How to recycle plastic bags in the UK?
Regular plastic is not biodegradable, therefore they end up in landfills and oceans, polluting the waters and endangering our planet. Recycling plastic bags decreases the amount of pollution of the environment.
The plastic industry has been at the receiving end of a great deal of bad press and public unrest recently. The controversy surrounding single-use plastic bags is particularly fierce.
What the speculation and discussions sometimes fail to take into account is the long-standing efforts of the industry to manage its environmental impact. This includes investing into ways of recycling and reusing plastic.
One of the biggest myths that abounds is that the recycling potential of plastic packaging is severely limited. You may also be unaware of how easy it is to buy biodegradable plastic bags. It’s even possible to source compostable plastic bags!
Eco Friendly Plastic Wrap & Bags
The plastic used for packaging purposes comes in a vast array of sizes, densities, and formulas. The basic components used in its manufacture are crucial. Some provide more environmental credibility than others and options for “eco” plastics are growing yearly.
A substantial amount of packaging uses fossil-based plastics, a material constructed from petro-chemicals. Others are manufactured using bioplastics, which are constructed from plant-based materials including starch and cellulose.
It would be wrong to jump to any conclusions about which of these has the highest environmental impact. Manufacturing techniques and disposal conditions all play a role in managing carbon footprint!
It can be the credentials and relative environmental stance of the supplier that are most significant.
Virgin Or Re-granulated Plastic?
The relative ability of plastic bags to be broken down into granules – and then reused – is also important.
Some plastics lend themselves to the re-granulation process better than others.
This can then provide packaging specifiers with recycled materials that may not be totally flawless in appearance but perform perfectly on all other criteria.
Do You Want To Be Part Of The Solution?
Getting behind the movement to send more plastic for recycling is crucial.
For some companies, the choice to buy recycled plastic bags (or bags made from biodegradable plastic) generally hinges on cost, not lack of availability.
Buying plastic bags in bulk solely on price, without regard for component quality or antecedence, is commonplace.
Melrose Packaging hopes that information and assurances can shift perceptions. To find ways to improve your company’s environmental stance with regard to packaging plastics – without compromising on cost or quality – contact us today.
