Flexible packaging market accounting for 18% of the US into second Bulk

Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) said that as the second largest packaging, flexible packaging solutions accounted for 18% of the $ 145 billion worth of US packaging market. Lightweight flexible packaging include films and laminates, which is conducive to higher capacity transportation products, reduce the production of the raw materials required. For each brand, saving energy costs, reduce material cost is a revolutionary movement.

Flexible production rationality

In the production process, energy use 50% less flexible than rigid bottles, using 60% less plastic than rigid bottles.

In the production, the material needs of less flexible, CO2 produces less during transport, landfill takes up less space. In the production / consumption cycle of the manufacturing side, the flexible packaging is more reasonable, because it produces a negative impact than the corresponding rigid plastic bottles on the environment less. According to the FPA, it said flexible stand-up pouch packaging products Bibi metal cover glass high 35 times, 21 times higher than aluminum cans bottles.

The Sustainable Packaging is a big argument flexible packaging industry, also has yet to fully environmentally responsible development. For all consumers, recycled plastic that is the answer. CompleteRecycling.com noted that the use of recycled plastics consumption than production of new plastic containers or bottles to be at least 80%. But the recovery is only answer to environmentally conscious? It applies to flexible packaging it?

Know thyself, know yourself

In discussing these issues at the beginning, we could not help but look to the bag is not perfect.

Although the demand for bags fields are increasing, bags also increased innovation itself, but when the bag forming factors involved, the lack of adaptation of innovative problem is still very prominent. Regardless of this bag is used to hold gel washing soap, or loaded baked seasoning dried particles, liquids or cooking sauce, it's nearly the same parts.

According Flexible Packaging Association, in 2013, accounted for 58% of flexible packaging in retail and institutional food industry packaging, 12% in non-food retail packaging. Flexible packaging has a number of advantages, such as less waste, lower distribution costs, can be customized and strong.

If we pay more attention to the rigid components contained in bags, flexible packaging industry, what will happen? If the flexible packaging industry to resolve the structural problems, how will?

For now, there is no process in place formal flexible closed loop recycling system, especially for multi-barrier system materials, mosaic polyethylene (PE) layer of aluminum foil laminated body structure. Single package more easily recovered since it does not contain a central layer of aluminum foil. PE recycling process multilayer flexible packaging due to the inclusion of the step of separating each layer than conventional plastic recycling program needed more. You then need to analyze each layer to identify and recycling of plastic film are processed further to produce recycled resin. Due to a large number of flexible packaging for food packaging, food contamination became another obstacle recovered. For most flexible, since food contamination throughout the current recycling system, in fact, the proportion of packaging can be reused just small, small. Non-renewable polymer is fed into the anaerobic chamber to be burned for energy production plant emissions monitoring offer.

Forward-thinking group (such as Flexible Packaging Association) adopted a series of great initiatives, it is very concerned about sustainable packaging. FPA is working with some producers research on environmentally safe packaging. Sustainable plastics alliance, after Plastic Recyclers Association (APPR) and a flexible film recycling Group (FFRG), also strongly promote and carry out the relevant plastic film recycling public education and advocacy.

Flexible Packaging Recycling

President of the European Association of packaging and film (Pafa) BarryTuner once said, the British media distort the truth and "minimal impact on the environment of plastic bags," bags worth. In fact, the various countries and regions of plastic bags these things rhetoric, but also overly exaggerated.

Currently, the full recovery of aluminum components Enval and uses pyrolysis process plastic parts is the best solution currently being processed multilayer packaging waste, however, have not yet fully recovered solutions other plastic materials plastic parts.

By pyrolysis, char residue containing an inorganic material such as plastic formed contains 80% of liquid carbon and gaseous carbon 20% (due to lack of oxygen in the chamber, so it will not produce CO2 gas). The liquid fuel / energy demand, which carbon may be delivered to a different location. Ashes can be used as components of premix concrete and other products produced. The carbon can be used as fuel, companies often enter the mixed waste pyrolysis chamber to generate the best possible non-availability of fuel.

Bring this liquid carbon fuels into a more durable, energy efficient ways of high integrity also need to continue research.

Find more effective waste treatment process (especially in the pyrolysis) of flexible packaging and lower impact on the environment, it is a challenging task, but it is possible. With the innovative flexible packaging industry has made, such as the use of bio-based materials or waste-to-energy pyrolysis process, the cornerstone of the foundation for further development already in place.

                                               Source: China Daily