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Do you know the heroes and villains of the packaging industry? 

Although the ultimate goal should always be to reduce the amount of packaging we use; sometimes this is inevitable. It doesn't matter-some types of food cannot be delivered without packaging to ensure that they are safe and reliable.

But there are huge differences between different types of seemingly similar packaging. Some seemingly harmless packaging may be completely unrecyclable in home collections, while other very similar alternatives are much better for the environment. When there is a completely recyclable alternative that can do the same job, it seems even more frustrating to see non-recyclable plastic on our shelves.

With the COP26 held in Glasgow, people’s attention is focused on how the government should create a more sustainable society, including figuring out how to reduce single-use plastics and packaging.

Here, we expose the five most serious packaging violations and reveal more sustainable alternatives, so you know what to look out for next time you go to the supermarket.

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Like the nets you buy for citrus fruits, they cannot be recycled in your home collection.

If possible, absolutely avoid using these, because they are of little use-they can't even really protect food or extend its lifespan. Worst of all: if not handled properly, they can actually clog the recycling machine, and if they end up in the wild, they are harmful to wildlife. Try to buy citrus fruits in bulk or in cardboard boxes.

These nets are sometimes used to make mini cheeses, such as Cathedral City or Babybel.

If you want to be environmentally friendly, pure black plastic products are absolutely not acceptable. Until recently, you would have been accustomed to seeing this kind of plastic used in products such as beef minced or lamb chops. Historically, manufacturers have often used it for raw meat-probably because it hides any bloody juices, making it look more attractive.

Although it is technically recyclable, the infrared sorter at the British recycling facility will not pick up pure black plastic and will therefore be rejected. Mixed color packaging or gray and black are all fine. Experiments have been conducted to try to solve this problem.

In the past few years, many manufacturers and retailers have switched to gray-black or clear plastics as more recyclable alternatives. This is why you may notice meat products and ready-to-eat foods in gray or opaque colors. However, if you do see pure black plastic, please buy alternatives if possible.

When most people hear the word "polystyrene", they tend to think of polystyrene foam, which is usually used for take-out food trays or to pack large items into cardboard boxes. This cannot be recycled in the household collection and should be put in your trash can unless your local recycling center collects it.

But another form of polystyrene is also commonly used in food packaging; especially yogurt. It is a cheap material and very "easy to tear". Despite the lack of recyclability, manufacturers still want to use it.

When we investigated the recyclability of branded food packaging in October 2020, we found Muller’s corner banana yogurt chocolate chips (130 grams), Muller’s light banana custard yogurt (160 grams) and Cadbury’s milk chocolate desserts (85 grams). G) The jars are made of polystyrene. Mueller tells us that by 2025, it is working to make all its product packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable.

However, although polystyrene is a real villain, there are other options. We found several yogurt jars with similar appearance, and they are much more recyclable. The Onken Cherry Yogurt (450g) pot is made of polypropylene, which is widely recyclable.

Identify polystyrene by looking for the plastic resin code with the number 6 in the middle (three arrows form a triangle). More recyclable options PET has the number 1 or 2 in the triangle, while recyclable polypropylene has the number 5.

Learn more: different types of plastics and how to recycle them in the UK.

These usually appear on chocolate bars or other candies. When we sorted out dozens of packages for the October 2020 survey, we found that these wrappers were used for Cadbury Milk Bars (200 grams), KitKat four-finger (x4) packaging, M&Ms peanut bags (125 grams), Cadbury Twirl Bites Chocolate bags (109 grams) and Bitsa Wispa chocolate bags (110 grams).

Due to the mixture of plastic and foil, these wrapping papers cannot be recycled in household collections, although they can be recycled using TerraCycle technology, which is a privately operated recycling program with recycling points.

The manufacturer Nestlé told us that it is committed to making all its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

However, if you are a chocolate fanatic, don't lose hope-there are some better alternatives to choose from. Kneadable foil and paper wrapping paper can be widely recycled in household collections. We found that the two-finger (x16) Kit Kat packaging and Galaxy Smooth bar (100g) have these more easily recyclable packaging papers.

Read more: Which supermarkets have packaged products?

The overall crispy packaging is very troublesome and is usually not recyclable at home. It is necessary to keep the potato chips sealed to keep them fresh and crunchy without squashing them, which limits the choice of packaging materials.

Crisp bags are not recyclable, but at least they are very light. Crispy tubes (such as Pringles) are much heavier, so transportation from the factory to the supermarket shelf and you need more energy.

The manufacturer Kellogg's told us last year that it is working to ensure wider collection, sorting and recycling of Pringles tubes, adding that it wants to ensure that any alternatives do not increase food waste due to broken or stale potato chips.

It’s also worth noting that crispy buns and Pringles tubers can be recycled privately through TerraCycle. But the plan is not always universal.

In general, recycling in the UK is managed by local authorities, which means figuring out what you can and cannot do at home can be a bit confusing. It is worth checking the website of your local council to see how much information they provide. The waste and recycling organization Wrap also has some good recycling recommendations on what you can do in your zip code area.

It is also worth remembering that the recyclability of packaging is only one aspect of the overall environmental impact of the product. To fully understand the environmental impact of each type of material, you need to conduct a comprehensive life cycle analysis while looking at how it is manufactured and transported.

Clear recycling labels can make a big difference. We know 67% of them? Members often or always check the recycling information on food packaging before deciding what to do. Which is why? Call for the mandatory use of recycling labels on all British grocery packaging (brand or other) so that consumers know what can be recycled, what cannot be recycled, and how to recycle. The "Environmental Law of 2021" passed on November 9 is the first step towards this goal.

Categories: Home and Garden, Shopping, Food and Beverage

Tagged as: Plastic Recycling Sustainability