plastic packaging actually brings many benefits to human activities.
According to a report by the European Organization for Packaging and Environment (EUROPEN), besides protecting goods, distinguishing brands, providing information and creating convenience for consumers, packaging also contributes part of the sustainable development goals.
Specifically, plastic packaging helps minimize waste due to rancidity and decomposition of food, food and beverage products. This is a great basis for ensuring food security and solving hunger and poverty (targets 1 and 2 of 17 Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations). Not only that, the decomposition of food can also become a source of serious environmental pollution.
Plastic packaging brings many benefits to our lives
Besides, with compactness, lightness and water-, gas-, and anti-bacterial resistance, plastic packaging makes the transportation of goods more convenient, contributing to reducing emissions from traffic. transportation and energy saving.
Packaging also makes it difficult for chemical products to leak, causing harm to the environment, especially detergents, soaps or pesticides and pesticides.
Besides printing the brand, product name and necessary information, now the packaging is also the place where the manufacturer expresses his message. Many businesses have printed on the packaging appeals and instructions for recycling, helping to change consumers’ awareness and behavior.
The problem of using packaging
Plastic waste – mostly from packaging waste – is causing many serious consequences for the environment. According to research by the World Economic Forum (WEF), by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. In addition, burying waste from packaging also creates opportunities for residual chemicals to seep into the ground, contaminating soil and water sources.
In some places, plastic waste and other hard-to-treat solid waste will be burned. If they are too difficult to handle, they will burn them out of sight, but in fact they do not disappear anywhere, but transform into harmful emissions, which are dangerous to human health.
Plastic waste cannot be washed into rivers, lakes and seas by itself without indiscriminate discharge of humans
However, packaging made from plastic is not harmful if handled properly. Plastic waste cannot be washed into rivers, lakes and seas by itself without indiscriminate discharge of humans. Residual residues in the plastic shell also cannot pollute the soil if the packaging is pre-treated before being discharged.
According to material experts, in addition to the above benefits, plastic packaging also possesses great recycling potential. However, according to the WEF, the proportion of plastic packaging being recycled worldwide is only about 14% – a number that is too small compared to the potential of plastic materials.
In Vietnam, the majority of plastic and plastic packaging is not disposed of or collected properly. Bottles, cans, confectionery … can be seen everywhere, from the middle of the inner city streets to the fields, from the mountains to the sea, even in the container and at the most polite. mix types of waste, both organic and inorganic, both recyclable and non-recyclable. Thus, not only harming the environment, but we are also wasting waste resources, while natural resources are gradually being depleted.
Can the green country of Vietnam be clean and beautiful forever? It depends on our actions! Every citizen should change their behavior and habit of using plastic bags, know how to use them properly today and right now for a green Vietnam, for a green earth.