Monday, January 16, 2017

Sustainability & Thermoform Plastics: 4 Facts You Need To Know

By Lenna Stockwell


Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Those three words have significant meaning in our world as we try to lessen the amount of waste on our planet. Thermoform plastics are some of the most widely used materials on our planet, and while many people worry about the excess of plastic, there are many aspects of thermoformed plastics that make them quite sustainable.

1. Recycling Is Easy With Thermoform Plastic

While some thermoformed plastics are easier to recycle than others, just about every type of thermoform plastic can be recycled and reused. For instance, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), are two common types of thermoplastic used for water bottles, custom food packaging and more. Almost all American curbside recycling programs accept these plastics.

For those who have a need for custom food packaging or any other form of packages, you might want to consider these two materials as a source. After all, as these can simply be placed into a residential recycling bin, consumers will find it very easy to recycle any product or package made from PET or HDPE.

2. Reduce Waste With Thermoform Plastics

Think back in the past at the sizes of packaging. Often, a package had to be quite large in order to provide adequate protection for a product. However, with careful design, a thermoform plastic piece of packaging can fit perfectly around a package. When you reduce the size of a package, this also reduces the amount of packaging materials that must be used. Likewise, thermoplastics can be used to protect a product from damage and tampering, which is yet another plus.

3. Consider The Weight Factor

Shipping costs are exorbitant, and every time we ship something via truck, train, ship or airplane, precious fossil fuels are used and more pollution is created. Using thermoform plastic can help reduce the use of these fossil fuels and lessen pollution simply because these materials are very lightweight. For instance, if your packaging is lightweight, you can fit more products onto a truck before you reach its weight limit. This means fewer trips are needed to move a larger number of products. This also saves money as you won't have to pay for as much shipping as you would if you used heavier packaging.

4. Eco-Friendly Packaging Is On The Rise

You don't just have to look at synthetic forms of thermoform plastic when searching for choices for your custom food packaging or retail packages. There are starch-based forms of thermoplastic that contain materials that are completely renewable. There are also plastics available that are formed out of recycled materials. When you use recycled plastic, you help the environment because new plastics do not have to be created to make your packaging.




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