Newer policy introduction supporting sustainability in the packaging sector under E-commerce field.

1. UTILISATION OF SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING CONCEPTS IN COMBATING THE
PLASTIC POLLUTION IN TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT
INTRODUCTION
As we see today’s trend, there is a tend to shift from the conventional packaging
methods to the ones which are eco-friendly and sustainable. This change aims to
reduce the burden over the Nature and Impact on the Earth and its natural resources.
The attempt made here is to reduce the negative environmental impacts caused by
the use and disposal of Single – Use plastics.
RAJA SANKARAN.S.M, KAVYA P SIDDESHWAR, PRASHANTHI DEVI.M
Email ID – sankaran826@gmail.com
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT, BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI – 620024.
Remedial Possibility:
The method of circular economy is very instrumental in ensuring the sustainability especially
when it comes to the packaging sector. Circular economy shapes the life cycle of the
packaging material [i.e. – design, production, distribution & use and mainly the recovery
part].
Mainly practised techniques include –
Plastic packaging reduced and substituted by cardboard material packaging (which can be
decomposed on disposal and can be reused on recovery from the consumers).
Production of the single use plastics, when substituted by the recovered plastics from the
waste, helps in minimising the use of virgin raw materials in the production up to 50% (when
practised longer, even up to 80%)
When the packaging materials (all types) are recovered and reused in the field itself, it helps
in reduction of the newer materials requirement saving energy and cut down the waste
generated.
Designing of the material in a way that it supports the circular economy (more viable
packaging material lasting longer), proves cost effective and material & energy effective.
ALTERNATIVES - BIOPLASTICS
• Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources, such as
vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste,
sometimes even from petroleum[PBAT]
• Bioplastics produce significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional
plastics over their lifetime.
• PBAT(Petroleum based), PLA (Lactic Acid based) – main bioplastics in use.
• Since their decomposing time is very less it reduces the landfill, though they are
designed in a way for longer lifetime and can undergo the recycling and reusing
processes.
• They can be substituted in the rising e-commerce field using excessive single use
plastics for the packaging, in an attempt to reduce the waste generated by one time use
plastics, thus reducing landfill, excessive resource consumption and pollution from
dumping & incineration.
REFERENCES
1. Grand view Research 2014, European Bioplastics 2013, BCC Research 2017
2. European bioplastics
3. Maximise Market Research Pt. Ltd.
4. Book - Advanced industrial and engineering polymer research, Vol 4, Issue 3
5. Statistica 2023
CONCLUSION
Using the techniques listed, amount of waste that is sent off to the landfill is greatly reduced
– protecting the environment especially from the plastic pollution, keeping the environment
clean (reducing pollution and lesser contamination, biohazards, physical harm)
Helps nurturing community health, promotes sanitation.
KEYWORDS
Single-use plastics, packaging sector, sustainable
packaging, biopolymers, disposal.
EFFECTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
It involves the disposal part and the recovery part. For practising sustainability, recovery is
increased and disposal is made very effective and harmless.
Recovery – all the materials that can be reused, recycled are not discarded along with the
disposal waste [can reduce the landfill by 20-30%]
Disposal – discarded materials are found alternative places where they can be used (ex –
compressing the irretrievable plastic and substituting in the roads, the plastic roads concept),
thus reducing the dumped waste as well as raw materials used.
METHODS
The main concepts for making the packaging sustainable include circular economy, effective
waste management, reducing the use of single use plastics and replacing it with eco-
friendly alternative.
ABSTRACT
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental
issues faced by the world today. Plastic pollution in
terrestrial environments has a wide range of negative
impacts, from damage to ecosystems to health risks for
humans. Coming into the picture here is about the Single
Use Plastics mainly used as packaging material in the
emerging field of ecommerce and online food delivery.
This study mainly revolves around the manifestation of
the sustainable packaging methodologies and techniques
replacing the existing ones which can result in the
reduction of the plastic wastes generated and
their adverse effects.
The idea behind this sustainable packaging is the
shift from end of pipe techniques to designing
packaging materials in a way that minimises the
involvement and usage of single use plastics and
increases the utilisation of sustainable materials like
biopolymers, plant based materials, jute bags, etc
in a view to save the planet from the plastic pollution.
The methods of disposal, the breakdown of the plastic
material in the environment and their impacts on the
natural ecosystems are reviewed. Remedial and
alternative methods to tackle the rising issue caused
by the single use plastics are discussed.
For the execution of the above idea, evident comparison,
evaluation is properly carried out in an analytical way
that supports the concept. Since single use plastics are
not recyclable, this work and its output supports the
utilisation of the degradable and recyclable components
in the packaging sector which can help in the phasing
out of the plastic and pollution caused by their disposal.
VALUE ADDED TAKEBACK POLICY [INTRODUCING NEW POLICY]
The packaging used for the delivery of their products by the e-commerce companies,
should be taken care of by themselves. Suggested option includes buyback policy by the
company itself using vendors, by encouraging the consumers in the form of discount for the
following orders or concession in the current order which boosts the packaging material
returns instead of piling up in the wastes.