Sustainability is a leading issue among businesses and consumers these days. It encompasses both economic and ecological concerns with the ultimate goal of achieving cost and production efficiency with the least impact on the environment. Many forms of packaging have been identified as wasteful by environmental groups that have been successful at lobbying for greener solutions. The following is why metal stands up as a leading solution to satisfying the packaging debate.
The Most Recycled Packaging
Metal ranks high on sustainability tests because it's the most recycled material on the planet. Aluminum cans lead all other packaging materials at percentages of items returned for recycling. Three quarters of all aluminum cans in Europe are recycled, according to Metal Packaging Europe. This metal can be recycled over and over while still providing strength, versatility and durability. Nearly 80 percent of metal used throughout history is currently still in use.
One explanation of this phenomenon is that messages are clearly printed on cans about recycling and sometimes what recyclers will pay for each can. Not all of these eco-conscious consumers, though, save big bags of cans and deliver them directly to recyclers for money. Many people simply make sure they dispose of recyclable materials in trash cans marked "recycling" by local pickup services.
The sustainability of aluminum cans goes far beyond recycling. Soda cans, for example, can be stacked in such a way that they save space in the shipping process compared with many other forms of packaging. Aluminum cans, despite their light weight that adds to further savings in shipping, provide incredible strength that cardboard, glass and plastic cannot match.
Protects Food from Chemicals and Contaminants
Sustainability has many dimensions, particularly safety from disease. Metal is perfect for ensuring air-tight protection of food and beverage products against outside environmental forces. While plastic can be punctured and glass can be broken in the shipping process, it's unlikely metal cans containing food will be exposed to the open air.
Metal is a top choice for food packaging among producers that care about customer satisfaction. The metal walls of cans merge with seamless tops and bottoms so that chances of leaks are greatly reduced. This strong and durable encasement gives manufacturers and consumers confidence that the food or beverage is not compromised in any way from outdoor elements.
Metal Ensures Long Shelf Life
Another amazing attribute of metal in terms of sustainability is that the robust packaging can keep products on retail shelves much longer than inferior packaging. Both manufacturers and retailers benefit from long shelf life, especially in situations when market demand is uncertain. The products can be kept in inventory for several months if they don't sell then put on shelves again when demand picks up.
Food waste is a major concern among environmental activists who work with governments to regulate markets toward a more sustainable society. Perishable products packaged in plastic have a much shorter shelf life and therefore must be sold more quickly to avoid food waste. Canned foods are less likely to contribute to food waste due to their longer shelf life.
Why is food waste such as big deal? About 30 to 40 percent of the food supply in the United States goes to waste, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This percentage combines losses at both the retail and consumer levels. These losses approach $200 billion worth of food that could have helped needy families but ended up in landfills. Some of the reasons people dispose of food without consuming it include exposure to mold, bacteria and insects. Metal packaging is very resistant to these forces of nature.
NextGen Food Packaging
The next generation of food and beverage packaging will probably not be material made of toxic chemicals. It will more likely be a refinement of existing sustainable packaging solutions such as metal. Think of how long metal has already withstood years of rethinking the entire packaging process. Metal continues to be the timeless solution for protecting perishable products for the longest amount of time possible.
Aluminum has endless possibilities in terms of shaping. It's among the best materials for experimenting with new packaging designs because it's lightweight, easy to shape and easy to print on. The shiny qualities of every type of metal add to the convincing argument that metal is a great choice for standing out on retail shelves. Clearly, the sustainability of metal will continue to make it a widely used packaging material throughout the next century.
