5. Packaging, delivery, use
5.1. How can you take account circular economy on packaging?
Circular economy has been taken seriously in plastic packaging. EU has stated that all the plastic packaging in EU area must be recyclable or biodegradable by the year 2030. Packaging made from thermoplastic polymers are easily recyclable because they can just be melted down and formed to new products. Plastic packaging is also very durable to reuse example bottles and containers with lids. Manufacturing plastic packaging uses less energy than manufacturing any other packaging material. Example plastic beverage container takes 0.11 kWh and same sized aluminum can takes 3.00 kWh.
5.2. How can you take account circular economy on delivery?
Automobiles and other transportation industries are using polymer materials to replace the original old materials, not only because they have better characteristics and weight, but also because they can be reused. Rubber can be reused after aging.
In terms of takeaway transportation, more and more businesses use paper bags and paper packaging to make takeaways, which can be recycled directly after use.
5.3. How can you take account circular economy on use of plastics?
Firstly, it is necessary to put circular economy in humans’ mind, like we could do it by adding some courses about circular economy in students’ school life.
Secondly, in the industry, setting ambitious goals is important. This goal is not aimed to make benefits maximum but for raw materials. Find a regulation system to support sustainable use in raw materials.
Reference:
https://www.sitra.fi/en/articles/circular-economy-actions-also-needed-finland/
Scott, G.1999. Polymers and the Environment. The Royal Society of Chemistry.
https://www.pakkaus.com/muovipakkaukset-kiertotalouden-pyorteissa/
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2016/573899/EPRS_BRI(2016)573899_EN.pdf
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