Packaging Recycling Research Articles

Optimal strategies of green express packaging recycling and sales mode in an online platform

The rapid development of platform retailing causes the explosive growth of express packaging. At the same time, the extensive use of express packaging has caused a burden on the environment. To reduce environmental impacts, the platform considers cooperating with the green packaging manufacturer and recycling express packaging. In addition, the platform also faces sales mode selection with the product manufacturer—reselling mode or marketplace mode. However, the platform's optimal strategies for green express packaging recycling and sales mode are not clear. Therefore, to solve the problem, we investigate four possible scenarios, including RN (reselling-no-recycling) scenario, RR (Reselling-recycling) scenario, MN (Marketplace-no-recycling) scenario, and MR (Marketplace-recycling) scenario. Through backward induction, we find that firstly, when the platform chooses the reselling mode, the recycling strategy is closely related to recycling efficiency and green investment efficiency. However, when adopting the marketplace mode, the platform is always inclined to recycle. Secondly, the platform would choose the marketplace mode as long as the commission rate is larger, no matter whether to recycle. Furthermore, the MR scenario is the best strategy for the platform in most cases. In the special scenario where the product manufacturer has the right to choose sales mode before recycling strategies, the optimal strategies of recycling and sales mode are closely related to green investment efficiency, recycling efficiency, and commission rate.

Plastic packaging waste in Europe: Addressing methodological challenges in recording and reporting.

A reliable comparison of European Union (EU) Member States' reporting of statistics on plastic packaging waste generation, recycling and recovery is necessary if there is to be a fair transition to a circular economy across the EU. It is a priority for there to be an improvement in the quality and validity of these statistics to assess each Member State's performance in relation to EU targets. This article explores the quality of national reporting based on the two main approaches which are used to calculate packaging waste generation, namely 'placed on the market' and 'waste analysis'. The findings outline how Member States apply a variety of approaches leading to different packaging waste statistics which makes reported data difficult to compare. Often, it is not clear what approach is applied in different counties. Factors such as freeriding, non-compliance and de minimis have represented the primary weaknesses in evaluating and reporting packaging waste statistics as producers have financial incentives for under-reporting. This article highlights the need to inform circular economy strategies by addressing the challenge of comparing data on packaging and plastic packaging waste generation across the EU.

The CSR Strategy via Corporate Shared Value: A Case Study of The Body Shop Reusable Packaging

This research reveals the importance of the company’s commitment to developing ethical and business practices that are socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable is known as strategy Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Body Shop is one of the companies that promote green business methods. The company aims to reduce landfill waste, reuse goods sold, and recycle packaging that may still be used, which is also in line with the government’s Circular Economy (CE) practice program. This study intends to examine the effectiveness of The CSR Strategy carried out by The Body Shop company in Jakarta through the corporate shared value approach called “Bring Back Our Bottle” program, which asks customers to return empty product packaging to The Body Shop outlets. To complete this study, the research employed a qualitative research methodology that involved doing descriptive research and using a literature review as the primary method for collecting data and information based on authentic documents from The Body Shop and https://waste4change.com. This research is significant because the understanding of business theory focuses solely on the economic sector, whereas new theories, such as circular economies, have emerged to highlight CSR strategies to increase corporate profits while ensuring the sustainability of the social and environmental sectors using a CSV approach.

An Information Management Framework for Consumers to Use the Shared Express Packages

This paper proposes an information management framework for consumers to use the shared express packages. This framework designs the fundamental functions of the information management system, and gives the key categories of the managed information. The fundamental functions of the information management system include: user registration, user login, logistics information query and so on. The key categories of the managed information include: use flow information, package return information, bonus points information and so on. The information management framework proposed in this paper not only involves the use of shared express packages from merchants to consumers, but also involves the recycling of shared express packages from consumers to the receiving cabinets. This framework realizes the usage and recovery of the shared express packages, which can save the logistics packaging cost and reduce the energy waste. It is a beneficial practice for the development of recycling economy.

HoReCa Waste Management – A Case Study

In an era of growing environmental awareness, the HoReCa industry faces significant challenges in waste management. This paper explores the complexity of this issue and analyses the solutions proposed by experts to transform this industry into an agent of sustainability. Issues such as abundant food waste, single-use packaging, and inadequate recycling are discussed, highlighting the increased pressure on resources in the digital age. Despite these challenges, opportunities for innovation in practices, packaging, and community collaborations are emphasized.

Boosting the Circular Manufacturing of the Sustainable Paper Industry – A First Approach to Recycle Paper from Unexploited Sources such as Lightweight Packaging, Residual and Commercial Waste

In the past decades, the German paper industry has been increasing the sustainability of paper production by continuously using more recovered paper. Today, recovered paper is an essential secondary raw material to produce new paper. Nevertheless, around 20 % of the paper produced in Germany is still not returned to the recovered paper stream and instead is mostly thermally used. To further increase the use of fibers from recovered paper as secondary raw material and thus, to reduce primary energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, new approaches to recycle recovered paper from mixed waste streams are needed. In the research project "Energy savings in paper production by opening up the value chains of recovered paper from lightweight packaging, residual waste and commercial waste” (EnEWA), a treatment process is developed to recover and recycle recovered paper from the mentioned waste streams. The advanced mechanical process to be newly developed consists of dry-mechanical sorting, the manufacturing of economically usable secondary raw materials (defibration), their wet-mechanical dissolution, separation and hygienization and finally their reuse in paper production. This enables the exploitation of new waste streams in material recycling and thus contributes to reduced energy consumption as well as CO2 emissions within the circular economy. Initial material characterization analyses show that on the one hand the quality of the paper discarded in mixed waste streams is sufficient to be used as secondary raw material and that on the other hand up to 50 % of the paper discarded could have been disposed of within the separate paper collection. The results are incorporated in the development of a sorting process for pre-concentrates, which serves as input material for the treatment process to recover paper fibers. In further steps, the results generated will be integrated, for instance, into the future development of the minimum standard for packaging recycling.

Food companies' innovations in creating sustainable product packaging on the Polish market

The emergence of the problem of creating and implementing sustainable food packaging is forcing companies to implement innovations in this area. Changes in the approach to the production of sustainable packaging should take into account environmental, social and financial aspects. The introduction of modern technologies is becoming a natural part of companies' production processes. Awareness of ongoing changes in the spheres of production innovation, technology, IT and communication can contribute to the creation and implementation of sustainable food packaging. The aim of this article is to identify and define innovative activities of food companies in the creation and implementation of sustainable product packaging. The objective included refers to one of the United Nations' objectives - Goal 9: 9.B - Support technological development, research and innovation in developing countries through enabling policies. In addition to the objective, a research hypothesis was included and a research problem was defined. The research used the CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) interview method, and the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) method. The research tool used was a survey questionnaire. The research addressed, among other issues, the use of raw materials and materials used in the production of packaging, the impact of packaging on transport costs, packaging recycling activities and ways of placing information on packaging. The final section of the article discusses the results of the research and identifies recommendations for future research directions.

Oil-paper-umbrella-inspired passive radiative cooling using recycled packaging foam

The self-cleaning and self-cooling oil-foam composite inspired by traditional Chinese oil-paper umbrellas offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly candidate for building cooling applications and provides a value-added path for plastics recycling.

재활용성 향상을 위한 화장품용 메탈프리 펌프 및 유니소재 패키징 개발

Cosmetic packing materials tend to be difficult to recycle when discarded due to the cosmetic industry’s pursuit of aesthetics, functionality, and high value-added design. Pump packaging, which is widely used for the good preservation and discharge of cosmetics contents, is difficult to be separated and recycled because of a metal spring, which is in charge of pump resilience. In this study, a polypropylene spring was developed to replace the existing metal spring to improve the recyclability of the pump packaging for cosmetics, and was uni-materialized by applying to the cosmetic packing materials with 0.2 ml of discharge amount. In addition, performance test was conducted to verify the equivalence with the existing metal spring pumps as grounds for the commercialization of metal-free uni material pump packaging. The decompression leak test showed no leakage and displayed 14.8~17.5 N of pressing strength, 2.3~8.8 % of deviation in dispensing volume, and 4 occasions of pumping for initial discharge.

PERCEPTIONS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL 4TH GRADE STUDENTS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Environmental problems, which are on the agenda of the whole world recently, have made environmental education compulsory. The gradual decrease of resources, global warming, climate change, environmental problems such as the melting of glaciers, the development of technology, factors such as the more frequent use of ready-made packaged food have allowed environmental pollution and related problems to come to light more frequently. Societies that have adopted that having healthy environmental conditions are a human right have higher levels of development compared to other countries. The most important task in raising individuals who are sensitive to environmental problems falls on primary schools. The aim of this study is to reveal the perceptions of primary school 4th grade students about environmental problems and environmental education. In accordance with this purpose thirty-six primary school 4th grade students were reached and interviewed with a semi-structured interview form. Interview results were analyzed through descriptive analysis. As a result, it has been revealed that the students see the environment as a nature, tree, life, greenery and the world. It has been concluded that there is water scarcity, nature pollution, water pollution and cutting trees is an environmental problem. It has been concluded that as an institution TEMA (Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion), the Ministry of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change, the General Directorate of Forestry, Çevko (Environmental Protection and Packaging Waste Recovery and Recycling Foundation), the Ministry of National Education have a duty to be sensitive to the environment and the whole humanity as a person. In order to solve environmental problems, it has been concluded that people have duties such as saving water, keeping the environment clean, protecting nature, planting trees, collecting garbage after picnic, separating those that will go for recycling, using electricity economically, using electric vehicles instead of gasoline vehicles. Related to the environment, it has been concluded that water related painting competitions were held in schools, trees were planted there were recycling bins and environmental boards were prepared. Regarding environmental education, it has been concluded that trees can be planted in schools, painting, poetry competitions can be organized, water saving can be made, recycling bins can be increased and playgrounds can be made of grass and these are desired to be done.

Deposit or reward: Express packaging recycling for online retailing platforms

To motivate consumers’ participation in recycling, we study two recycling policies for express packaging on an online retailing platform equipped with self-run logistics to collect express packaging from consumers. First, under the Deposit-Refund Policy (DRP), when consumers purchase from the platform, they pay a deposit for the express packaging, but the deposit will be refunded if they return the packaging to the platform. The other is the Recycling Reward Policy (RRP), under which the platform provides rewards when consumers return express packaging. The platform decides whether to recycle the express packaging and chooses the optimal recycling policy if recycling is economically feasible. To investigate, we first set up an optimization model to analyze these two recycling policies. Using the No Recycling Policy (NRP) as the benchmark, we then derive managerial insights through comparative analysis and numerical studies. Our results indicate that the consumers’ green consciousness plays a critical role in decision making. Specifically, NRP is optimal for the platform when the green consciousness level is low. As the consumers’ green consciousness level increases to a medium range, recycling becomes feasible and RRP is optimal. If the green consciousness level is high, DRP will be the optimal policy. These findings have helpful implications for corresponding decisionmakers (e.g., express industry managers, government departments) to cautiously judge whether to recycle express packaging and which recycling policy is best under different circumstances.

A Global Look at the Market Potential of Liquid Container Board and Its Ability to Reduce Plastic Waste – A Brief Review

The use of aseptic packaging creates many opportunities around the world to replace plastic based packaging of liquid and food-based containers in the near future. This will lead to a cleaner environment, less pollution within the air and the sea, and will help stimulate growth within the economy. Soon the use of aseptic packaging containers will be global which will help decrease the amount of pollution along with the number of landfills throughout the world. Many of the world regions highlighted in this paper are decreasing their plastic usage while increasing their recycled product production. As societal values are shifting more towards green materials and sustainable living, the general consumer is becoming more educated and aware of their ability to impact companies and government views, and are placing a larger value on sustainable, recyclable packaging. Aseptic packaging will be an important part of consumerism and the growing market contributes to a more sustainable, greener world as the efficiency of the recycling and production processes using aseptic packaging materials will improve over the coming years, allowing more fiber, plastic and aluminum to be recovered and used in the creation of new APC products.

Life cycle assessment of plastic packaging recycling embedded with responsibility distribution as driver for environmental mitigation

Life cycle assessment modelling of multi-cycle recycling systems is challenging. There is still neither consensus on applying allocation approaches nor a one-size-fits-all solution. This study proposes an allocation approach embedded with the responsibility distribution of stakeholders rather than the standard approach, which is assessed based on stages. It is applied to the case study of plastic packaging recycling and compared to simple and economic allocation cut-off methods. A total of four multiple recycling or cascade utilisation scenarios are assessed, consisting of the linear system (disposal), mechanical recycling, waste to energy and chemical recycling, for at least one of the cycles. Scenario 2, with mechanical recycling as the end-of-life management in all three multiple cycles, has the lowest overall GHG emissions (∼4.8 t CO2eq/t plastic packaging) regardless of allocation method, even after considering deducted savings due to the degraded quality along the cycles. The simple cut-off method could not drive the selection in the first cycle toward the recycling alternatives (Scenario 2–4) with overall lower emissions as the GHG saving from utilising recycled resources are accounted for in the second cycle. Regarding eutrophication potential, as the burdening impact of disposal is significantly higher, recycling options accounted for following the simple cut-off method are preferable even when the burdening effect is entirely embraced by the first cycle without the unburdening accounting. Economic allocation cut-offs provide a better incentive to recycle in the assessed cycles. However, the standard accounting is by stages such as material production, product manufacturing, recycling and disposal. It is unclear whose responsibility, either the raw material producer (MP), the product manufacturer (PM) or the consumer (C). The proposed method with defined responsibility (e.g. 6.2 t CO2eq/t by MP; 2.9 t CO2eq/t by PM; 0.5 t CO2eq/t by C in Scenario 1) is more effective for environmental mitigation strategies (e.g. taxation and incentives, deposit refund scheme) of the plastic life cycle. The scenarios assessment serves as a stepping stone to optimise the allocation among the identified stakeholders in future work according to local conditions.

Cost-benefit analysis of two possible deposit-refund systems for reuse and recycling of plastic packaging in Sweden

Plastic packaging is a major contributor to the environmental impacts associated with the linear plastic production and consumption system due to the prevalence of short-lived single-use plastic (SUP) packaging. Deposit-refund system (DRS), as an alternative policy instrument to Extended Producer Responsibility in waste management, is deemed as a potentially promising way to address the failure of the current plastic waste management and facilitate circular plastic packaging production and consumption for food contact use. In this paper, two DRS scenarios for recycling and reuse respectively are explored, with PET trays for food-grade use in Sweden in focus. Their costs and benefits are investigated relative to the business-as-usual scenario over a 25-year period. Results show that the costs are greater than the benefits for the recycling scenario but not for the reuse scenario and that the benefit-cost ratio (1,67) of the reuse scenario is 2.3 times as high as that (0,73) of the recycling scenario. The distributive analysis reveals major cost drivers such as deposit handling and recycling in the recycling case and deposit handling, dishwashing and packaging in the reuse case and major cost takers such as materials industry and hospitality/supermarkets in both scenarios. However, the results are uncertain, as is indicated by sensitivity analysis. Several parameters with high uncertainty are identified and highlighted for system development and innovation. • Deposit return schemes generate environmental benefits • Costs risk outweighing benefits • Need for system innovation

Promoting Householders' Participation in Household Waste Sorting: A Case for Learning Aluminum Packaging Recycling in Spain

Abstract Recycling is a highly relevant issue in environmental behavior. To make it work, it is necessary to involve people. Many efforts have been made to increase people's participation in recycling. This study proposes an informal education to raise awareness among homemakers about recycling, especially aluminum packaging recycling, using workshops and compensating the factors that act as barriers to recycling in Spain. The results are the “Spaces for Dialogue” strategy to increase knowledge, awareness, and recycling intention. The findings present the main barriers to closing the gap between intention to action, and the study highlights the role that mentors play as teachers in facilitating communication and education for sustainable development.

Recycled Multi-Material Packaging Reinforced with Flax Fibres: Thermal and Mechanical Behaviour.

In this work, the use of a recycled mix stemming from the treatment of multilayer aseptic packaging used in the food and beverage industry is proposed as the matrix for short fibre composites reinforced with flax fibres, to generate value-added materials in contrast to the more common end-of-life scenario including energy recovery. This is expected to be a preferred choice in the waste hierarchy at the European level. A commercially available material (EcoAllene) obtained from multilayer packaging recycling was compounded with short flax fibres up to 30 wt.% by twin screw extrusion, with a view to enhancing its poor mechanical profile and broadening its applications. Composites were in depth analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, which highlighted the complex nature of this recycled product, a limited nucleation ability of flax fibres and a lower thermal stability due to the premature degradation of natural hemicellulose and cellulose, though featuring in any case onset degradation temperatures higher than 300 °C. Composites’ mechanical properties were assessed in tension, bending and impact conditions, with remarkable improvements over the neat matrix in terms of stiffness and strength. In particular, at 30 wt.% fibre content and with 5 wt.% of maleated coupling agent, an increase in tensile and flexural strength values by 92% and 138% was achieved, respectively, without compromising the impact strength. The effectiveness of flax fibres confirmed by dynamo-mechanical analysis is beneficial to the exploitation of these composites in automotive interiors and outdoor decking applications.

How to target millennials as beer consumers through social responsibility? The case of Plzenský Prazdroj

The paper evaluates the consumer attitude of millennials as beer consumers through social responsibility. Various CSR activities are applied by beer producer companies that target different age groups, gender, etc., through different communication channels. The main subject of the paper is the beer producer company, Plzenský Prazdroj (PP), which has an ambitious strategy related to the environment, waste management, underage alcohol drinking, and other aspects. Even though the company has a promising vision relating to CSR, the effect on consumer awareness can be different than expected. Therefore, a general hypothesis was set on whether there is or is not a difference between millennials in their attitudes towards CSR activities of PP. The characteristics of the research sample are displayed on the set of general factors, such as gender, age, monthly income, and more; beer factors like beer preferences, place of drinking, disposal of plastics, etc.; and attitudes of the monitored millennials towards the selected CSR activities of PP, such as recyclable packaging, Promile app, support of communities and more. The results of the paper assist in understanding the consumer attitude of this age group, and their perception of the CSR activities of PP, and can contribute to a successful marketing strategy creation of Plzenský Prazdroj oriented toward targeted cohort. Concerning the results, we created suggestions and recommendations for PP such as diversification of product portfolio and/or even business activities, diversification of non-alcoholic beer products, strengthening the CSR activities relating to the environment and waste management, and creating CSR activities that enable the engagement of millennials via their smartphones. The outcomes can also benefit other brewing companies in terms of CSR activities and marketing strategy creation.

Cutting Techniques in the Fish Industry: A Critical Review

Fish and fishery products are among the most important sources of nutritional components for human health, including high-quality proteins, essential vitamins, minerals, and healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fish farming and processing technologies are continuously evolving to improve and enhance the appearance, yield, and quality of fish and fish products from farm to fork throughout the fish supply chain, including growth, postharvest, treatment, storage, transportation, and distribution. Processing of fish involves a period of food withdrawal, collection and transportation, the process of stunning, bleeding, chilling, cutting, packaging, and byproduct recycling. Cutting is a set of crucial operations in fish processing to divide the whole fish into smaller pieces for producing fish products (e.g., fish fillets, steaks, etc.). Various techniques and machinery have been introduced in the field to advance and automate cutting operations. This review aims to provide a comprehensive review of fish cutting techniques, machine vision and artificial intelligence applications, and future directions in fish industries. This paper is expected to stimulate research on enhancing fish cutting yield, product diversity, safety and quality, as well as providing advanced solutions for engineering problems encountered in the fish industry.

Integrating Blockchain technology for Nutritional Safety- A New Way Forward

The food industry is diversifying and adapting to shifting consumer tastes and environmental issues. Consumers value the quality and uniformity of the fundamental ingredients used to make packaged goods, as well as the longevity, originality, logistics, lifespan, and recyclability of packaging. For the global distribution of food, the safety of agricultural products is critical. In order to enhance efficiency and maximize product manufacturing and distribution, data and information technologies are becoming increasingly vital in the global food and agriculture industry. In the "food and agriculture" (FAI) industry, blockchain is a well-known technical innovation. It facilitates the timely sharing of information such as origin, batch number, and production date, as well as the openness and transparency of the manufacturing environment, food safety certification, and organic products, all of which contribute to food safety and customer trust.

The Greening of Consumption: Challenges for Consumers and Businesses

Abstract The concern for the condition of the natural environment requires taking a new approach towards consumption and meeting consumer needs (Bocking 2009). Despite many initiatives related to the paradigm of sustainable development and the concept of sustainable consumption, the situation is still far from a general departure from mass consumption and consumerism. The article aims to try to synthetically organise the views of other authors on the challenges of greening consumption, both for enterprises and consumers in the context of social responsibility. Competences play an important role in this process. The greening of consumption has not yet been widely propagated in societies, including also Polish society. One of the crucial elements of greening consumption is the purchase of ecological/organic food products. To learn about the behaviour of Poles towards the issue discussed in this article, the authors conducted a study on a representative sample of Poles (N = 1,000) during Nov. 15–27, 2021, using the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) technique (which is an online surveying technique that fits into the quantitative methodology of market and opinion research) and online panels as part of the omnibus study. The survey shows that only 7.1% of the respondents have never purchased ecological/organic food products. Among buyers, 21.8% do it rarely/sporadically, 40.1% occasionally/sometimes, 20.2% often/try to choose ecological products when shopping and 10.8% do it very often or always. Among the respondents, 55.3% declared that ecological/organic products are expensive but still worth the price due to the health benefits they bring. Noticing the advantages of these products, 63.7% of respondents would like to buy more of them. In view of the results obtained, it can be said that it is necessary to disseminate the main greening consumption ideas that are apparent from this study, and this can be done through education, building consumer competences or visualising the effects of the continuation of current consumption habits. The problem of protecting the natural environment, discussed in numerous documents issued by governments and international organisations and in scientific publications, cannot remain unnoticed. Greening consumption is a challenge for companies whose production should be rational in using non-renewable natural resources, reducing or eliminating toxic waste, using recyclable packaging and introducing ‘clean production’ principles aimed at obtaining consumer products using more cost-effective and healthier methods. It is also a challenge for consumers, who should replace perishable goods with products with a longer life cycle, consume goods and services more sparingly and cease to accept planned obsolescence of products or unethical behaviour of enterprises towards their employees.