Packaging Recycling Research Articles

Research on the influence of anthropomorphic design on the consumers' express packaging recycling willingness:the moderating effect of psychological ownership

The change of consumers' shopping mode has caused massive express packaging waste, which results in resource waste and environmental pollution. Therefore, the recycling of express packaging has become an important environmental protection requirements as well as social issue and it requires an urgent solution. At the same time, the impact of anthropomorphism on consumer behavior is increasingly prominent. Built on the "A Three-Factor Theory of Anthropomorphism" and the "Theory of Perspective-Taking", this article established a psychological dynamic theoretical model about the effect of anthropomorphic design on consumers' recycling willingness. Through four experiments, variance analysis and regression analysis, it can be concluded that: (1) Anthropomorphic design has a significant positive impact on the consumers' express packaging recycling willingness, and empathy plays a mediating effect between them. (2) Compared with anthropomorphic language design, anthropomorphic shape design has a more significant impact on consumers' express packaging recycling willingness. (3) High psychological ownership has a significant positive moderating effect on the relationship between anthropomorphic design and empathy, i.e., the higher the consumer's psychological ownership, the stronger the mediating effect of empathy. Low psychological ownership has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between anthropomorphic design and empathy. Therefore, consumers' willingness to recycle express packaging can be promoted by improving their psychological ownership and the anthropomorphic design of express packaging.

Policy Analyses on Promoting the Recycling of Express Packages

With the development of e-commerce industry, the express enterprises are growing up rapidly. At the same time, they produce a large amount of express packaging garbage. The recycling of express packages has become an important issue for environment protection. In this paper, three types of possible policies are discussed for consideration: subsidy, penalty, and tax reduction. We analyze the efficiency of each policy and find the conditions under which the express packaging manufacturers prefer to recycle and reprocess the used products. A two-stage model is established from the perspective of manufacturers to discuss the production and recycling strategies under the three policies. Besides, we suggest an optimal choice between subsidy and tax reduction for the government when the budget is fixed. This paper provides guidelines for the government to improve related policies on promoting the recycling of express packages.

Sustainability of flexible multilayer packaging: Environmental impacts and recyclability of packaging for bacon in block

Multilayer plastic packaging is difficult to recycle and perceived as an environmental problem, despite its valuable protective properties. This study examines environmental impacts and recyclability of six representative packaging solutions for bacon in block. Moreover, it takes into account the environmental impacts of the packaged product. The examined flexible packaging include two thermoformed films (polyamide (PA)/polyethylene (PE) & PE/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)), two vacuum bags (both PA/PE), and two shrink bags (PE/polyvinylidene dichloride (PVdC) & PA/EVOH/PE). A cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted. We assessed the recyclability of the different packagings by using the RecyClass tool, and compared the carbon footprint of the packaging with the carbon footprint of the packaged meat. The environmental impacts depend largely on the packaging weight and on the content of PA. Climate change results range from 26.64 g CO2-equivalents for the PVdC-containing shrink bag to 109.64 g CO2-equivalents for the PA-containing thermoformed film. Even if the recyclable PE/EVOH film is recycled, its climate change result (51.75 g CO2-equivalents) is considerably higher than the result for the PVdC-containing shrink bag. Only the PE/EVOH film can be recycled, however, with considerable loss of quality. Carbon footprint of the packaged bacon is on average 54 times higher than carbon footprint of packaging. Given the relatively low environmental significance of packaging compared to the packaged meat, optimal product protection should be priority for packaging designers. Weight reduction is preferable to improved recyclability. We recommend assessing recyclability and impacts of the packaged good alongside with packaging LCA to highlight potential conflict of interests and to avoid burden shifting.

EU quality label vs organic food products: A multigroup structural equation modeling to assess consumers’ intention to buy in light of sustainable motives

Consumers are increasingly paying attention to their food choices in light of sustainability. Regional and locally produced food, as well as organic products, are experiencing an increasing success amongst consumers as perceived as authentic high-quality food products, able to contribute to sustainable methods of production and consumption. Applying the Theory of Reasoned Action, this work compares consumers’ intention to buy EU quality label and organic food products. A multi-group structural equation modeling was used to estimate differences between perceived product quality, sustainable motives (i.e. willingness to pay a premium price for sustainable products and products with recyclable packaging), and health concern while controlling for product knowledge. A total of 155 organic shoppers and 215 EU quality label shoppers were surveyed for this purpose. Results revealed different motives at the roots of the two products buying choices. On one hand, shoppers are willing to pay a premium price for sustainable EU quality label foods. On the other hand, recyclable packaging is mandatory to shape the intention to buy organic foods. The study proposes theoretical and managerial implications and draws further research studies on consumers’ food choices.

A new eco-friendly packaging material made of straw and bioplastic

Packaging waste is cause for serious concern. Each year hundreds of millions of tons of packaging are produced, therefore solutions that drastically reduce their environmental impact are urgently needed. While the recycling of metal, wood, paper and cardboard packaging has been significantly improved, an efficient recycling or disposal of some plastics is not yet feasible. The European Union implemented various regulations concerning packaging and packaging waste and set some relevant short to medium-term targets for recycling and disposal rates. Over the last decade, the global trend of the eco-sustainable packaging market is heading in the same direction. The aim of this research is to develop an innovative and sustainable composite material for the production of tertiary packaging based on the combination of natural fibres and biodegradable biopolymers. In particular, the experimental application entailed the creation of prototypes consisting of a material made of straw and biodegradable plastic Mater-Bi® which is named NeoPalea. The new material was prototyped to verify its physical characteristics and to determine its potential use to replace current not-biodegradable packaging. The results show a good match with the characteristics of current polymers, suggesting that this material can be used as a potential substitute in packaging applications.

Determination of the composition of multilayer plastic packaging with NIR spectroscopy

In food and medical packaging, multiple layers of different polymers are combined in order to achieve optimal functional properties for various applications. Flexible multilayer plastic packaging achieves a reduction in weight compared to other packaging products with the same function, saving material and in transportation costs. Recycling of post-industrial multilayer packaging was achieved by some companies, but the available technologies are limited to specific polymer types. For post-consumer waste, recycling of multilayer packaging has not been achieved yet. One of the main challenges in plastic sorting is that the detection and separation of multilayer packaging from other materials is not possible yet. In this study, the possibility to detect and sort flexible multilayer plastic packaging was investigated with near-infrared spectroscopy, which is the state-of-the-art technology for plastic sorting. The results show that from a detection and classification point of view, sorting of monolayer, two- and three-layers samples under laboratory conditions is possible. According to the captured data, the sequence of layers has little influence on the spectra. In case of glossy samples, the spectra are influenced by printed surfaces. With an increase in thickness, the spectra get more characteristic, which makes the classification easier. Our results indicate that the sorting of post-consumer multilayer plastic packaging by main composition is theoretically achievable.

Outdoor Home Gardener Preferences for Environmental Attributes in Gardening Supplies and Use of Ecofriendly Gardening Practices

Home gardeners’ concerns for the environment are expressed both in the ecofriendly gardening practices they use and in environmental attributes they prefer in the gardening products they purchase. This study uses data from a 2018 survey of 601 Tennessee outdoor home gardeners and a multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model to illustrate how outdoor home gardener demographics, expenditures, information use, and attitudes influence use of ecofriendly gardening practices and preferences for environmental attributes in home gardening supplies. Practices considered include planting pollinator plants, using rainwater collectors, composting, recycling gardening supplies packaging, using organic gardening methods, and use of soil testing. Gardening supply product attributes include decreased need for fertilizer, pesticides, and water; native plant species; organically produced products; and recyclable packaging. The most widely used practice is recycling gardening supplies packaging, and the least used is soil testing. Gardeners with a greater propensity to use the six gardening practices include male, college graduates, who spend relatively more of their income on gardening supplies, and consider themselves as being knowledgeable about environmental issues. The gardening supply product attribute most widely considered as important is decreased need for pesticides, and least widely considered as important are native species and organically produced. Gardeners more likely to prefer the six gardening supply product attributes include older gardeners, who seek other gardeners for information, and who perceived themselves as being knowledgeable about the environment. This same group likes to grow their own food and feels responsibility for protecting the environment for future generations.

Optimal delivery strategies for packing box recycling in online platforms

With the rapid development of information and communication technologies, platform retailing has developed rapidly in recent years. The ensuing explosive growth of express packing boxes has created a considerable environmental impact. To reduce environmental pollution, in recent years, many retail platforms have begun to encourage consumers to recycle packing boxes since most of the packing boxes can still be used after one-time delivery. In this paper, we develop an analytical model to explore how the different delivery strategies of a platform affect packaging recycling, the platform’s profit and the environmental impact. We consider three typical delivery models: the express location model (EL), the home delivery model (HD) and the express cabinet model (EC). The optimal pricing and subsidy strategies under the three models are obtained. We also explore how consumer heterogeneities (valuation and transportation costs) affect the platform’s operations and consumers’ purchasing and recycling behaviors. The results show that none of the three strategies is dominant. In addition, we identify the conditions under which delivery model the platform performs best. We find that consumer surplus has a similar property to the platform’s profit, and the platform and consumers can achieve a win-win outcome in most cases. Finally, the HD and EL models are usually more beneficial to the environment since it is more convenient for consumers to recycle packing boxes under both models.

Environmentally sustainable hospital foodservices: Drawing on staff perspectives to guide change

Abstract Foodservice is a key contributor to environmental impacts of the healthcare sector, in particular hospitals. Driving towards sustainable solutions in foodservices can bring financial and social benefits, whilst allowing hospitals to position themselves as leaders towards a sustainable food system and healthcare sector. Such a change depends on those working directly or indirectly with foodservices. Staff possess valuable knowledge, ideas, motivation and responsibility for improving the environmental sustainability of the foodservice system. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of staff working across the hospital food supply chain towards: (1) sustainable practices in hospital food provision; (2) existing barriers and enablers; and (3) recommendations for implementing sustainable foodservice practices in the future. Through qualitative inquiry, semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals at operational and management levels responsible for policy, purchasing, production, onsite plating and delivery and waste disposal at three hospitals in Australia. Framework analysis was used to synthesise transcribed data into practices, barriers and enablers, and recommendations. Interviews (n=46 participants) identified current sustainable practices including those related to recyclable packaging, effective equipment and technology and efficient processes. Unsustainable practices included restrictions on sourcing food, packaging that cannot be separated or recycled, rigid foodservice models and menu, waste production and processes. Enablers to improve sustainability included the power of individuals to influence change, education on recycling, knowledge generation, audits and grants for innovative research, rebates and quality improvement processes. Barriers included competing priorities, poor communication, lack of training opportunities and knowledge, infection control restrictions, lack of policy, funding, and time between meal ordering and delivery. Participants proposed practice changes across the food supply chain and recommended generation and sharing of knowledge, leadership and policy support. Perspectives of individuals within foodservice reveal shared motivation and desire for sustainable foodservices, with support needed from leaders and policy. Future research should use a co-design approach involving staff to create and implement sustainable strategies within hospitals. To see widespread and timely change, action is needed towards effective and meaningful policy.

Developing a framework for evaluating sustainability index for logistics service providers: graph theory matrix approach

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify sustainability practices and to propose a framework for evaluating the sustainability index of logistics service providers (LSPs).Design/methodology/approachSustainable practices followed by LSPs are identified through literature review and analysis of a case study. Thirteen such sustainable practices are identified. Thereafter, with expert inputs, nine sustainable practices are shortlisted and considered for the evaluation of the sustainability index in the proposed framework. Graph Theory Matrix Approach has been applied to evaluate the sustainability index of an LSP.FindingsMajor practices identified for evaluating sustainability index include the use of recyclable packaging, use of renewable energy sources, green procurement, reduction in carbon emissions, use of CNG/electric vehicles, rainwater harvesting and so on. The sustainability index of an LSP is evaluated by using the proposed framework.Practical implicationsLSPs can benchmark their sustainability index with respect to the best in the industry. Based on it, LSPs can also identify potential areas for improvement.Originality/valueNovelty of the study lies in the proposed framework for evaluation of sustainability index which can be used to develop strategies for green logistics. LSPs can also improve their performance in terms of sustainability measures by adopting green logistics.

Extended producer responsibility: How to unlock the environmental and economic potential of plastic packaging waste?

Several are the challenges related to plastic waste, spanning from littering, high collection costs, and low recycling rates. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is considered a key initiative to tackle some of these issues. To evaluate EPR role and effectiveness, 40 management scenarios focused on plastic packaging waste generated by Italian households were investigated, and their environmental performance (via a consequential life cycle assessment) and the economic sustainability of their waste value chain (via a cost-benefit analysis for each stakeholder) were compared to the recycling targets. Overall, packaging waste management represented an environmental burden. Yet, environmental benefits can be achieved by maximizing the collection rate, while minimizing the impurities collected with the source-segregated plastic and the processing losses in the recycling chain. Furthermore, the cost-benefit analysis showed that the recyclers are the weakest link in the value chain, and recycling of soft plastic and mixed polyolefin is generally not profitable. This increases the risk of exporting low-quality materials outside Europe, where their fate is uncertain. Finally, the results demonstrate that improving plastic packaging recyclability and strengthening the market for secondary plastic is critical for reaching the European recycling targets of 55% in 2030.

A closed-loop packaging network design model to foster infinitely reusable and recyclable containers in food industry

The current public and private policies pursuing environmental sustainability targets mandate incisive management of packaging waste, starting with those sectors that use virgin materials most. Food industries and food supply chains adopt huge volumes of plastic crates, cardboard boxes, and wooden boxes as transport packaging, thereby representing a hotspot and an urgent call for scholars and practitioners to address. Whilst wooden and cardboard boxes are disposable solutions, plastic containers can be employed as infinitely reusable and recyclable packages but require complex logistic systems to manage their life cycle. Optimization techniques can be exploited to aid the design and profitability of such complex packaging networks. This paper falls within the scarce literature on the design of pooling networks for reusable containers in the food industry. It proposes a strategic mixed-integer linear programming model to design a closed-loop system from the perspective of the packaging maker responsible for serving a food supply chain. The container's lifespan, i.e. the number of cycles a package can be reused before recycling, represents a crucial aspect to consider when modeling such networks. Incorporating lifespan constraints within the proposed closed-loop network design model is the main novel contribution we provide to the literature. This model is applied to a real-world instance of an Italian package pooler operating with a consortium of large-scale retailers for the distribution of fruits, vegetables, bakery, and meat products. A multi-scenario what-if analysis showcases how the optimal network evolves according to potential variations in the packaging demand, as well as in the container lifespan, demonstrating how to lead packaging makers to the profitability and the long-term sustainability of the closed-loop network.

Упаковка для харчових продуктів: особливості використання та переробки

The article deals with the peculiarities of polymer packaging for food products, as well as the possible risks that arise in the process of use and its processing. The Aim of the Article. Determine the toxic substances of the packaging component composition and carry out comprehensive analytical control on the content of priority pollutants to prevent adverse effects on food products, the environment, the human body, and outline the possible risks of polymeric food packaging recycling. Methods and Materials. To identify and define the levels of chemical substances and toxic elements migration from different polymeric material types and products from them. The methods of gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, mass-spectrometry were applied using modern validated methods. Results and Discussion. According to the results of the researches, it is established that a large group of chemicals gets from the polymeric packaging to the contacting media, and in some cases their number exceeds the hygienic standard – ANM (acceptable number of migration). The increase in the number of chemicals migrating from the packaging material, as well as the levels of content of new excipients (dyes, decomposition products, impurities) that are formed after recycling of polymeric materials, is evidenced by the results of many research works. Conclusions. Careful monitoring of the migration levels of toxic components from different types of packaging materials and products into contact media should be carried out to assess the risks and their negative effects on food and human health. At the legislative level, control over the processing of plastic packaging for food should also be realized, taking into account the possibility of the formation of new chemicals and toxic elements. Key Words: packaging, safety, food products, risks.

Storage of pasteurized milk in clear PET bottles combined with light exposure on a retail display case: A possible strategy to define the shelf life and support a recyclable packaging

The stability of whole pasteurized milk packaged in clear PET bottles was studied throughout 13-days storage in the dark, but including, at specific times, light exposure of 6, 12 or 18 h to simulate conditions potentially occurring in refrigerated display counters. The aim was to investigate the effects of light exposure when overlapping the unavoidable endogenous modifications in pasteurized milk during storage. Dissolved oxygen, riboflavin and other flavins, proteolysis products, volatile compounds, and sensory characteristics were evaluated. Besides the expected progress of proteolysis occurring during storage, light negatively affected milk flavour especially after longer exposure times. The development of “mushroom” flavor related to the increase of volatile 2,3 octanedione was the most characterizing modification. Gathered data were considered in view of providing the background knowledge for the control of light exposure conditions on a retail display, thus supporting the shelf life extension of pasteurized milk in a fully recyclable packaging.

Heuristic column generation for designing an express circular packaging distribution network

Express packaging is consuming a huge amount of materials every year, which pollutes the environment and wastes resources as well. One of solutions is to build an express distribution network for circular packaging to recycle packaging materials. We present a forward and backward network that enables collection depots transport express packages to distribution centers where the wasted packaging materials are collected by recycle bins and sent back to the collection depots. Therefore, the recyclable packaging materials are detected in the collection depots, then the reusable materials are sent to the distribution centers and the others are transported back to material factories for recycling production. A mathematical model as well as a heuristic algorithm is built, based on Lagrangian relaxation and column generation, to optimize the circular packaging network. A case study has been led to test the proposed approach. The experiment results show that our solution can reduce total cost remarkably.

Profiling Italian cat and dog owners\u2019 perceptions of pet food quality traits

BackgroundOver recent years, pet owners have started to demonstrate increased sensitivity toward their companion animals, which includes an increase in the attention paid towards their nutrition, seen as a way of safeguarding their pets’ welfare. The aim of this study was to identify how pet food quality traits are perceived as being the most important by dog and cat owners. To this end, a survey of dog and cat owners was conducted by means of a questionnaire distributed in pet stores and trade fairs throughout Italy.ResultsA total of 935 surveys were collected; 61.8% of which were compiled by female pet owners. The respondents were relatively homogeneously distributed between cat (30.8%), dog (39.4%), and cat and dog (29.8%) owners. A quarter of the owners (25.5%) reported to have asked their veterinarian for advice on which pet food to buy, and almost a third (30.4%) trusted the advice posted on the web sites of well-known brands. “Contains natural ingredients” was the characteristic that obtained the highest mean score (4.3 out of 5).Elderly owners (> 65 years) placed most importance on whether a product had a high price, and least on feed appearance, animal satisfaction, and stool quality. Young owners (< 35y) paid most attention to the stool quality, the percentage of protein in the feed, and the presence of recyclable packaging, and least attention to feed appearance, smell, and animal satisfaction. Feed appearance, smell, a higher cost, and certain label indications (protein content, presence of fresh meat, grain free) were mostly important among the buyers of wet pet food. Some specific differences also emerged between dog, cat, and dog and cat owners.ConclusionsIn this survey of Italian pet food buyers, the presence of “natural” ingredients was considered to be the most important indicator of pet food quality, whereas characterized by a high price was considered least important. The data obtained from this survey could be used to help pet food companies identify which pet food quality traits are perceived as important by dog and cat owners.

Effects of thickener on the structure and properties of fibrous kimchi paper

In this work, the effects of different thickener (CMC-Na, soy protein, potato starch, and pectin) on the physicochemical properties of the kimchi paper were evaluated. The results showed that as the amount of the added thickener increased from 0.3 to 1.2 wt%, the tightness and transparency of all the samples first increased, and then, decreased companying with an increased thickness. The solubility and permeability decreased and the mechanical properties enhanced. In addition, according to the results of SEM and Fourier transform-infrared analysis (FT-IR), it found that all four thickeners could alleviate the wire drawing of the cross-section of the paper and no formation of new chemical bonds was observed in the paper as the amount of thickener increased. The study also detected a change in thermal stability by the thermogravimetry analysis, and found that all the thickener could enhance the thermal stability of the paper. These findings provide important insights into the ideal choice of thickener to be used during the preparation of kimchi paper. Practical applications Kimchi paper is a novel, green, and recyclable packaging material. It not only retains the original flavor, color, and nutrients of fresh kimchi, but also exhibits characteristics of low sugar, low sodium, low fat, low heat energy, and high dietary fiber. Moreover, it also provides a new direction for the development of the kimchi industry. Because the thickener has a great influence on the preparation and the character of the kimchi paper, choosing the right thickener is crucial for kimchi paper. The purpose of this study was to prepare an edible green vegetable paper from pickled kimchi with the addition of four different thickeners including soybean protein, pectin, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and potato starch. These findings provide important insights into the ideal choice of thickener to be used during the preparation of kimchi paper.

Research on the creative design of express package recycling system basis on internet

As E-commerce and online shopping advance swiftly and vigorously, a growing number of people choose shopping on the Internet as their major way of shopping. As the online shopping is in vogue, the problem lying in the package of express has gradually drawn people’s attention. As the data reveals, the number of paper boxes that China’s e-commerce brought about is over 10 billion. The packages of express resulted in environment pollution and waste of resources, At present, China does not yet have an efficient and comprehensive express packaging recycling system, and the only sustainable recycling design has a small application range and the effect is not obvious. For the purpose of improving the recycling rate of packages and in response to the “sustainable development strategy”, this paper, from the standpoint of consumer psychology, the real consumption situation and package recycling status quo, makes use of the Internet as the bridge to realize the design of virtual APP and recycling device, so as to form a complete recycling system of express package. This system mainly utilizes the gravity sensor, information processing system and storing and arranging device, and is backed by sophisticated techniques. The researches have shown that, the simplification of creative recycling system, the time-saving effort, high efficiency, as well as the conception of the smart classified recycling have changed the traditional way of recycling. These improvements have greatly reduced the pollution and waste that express packages caused and make the resources being used for the second time a reality.

Implementing the dimension of quality into the conventional quantitative definition of recycling rates

With the proposed Circular Economy Package, the European Union is striving to play a leading role in the implementation of recycling goals. The significantly increased recycling targets are just some of the defined objectives. However, to assess the Member States’ attainment of the new recycling targets, the European Union still builds on a purely quantitative recycling rate assessment procedure that neglects to include qualitative recycling aspects. This circumstance could lead to additional quality losses in recycling processes because recyclers might tend to focus exclusively on higher quantities to achieve the stricter recycling targets on time. To prevent such a development, the aim of this study is to establish a complementary recycling indicator that combines quantitative and qualitative recycling aspects in one single metric. The basis of this assessment method is the statistical entropy approach, which enables the concentrating or diluting effect of a recycling process brought about through the separation or mixing of materials to be measured. The results of the statistical entropy metric will provide greater insight into recycling processes (or systems) and thereby yield enhanced information on the quantity and purity of recycling outputs. The simple structure of the new approach will allow enhanced comparisons between technologies as well as national recycling performance. A case study on plastic packaging recycling demonstrates that the new recycling indicator provides multifaceted findings relative to the hitherto purely quantitative recycling assessment data, hence enriching conclusions on the recycling performance.

Design of Express Recyclable Packaging Bag Based on Green Environmental Packaging Material

With the increasing number of parcels in China’s express industry, how to make express packaging Green has become a critical issue for the development of the express industry. This paper analysed the current situation of express packaging materials, PEST analysis and SWOT analysis were carried out on the use of Green Express packaging materials, and a green shared express packaging bag was designed, which provided a way for the “green development” of express packaging materials.