The environmental impact of packaging waste

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That’s assuming that these items were responsibly disposed of in a rubbish bin. If not, yesterday’s sandwich wrapper may well end up polluting oceans and rivers.

While our waste is sitting in landfill, new single-use packaging is produced to meet consumer demand. The earth is mined and quarried to access raw materials. Which then go to landfill whilst the previous batch is still festering. The environmental impact of packaging waste

It doesn’t take long to realise the craziness of this linear, rather than circular economy. Or the impact of this never ending packaging cycle on the environment.

Sadly landfill and littering are not the only negative effects of packaging on the environment.

Approximately 70% of UK packaging waste is recycled. Which sounds great! Recycling is less destructive and energy intensive than sourcing raw materials. But it’s still a process which contributes to fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

More household waste, recyclable or not, means larger rubbish trucks. Plus more frequent collections to keep the streets clean. Both need more fuel which adds to the environmental costs.

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