I like or desire this since I can quickly throw it away when I'm done, yet sometimes it takes 400 years for this waste to be digested. Everyone is aware that mother nature is round. Everything that ends up in a landfill eventually finds its way back to you. That implies that even though you discard it as trash, you actually consume it again. Mother Nature cares about every single life, no matter how small.
Humans are the one species that deviates from nature's laws. We are the ones who produce waste, and our actions hurt not only the environment but also all life, including our own. For the benefit of all life on Earth, everything should be kept in balance.
As I have expanded in India, I have observed several local initiatives that recycle trash into useful objects. When I began this project, I made the decision to investigate whether my design could aid the environment at each stage of the process when I started this project.
In the loop, everything we take from nature should be given back in a way that doesn't endanger it.
R AW MATERIAL
Tree-based–materials like vegetables, fruits flowers, wood, resin, latex are obtained from trees.
Throughout the whole history of humanity, plants have probably been used as raw materials. Bark, leaves, nuts, wood, fibres, vines, sticks, saps, resins, huge seed shells, and a variety of secondary plant chemicals are among the plant parts that can be used. All of them were utilised as raw materials to create a seemingly limitless variety of goods.
Using plant-based components to make pitch, working with wood, twisted fibre technologies, and oral hygiene practises are a few examples of how numerous lines of evidence can be utilised to reconstruct past uses of plant materials even in the absence of primary evidence.
Animal-based–materials like meat, bones, milk, wool, silk, leather are all obtained from animals.
For apparel and accessories, billions of animals suffer and die every year. Small animals are raised for their entire lives before being slaughtered for their fur, while birds are restrained while having their delicate skin scraped clean of feathers, and their skin is peeled off to make leather.
Workers who steal the wool and the skin of sheep to make shearling frequently beat and mutilate the animals. The mistreatment of goats for their cashmere and mohair is comparable. The goal of all of this is to be fashionable. No of the source or type of material, any procedure that uses an animal entails abhorrent cruelty.
People worldwide use mainly five animal species for milk production: buffalo, camel, cow, goat and sheep. For meat production, the milk producing species are used and also the additional species pig, poultry, rabbit etc.
Mining-based–materials like minerals, metals, crude oil, coal, etc.
Iron and ferro-alloy metals - iron, chromium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, vanadium.
Non-ferrous metals - aluminium, antimony, arsenic, copper, bismuth, beryllium, bauxite, cadmium, gallium, indium, tin, lead, germanium, lithium, mercury, rare earth minerals, zinc, rhenium, selenium, tellurium.
Precious metals - gold, platinum-group metals (palladium, platinum, rhodium), silver.
Industrial minerals - asbestos, baryte, bentonite, boron minerals, diamond (gem/industrial), diatomite, feldspar, fluorspar, graphite, gypsum and anhydrite, kaolin, phosphate rock, perlite, magnesite, potash, salt, sulfur.
Mineral fuels - steam coal, coking coal, lign.
The inputs that are used in the manufacturing process to produce finished commodities that are ready for sale to consumers are known as raw materials. Materials not only meet fundamental human requirements and promote development, but they can also serve as substitutes for actual things of desire or serve as symbols of fulfilment and gratification. Undoubtedly, materials play a bigger role in our culture than we know. Almost every aspect of our daily lives — including communication, reaction, shelter, clothing, and food production — is influenced by materials.
Raw materials are required by manufacturing businesses all over the world in order to produce the goods that are utilised in millions of homes and in industry. Every time raw materials are extracted and processed, the environment is impacted, which causes issues including soil erosion, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, weakened ecosystem services, and hastened global warming.
For the use of products made of raw materials almost always results in greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, ecosystem damage or biodiversity loss. Use of products incorrectly can result in harmful emissions that wind up in our water, soil, and air. The same infrastructural components that we take for granted, like our homes, not to mention innumerable daily activities, frequently involve considerable resource use, bring about the paving over of undeveloped land, harm to ecosystems, and ruin the beauty of nature.
Every year, approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumptionapproximately 1,3 billion tonnes - is wasted. Also, another global issue is the use of plastic bags, I wondered if there was any way we could use this garbage to manufacture paper. Based on this concept, I began researching the topic and discovered that 2/3 of Indians consume bio waste and turn it into paper.
Further investigation led me to the UK-based biotech company Tensei. This biotech company in the UK turns agricultural waste, such as mango pits, avocado peels, beet roots, and apple skins, into paper packaging.
Root crops, all fruits, and vegetables account for 40–50% of all food waste that is discarded. It appears as peels, seeds, stones, discarded flesh, stalks, leaves, and roots that were either produced during the crop growing season or were left over from the food preparation step. A significant portion of it is either disposed of in landfills or released into the environment.
However, the food manufacturing industry is gradually realising that these food by products are not only potential sources of bio energy but also veritable protein gold mines. According to Tensei, the inherent potential of the aforementioned agricultural waste translates into the production of packaging devoid of plastic and wood.
Since there is a high demand for and a shortage of raw materials like wood pulp, the company views its technology as both "disruptive" and "vital." It also takes satisfaction in supplying business and farmers with a new source of income from plant fibres and biowaste.
MANUFAC TUR ING
Manufacturing businesses must act quickly to address decarbonisation issues because they account for one-fifth of global carbon emissions and use 54% of the world's energy sources.
TOTAL
420 - 570 billion tonnes CO PLASTICS
56 billion tonnes COe** = 10-13%
Six elements of sustainable manufacturing –
1. Manufacturing cost
The costs incurred during the production of a product.
2. Power consumption
The amount of energy use d per unit time.
3. Waste management
The processes and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal.
4. Operational safety
The lack of excessively high risks of environmental or equipment damage leading to human harm, injury, either death, whether those risks be direct or indirect.
5. Personnel health
Health care Workers specially trained
to assist and support the work of health professionals.
6. Environmental friendliness
Not harmful to the environment.
We believe that plastic is required today, but there are actually a lot of better, more environmentally friendly solutions available.
Given the aforementioned considerations, it is possible to produce the product using waste as a raw resource. Additionally, there are businesses that produce electricity using wind and solar energy.
My biggest pet hate while grocery shopping is that everything is warped in plastic. Every time I remove cling film from food, I experience an overwhelming sense of existential dread because I'm worried that I’ll overlook a tiny piece of plastic and unintentionally consume it, but more importantly, I'm worried that this plastic—which can't be recycled because it's so thin — will end up in a landfill or the oceans, where it'll cause even more problems.
An Australian biomaterials business offers a much more tasteful answer: cling film made from natural materials! Introducing “Great Wrap”, a cling film that degrades that is made from old potato skins, frying oil, and cassava root starch. Great Wrap's cling film is manufactured from natural resources, unlike its petrochemical plastic rival, and like any biopolymer, it degrades into natural materials far more quickly than standard plastic. The Great Wrap can spontaneously decomposed in as little as 180 days. Manufacturers who choose to use plastic-free packaging have a number of advantages, including not having to pay a plastic tax for their flexible packaging and being able to offer customers fresh fruit with a shelf life that can compete with products wrapped in standard virgin plastics.
PACK AGING
Do you still recall how it felt to first hold an iphone?
Removing the plastic seal to reveal the modern white box?
You could tell this equipment was important, high-quality, and significant even before you opened the box. This is a magic that Apple carefully planned how they would package their product to be consistent with their branding of offering the best possible product innovation and customer experience!
It is obvious that packaging has a significant impact on how valuable a product is viewed but, it is as crucial to consider the environmental impact of our packaging. The specific sorts of materials used in the packaging industry to wrap and pack goods are known as packaging materials. In essence, there are various kinds of packing materials.
Primary Packaging –
The Primary packaging is essential. Compact packaging is required by businesses or facilities that manufacture medications, foods, drinks, and other perishable goods in order to preserve or protect the product.
• Laminated pouches
• Plastic containers
• Tin can
• Parchment paper
• Paper bags
• Laminated tubes
• Monocartons
• Retort pouches
• Paper-foil laminate
• Composite cans
• Glass containers
• Shrink wrap
• Cling film
• Woven sack
• Jute bags
• Bubble wrap
Secondary Packaging –
After the primary packaging, all products that are delivered in bulk need to be packed again, and this type of packaging is called secondary packaging. There are different types of packaging materials that are used in secondary packaging, and here is more about them.
• Plastic crates
• Plastic trays
• EPS trays
• Wooden crates
Tertiary Packaging –Tertiary packaging is required for the transportation and shipping of products
• Corrugated fiber board
• Wooden containers
• Plastic pallet
Ancillary Packaging –
• Adhesives
• Printing inks
• PP straps
• Caps & closures
• Tapes
• Labels
• Cushioning material
Sustainable packaging materials –
• Reusable packaging
• Plantable packaging
• Compostable pack
• Corrugated packaging
• Kraft/Brown paper
• Edible packaging
• Cornstarch packaging
• Seaweed packaging
• Mushroom packaging
• Paper bottles
• Reusable bag
• Biodegradable pack
• Biodegradable plastics
• Bio based plastics
• Glassine packaging
• Cellulose packaging
• Green cell foam
• Organic ecological textiles
An Overview of Food Packaging
When you walk the aisles of your grocery store, you find an array of packaging types on the shelves. There are cans of beans, cartons of milk, plastic containers of yogurt, bags of chips and plastic-wrapped meat on foam trays. Along with the materials you can see (like plastic bottles and metal cans), a lot of food packaging contains chemical additives or linings you cannot see, which are there to prevent leaking or to keep the acid in foods like tomatoes from corroding metal cans.
There are 4 main categories of food packaging: Plastic packaging - This includes a wide array of plastic types, from Styrofoam to clear plastic “clamshell” packages to the lids on takeout coffee cups. The raw materials used to make plastic packaging may be harmful to our health, or there may be harmful chemicals added to the plastic to make it more functional.
Metal packaging - This includes aluminum and other metal cans that both food and beverages are packaged in. Metal cans are often lined with anti-corrosive substances that can leach into our food and affect our health.
Paper/fiber packaging - This includes the increasingly common “tetra pak” cartons, other types of cartons and take-out food containers. Like other types of packaging, fiber packaging often is lined or coated with substances to make it more functional — for example, able to hold liquids — which can be harmful to human health.
Glass packaging - This includes glass bottles & other containers.
The Problems with Food Packaging
The environmental impact of single-use food packaging is significant. As our landfills and waterways are increasingly clogged with plastic bags, Styrofoam food containers, disposable coffee cups and more, it’s clear that the convenience of food packaging is outweighed by the waste and pollution that the packaging leaves behind. Something less widely understood is that this same food packaging, from the additives like phthalates which give plastics their pliability or perfluorinated chemicals that allow cardboard to contain liquids, all the way to the bisphenol linings that coat our aluminum cans, much of our food packaging is extremely dangerous to our health.
While it might be hard to imagine what daily life would be like without all this convenient packaging, until recently, much of it did not even exist. As our food system grew less local yet able to feed more people across a greater geographic area, and as food became more highly processed, the packaging technology itself increased to keep pace.
The basic materials of our food packaging — whether plastic, metal, paper/fiber or glass — determine the environmental impact and, ultimately, whether it can be recycled, and how it will or will not break down in a landfill or create pollution and waste. The chemical additives and special coatings on or in different packaging types are generally where we are exposed to chemicals of concern, but coatings and additives can, in some cases, also determine if the material can be recycled or not.
While there are literally hundreds of these harmful unregulated chemicals in food packaging, here I focus on a handful of the most well-known.
• Perfluorooctanoic acid
• ammonium salt
•2,3-Epoxypropyl-trimeth
ylammonium chloride
• Pentachlorophenol
2,3,4,5-Tetrachlorophenol
anthraquinone
• Boric acid
• 4-Nonylphenol
• Ethyleneimine
• Methyloxirane
• Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS)
• Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS)
• Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)
• Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)
• Perfluorobutanoic acid
• Perfluoropentanoic acid
• Perfluorohexanoic acid
• Perfluoroheptanoic acid
• Perfluorooctanoic acid
• Vinyl chloride
• 4-tert-Butylphenol
• Tributyltin oxide (TBTO)
• Triphenyl Phosphate
• Tributyltin acetate
• Dibutyltin(dilaurate)
• Dicyclohexyl phthalate
• Dibutyltin dichloride
• Diphenyl phthalate
• Antimony trioxide
• Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
• Silver (nanoparticles)
• Diisobutyl phthalate
• Dihexyl phthalate
• Acrylamide
• Vinyl acetate
• Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate
• Melamine
• Phenyl salicylate
• Chloroethylene
• Benzophenone
• Isoprene
• Benzophenone-3;
• Chlorinated paraffins
• Oxybenzone
Aluminum
Manganese
Sodium chromate
Potassium dichromate
Bisphenol B
Bisphenol A
BisphenolS
Diphenolic acid
Bisphenol F
6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol
8:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol
2-Chlorobuta-1,3 diene
Designing packaging sustainably is primarily concerned with minimising environmental damage.
This could be accomplished by using biodegradable or recyclable materials, designing packaging that serves multiple functions, or using less packaging overall.
How to make packaging more sustainable –
1. Understand the needs of customers, sales, transportation, the whole supply chain.
2. Pick the appropriate supplies. Packaging materials should be reduced, minimised, and optimised.
3. Use recyclable, lightweight, biodegradable, compostable, and renewable resources to reduce packaging waste.
4. Avoid composite or mixed materials and keep an eye out for material contamination.
5. Get rid of additional boxes, layers, or packing that is not essential.
6. Reduce the amount of weight, material, size, and measurements used.
7. When it's practical and affordable, reuse materials and packaging.
8. Make packaging useful and valuable for storing accessories and parts, among other uses.
9. Utilize cutting-edge technologies to create trackable, smart, and functional packaging.
10. To minimise space, packaging might be folded together
Printing can provide visual impact to simple marketing materials. Print finishing aids in drawing customers' attention, whether it's by making packaging and labels stand out on crowded store shelves or luring recipients to open direct mail.
But with the rising concern about sustainability and climate change, most businesses want their printed products to be both attractive and environmentally friendly.
UV Coatings
Any marketing piece that has UV coatings definitely has more value. With a wide range of textures, colors, clarity and scents available, the uses of UV coatings are endless. Paper finished with UV coatings can still be recycled. Also, UV coatings are solvent-free and don’t produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can pollute the air and contaminate drinking water.
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping, applying flat or embossed foil with heat and pressure, can give a brand’s marketing pieces an appealing, sophisticated look. According to a recent study done by the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA), foil-decorated paper and board are recyclable, as the foil doesn’t create any problems in the repulping process used to create recycled paper.
Embossing/Debossing
Embossing gives designs a three-dimensional look and creates a tactile experience. It is a great way to emphasize logos, illustrations, unique style or patterns. While embossing uses a die to raise an image off the paper, debossing creates an imprint, resulting in a depressed effect. Last but not least, these processes are the most budget-friendly finishing options.
Packaging relies heavily on printing inks.
Sustainable inks are getting more attention as R&D spending rises. The continuous "green agenda" for packaging types will be supported by the adoption of environmentally friendly inks.
Petroleum or plastic-based inks include hazardous substances and chemicals that are bad for the environment. Printing inks do have a hierarchy, with some being more environmentally friendly than others.
Algae Black ink
When compared to conventional carbon black, algae black ink produces 200% fewer equivalent emissions of carbon dioxide per tonne of product. Also, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, research has demonstrated the safety of the pigment. Algae Black is thought to be compostable, and studies have shown that materials with similar properties can promote plant growth.
UV INKS
Volatile inks and curable inks are the two types of inks. The most popular kind of ink is volatile, which cures through absorption. Contrarily, curable inks have relatively little absorption and require an electronic or ultraviolet beam to dry. UV inks, or inks that use ultraviolet light to dry. Under a UV light, these inks nearly rapidly dry and emit 99.5% fewer VOCs.
Water-based inks
Water-based inks are a great alternative because they are less volatile organic compound (VOC)-rich and make use of simple ingredients. The oldest eco-friendly inks still in use today are probably water-based inks, which are preferred for extremely absorbent substrates like corrugated paperboard.
Soy/vegetable inks
Vegetable-based inks are often made from corn oil or soybeans, and they are made to print in a way that considerably lowers the release of VOCs. And, compared to traditional inks, the natural components used to make these inks are simpler to recycle.
The idea of using leftover food. Utilizing natural fruit and vegetable colours to create ink has advantages.
On top of, I discover that Imperial graduate Nicole Stjernswärd has invented Kaiku, a system that turns plants into powdered paint pigments using vaporisation technology. Basically, Kaiku creates natural colours from leftover fruits and vegetables when conducting research on the subject. Using ingredients like avocados, pomegranates, lemons, beets and onions, you may utilise Kaiku to turn fruits and vegetables into the foundation for inks, and colours.
DISTRIBUTION
Green distribution refers to logistics practices that minimize environmental harm. It is possible to make greener choices across the supply chain, including storage, order processing, packaging, and final-mile delivery.
Ways to make your supply chain eco-friendly –
• Register to become an epa smartway partner
• Implement speed management policies
• Implement engine shutdown policies
• Use eco-friendly tires
• Switch to energy-efficient lighting
• Use better insulation for your warehouse
• Conduct an hvac audit
• Take advantage of renewable energy credits
• Switch to biodegradable packaging materials
• Use local suppliers whenever possible
• Consolidate your shipments
• Maintain your equipment so it lasts longer
• Install solar panels
• Invest in clean idle trucks or electric trucks
CONSUMER USE
RETHINKER
Do we make too many products? Design in a way that considers people and the environment.
REFUSE
Don't use a material or buy a product if you don't need it or if it's bad for people or the environment.
RECYCLE
Reprocess a material or product and make something else.
DISPOSAL
Recycle facts –
The big problem of microplastics since mass production of plastic began 60 years ago, humankind has produced over eight billion metric tons of plastic. Just 9% has been recycled, another 12% incinerated. The rest, almost 80% of the plastic ever created, amasses in landfill sites or ends up in the natural environment, eventually finding its way into rivers, streams, and oceans.
Microplastics are created when plastic degrades into smaller and smaller fragments rather than biodegrading. More than half of the hundreds of millions of tonnes of plastic waste in our oceans are smaller than 5 mm in size. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is between California and Hawaii, is thought to be three times the size of France, and the startlingly regular accounts of animals entangled in plastic make for heartbreaking viewing.
The microplastics that are intentionally added to our toiletries and cosmetics flow from our bathrooms into sewers. The sewer sludge, with plastic and all, is later spread on the land as fertiliser. Recent research shows that microplastics are then absorbed by vegetables and fruit such as carrots and apples through their root systems, and thus end up on our plates.
Ecological Footprint -
The term "Ecological Footprint" refers to a method of quantitatively expressing the availability and utilisation of natural resources The total surface area of biologically productive land and the volume of water required to produce all the goods and energy (food, energy, and other materials) as well as required to decompose the litter produced by the same people, or to make up for it, constitute the ecological footprint of a given group of people (such as a household, town, or country). The entire area of land needed to support a particular lifestyle is hence the ecological footprint as estimated.
