Plastics in Packaging

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Plastics in Packaging

Scott H. Boyle
Brian DAmico
Janine Horn
Mark Przybylski
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What Will be Discussed

• Definition of a plastic.
• Overview of the packaging industry.
• Why plastics are used in packaging.
• A detailed look at the different types of
  plastics used in packaging.
• How plastics compare to alternative materials.
• Environmental Impacts

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What is a Plastic?

• A plastic is defined as an organic material that
  has the ability to flow into a desired shape when
  heat and pressure are applied and to retain that
  shape when they are withdrawn.
• Composed primarily of a binder with-
• Plasticizers
• Fillers
• Pigments
• Other additives

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Industry Overview

• World sales of primary packaging materials
  estimated to be 434 billion in 2001.
• Up 12.5 from 385 billion in 1997.
• World sales of finished packaging materials is
  estimated to be 800 billion.
• Four main categories of raw packaging materials
• Paper and Board
• Glass
• Metal
• Plastic
• Over the past few years, plastic has become
  increasingly popular.

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Why Plastics?

• A wide variety of different qualities-
• Rigid vs. Flexible
• Clear vs. Opaque
• Lightweight
• Strong
• Cost

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Which Plastics are Used?

• Six resins account for almost 97 percent of all
  plastic used in packaging.
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 9
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE) 29
• Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) 32
• Poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) 5
• Poly-propylene (PP) 11
• Polystyrene (PS) 11

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Polypropylene

• Physical Properties
• Durable
• High elongation
• 300
• High Tensile Strength
• 4500 psi
• High Yield Strength
• 4000 psi
• High Melting point
• Low Density
• Lowest density of all plastics used in packaging

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Why Polypropylene?

• Practicality
• Inexpensive
• Chemically resistant
• Ideal for holding hot liquids
• Stretchy vs. rigid
• Many everyday uses
• Ketchup bottles
• Peanut butter jars

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Polyvinyl Chloride

• Need Title
• Chemically non-reactive
• Flexible vs. Rigid
• Self Extinguishing
• Plasticized vs. Unplasticized
• Plasticized is more flexible

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Why PVC

• Versatile
• Can be machined with standard metal working tools
• Self Extinguishing
• Used to house electrical wiring
• Many forms
• Sheet
• Tubing
• Piping

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Polyvinylidene Dichloride

• Discovered in 1933
• Accidental Discovery
• Original use was to stop corrosion on airplanes
• After a green color and a pungent smell had been
  removed it was used for food storage.
• Most common form of PVDC is Saran Wrap

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Why PVDC

• PVDC is a very effective food preservation
  method.
• Co-polymerization used in synthesis creates a
  very tight molecular chain
• Provides good barrier against air and moisture.
• Chemically non-reactive
• Ensures that food wont taste like plastic

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Plastic vs. The AlternativesStress Strengths
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Plastic vs. The Alternatives

• Incredibly lightweight
• 2 lbs of plastic can deliver 1000 oz. of liquid.
  To carry the same amount it would take
• 3 lbs of aluminum
• 8 lbs of steel
• 27 lbs of glass
• Compared to glass, plastic drink bottles allow a
  distribution truck to carry up to 63 more drink
  and 83 less packaging.
• Compared to paper, 7 trucks are needed to deliver
  the same quantity of paper bags contained in one
  truckload of plastic bags.

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Plastic vs. The Alternatives

• Cost
• As of mid-2000, PET was selling for app. .62/lb.
• Around the same time, aluminum alloy was selling
  for app. 1.28/lb.
• Plastic reduces distribution costs-
• Decrease in necessary truckloads
• Fuel savings
• Reduces lost inventory costs.

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Plastic vs. The Alternatives

• Environment Impact
• Plastics are recycled less frequently than glass
  and aluminum.
• Plastics are not biodegradable.

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Plastic vs. The Alternatives

• Environmental Impact
• Plastic also has a positive impact on the
  environment. Consider the following fact
• When comparing the manufacturing processes of
  polystyrene and paper cups, it was found the the
  paper cups use
• 15 times more chemicals.
• More than 6 times more steam.
• 13 times more electricity.
• 30 more cooling water.
• 170 times more process water.
• The lightweight nature of plastics results in
  fewer truckloads and less fuel usage.

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Recycle (cont.)

• Recycling process
• Collection
• Sorting
• Reclamation

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Recycle (cont.)

• Benefits
• Less landfill waste
• Environmentally friendly

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Recycle

• Statistics
• gt80 of all US households have access to plastic
  collection and recycling programs
• In 1998 plastic bottle packaging amassed 1.45
  billion pounds by volume
• Commonly recycled plastics
• Plastic Grocery Bags
• Plastic Milk Jugs and Detergent Bottles
• Plastic Beverage Containers

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Reuse (cont.)

• Good Examples
• Large reusable containers
• Small packages of concentrated product are bought
  and diluted to large container
• Reduces product packaging cost, landfill space
• Reusable Plastic Shipping Containers (RPSCs)
• Replaces single use containers
• Reduces shipping/receiving costs, landfill space

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Reusing and Recycling Plastic Packaging

• Reuse
• Statistics
• Commonly reused plastic packaging
• Benefits
• Good Examples
• Recycle
• Statistics
• Commonly recycled plastic packaging
• Recycling Process
• Benefits

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Reuse

• Statistic
• A 1997 survey found 80 of Americans reuse
  plastic products and packaging
• Common Reusable Packaging
• Plastic Grocery Bags
• Plastic Milk Jugs and Detergent Bottles
• Plastic Beverage Containers

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Reuse (cont.)

• Benefits
• Good Properties
• Long lasting
• Durable
• Chemically inert
• Delays filling of landfills
• Lowers cost of garbage disposal

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In Summary

• Plastics
• Lighter ...
• Cheaper ...
• More Durable

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Questions???
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