All this stuff is relative.We have a huge population with massive demand for all sorts of things.Food and drink is almost 100% transport dependent.We, the consuming public want it yesterday, fresh and perfect.Bruised tomatoes, broken biscuits, sour milk and dented cans simply stay on the shelves and even get rejected by charity operations.So the logistics of packaging are such to ensure minimal damage to the produce. Maximise freshness without chemicals and nasties.Minimise weight and maximise strength for various distribution modes.It would be good if at least all the plastic packaging was uniform in it's recycling ability, but like cardboard and glass, there are different types for different purposes.But the reality is no-one is prepared to pay for the additional costs. No-one wants to go without and no-one wants to buy transit damaged goods.The plastic heat shrunk wrap that contains the plastic water bottles in bulk transit is extremely strong also protects from contamination and saves thousands of gallons of wasted water - also a precious commodity.This type of plastic uses a tiny amount of raw material to go a long way.Quite why it is not anymore recyclable than an orange juice container or a milk container ( which are often different types of plastic) is never explained.The weight saved from using plastics instead of other means which would also use raw resources, reduces the haulage costs and increases the payloads, so saves in fuel use per 1000 gallons of water. That's less diesel burned.There is some wasteful packaging but most is far more thought through than may appear.But it is odd that in some regions all plastics are accepted for recycling and in others only some and it is impossible to identify what is and is not recyclable in which way.But it's all very well suggesting bans, but what are the solutions? There are 60 million to food and water in the UK alone? And at what cost.Would people still pay 3 or 4 times the price for basics simply because the packaging is different?Certainly there were better ways in the past. Almost all milk was sold in glass bottles which were constantly reused, then remade. But the weight and freshness was always compromised.That was solved by electric milk floats, a national overnight rail and road operation and a doorstep delivery collection system. Sour milk and weather conditions were never quite solved and milk wastage is now at far lower levels.But the losers are the producers and again the consumers have made it pretty clear they won't pay a penny more.This is more to do with the plant and contracts that waste recycling combines have struck up to maximise profit and minimise effort. So what alternatives are there for packaging ?
Mark Kehoe ● 3015d