How Does Design of a Plastic Bottle Affect its Recyclability?

How Does Design of a Plastic Bottle Affect its Recyclability?

Plastic is the material of choice for the majority, if not all businesses worldwide since it is inexpensive, durable, flexible, and multipurpose. However, the consequences of plastic pollution are numerous, ranging from the release of carbon dioxide emissions to waste found in waterways and oceans.

To ensure we can continue using plastic but still live in a more sustainable and greener world, it is imperative that we improve recyclability of the packaging to make it more economically viable for recyclers to continue making recycled products.

Effective plastic packaging is one which is devised to ensure minimum yield loss to improve its recyclability and reduce bye-products.

1. Color-Free Packaging

Packaging accounts for approximately 40% of all plastic used. More often than not, we end up with a lot of plastic packaging that is recyclable in theory but ends up in landfills or the ocean.

Coloured plastic bottles are one such example. The main reason producers do this is to differentiate their brand — they believe consumers will prefer it.

However, the pigments in the coloured bottles make recycling the plastic much more difficult (and often impossible).

Only about 10% of what is produced is recycled back into new products, and if we truly want to make things sustainable, we must ensure that they can be recycled more than once. 

2. All Label without Any Glue 

Instead of using pressure-sensitive labels which contaminate recycling streams, brands should use stretch labels or shrink sleeves. Aggressive glues are a particular problem for recyclers of PET and HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) packaging; solutions such as self-peeling labels are already available. Further, we must ensure that these labels do not bleed inks. To avoid unnecessary waste, the labels themselves must be easily separated and recycled.

3. One Polymer in Packaging Designs Healthy Policies Facilitating the Entire Recycling Process 

Simplifying packaging designs down to the usage of one polymer can grease some very important wheels in the massive packaging industry. 

For instance, globally known international retailer, Marks and Spencer has greenlit their latest sustainability plan, called the Plan A 2025, which lays emphasis on the “One Polymer Road Map” as they aim to ensure that 100% of their packaging is widely recycled. 

4. Brands Need to Work in Cohesion with Recyclers

It is high time that brands and recyclers across the country work collaboratively to pave the way for smart and unique packaging which can help ensure a more sustainable and better future for everyone. 

In addition to helping reduce our reliance on unsustainable resources and saving energy, recycling is an energy efficient way to create products from recycled materials rather than from raw materials. When brands and recyclers work together, they can ultimately ensure a positive impact on the environment. 

Our Role 

To effectively curb plastic waste, Go Rewise has been leading from the front with our secondary plastic recycling initiatives. Our offerings include top-notch rPET chips, rPET flakes, recycled polyester and more that have been crafted with the help of sophisticated technology and rigorous procedures. These offerings come with global certifications and can be used for superior-quality packaging which can ensure a more sustainable future!