Recycling of packing for improvement of ecology

Even more often hostesses think of decrease in an ecological trace of the family – minimization of negative impact on the planet. The considerable number of waste from packing becomes the main stumbling block. Fortunately, its many types can be reused.

Paper, glass, metals and plastics belongs to the materials most often returned in productions. Collecting waste paper, a glassware and scrap metal has long-term history and active adherents in our country. The culture of treatment of secondary plastic for the present only arises.

However use of only one packing from plastic is accompanied by formation of waste - 40–50 kg on the person in a year. The what packing replacing habitual polyethylene, PET and other types of plastic is intended to reduce this indicator. The following materials are capable to reduce impact on ecology:

- cardboard and paper as are made from renewable resources and decay after use and also can be repeatedly processed;

- polyethylene from vegetable raw materials (in particular, a sugar cane) – on the physical and chemical properties is completely identical made from oil, but without emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere;

- again used polyethylene.

Separately It should be noted biodegradable plasticity – the compositions of polymers having special additives in the chemical composition. Packages from them, in popular belief, have to break up under the influence of oxygen, moisture and sunlight. However scientists note that a part of such packing material is ecologically unsafe as its destruction requires temperature above 50 °C reached only in the course of industrial composting. It is not extended in Russia yet. Besides, biodegradable plastic is not reused.

Scientists do not stop trying to create packing, absolutely safe for the nature: for example, in "Perspective Composite Materials and Technologies" laboratory of REU of G.V. Plekhanov successfully add to polymers straw, sawdust and even a peel from sunflower seeds. Also efforts of experts are aimed at finding ways of fast processing of the garbage which is already saved up on the planet by means of bacteria, larvae and caterpillars. However, about industrial scales of use of these technologies so far the speech does not go.

Many producers give to the consumer already today an opportunity to lower the ecological trace. On shelves of shops it is possible to find goods with the triangular symbol in the form of the Moebius band designating availability of secondary raw materials in structure. Usually its share does not exceed 20–30%, however in a line of packages for garbage of Paclan, one of the leading European brands of goods for a household, there is an Eco Line series for 70% consisting of repeatedly processed polyethylene. At the same time on reliability, elasticity and convenience such bags do not concede made of usual polyethylene. They are presented in three popular options (35, 60 and 120 liters), supplied with especially strong tape tie, are capable to sustain considerable weight thanks to an unusual cut and lack of a ground seam. In packages for garbage of Eco Line it is possible to sort safely separately glass and cans, without being afraid of a puncture.

The alternative way of increase in environmental friendliness gains popularity in Europe - it is precycling, refusal of packing at an initial stage. The whole retail networks suggesting to buyers to fill grain and dry products in reusable cotton sacks, and drinks open to pour in glass capacities. In Russia still only a few shops of the packaging-free format.

In a complex to lower an environmental damage from packing, it is worth minimizing plastic use, whenever possible to choose paper products, to give preference to reusable polyethylene.