Milk cartons start with raw materials to enhance environmental protection properties
This article is reproduced from the WeChat public account: Beverage Paper-based Composite Packaging Recycling and Utilization Committee (WeChat ID: CRIC_2021), and this article has slightly modified the original content.
With the continuous popularization and deepening of the concept of sustainable development and green environmental protection, more and more consumers hope that packaging can be more environmentally friendly while bringing convenience. The board member of the beverage paper-based composite packaging recycling and utilization committee, Fanmei Packaging, advocates the use of renewable, recyclable and recyclable materials to meet the needs of today's society for more sustainable packaging.
The United Nations "Waste of Food Carbon Footprint" points out that the food wastes up to 1.3 billion tons of food every year around the world, and the carbon footprint generated is equivalent to 3.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide. The foods that are most wasted include dairy products. The composite packaging structure of the milk carton can effectively block oxygen, light and moisture, so that liquid food can extend the shelf life to 180 days without preservatives and refrigeration. In addition, sterile paper-based packaging can realize recycling and reuse, reducing environmental burden.
On the road to environmental protection, milk cartons are constantly exploring the application of more environmental protection technologies to further improve the environmental performance and recycling rate of packaging.
Cardboard comes from well-managed forests
Regarding the main raw material, cardboard, which accounts for about 75%, Fonmei always emphasizes that while utilizing forest products, it is necessary to ensure the protection of forests and maintain biodiversity. To this end, Fonmei has always insisted on promoting and using responsible forest certification cardboard. All Fenmei factories have passed the COC chain of custody certification.
Reduce aluminum foil layer and reduce packaging carbon footprint
The aluminum foil layer in the milk carton plays an important barrier for packaging, allowing the milk to keep fresh for a long time, but the metal properties also lead to higher carbon displacements. Therefore, aluminum-free packaging materials may become a trend. By replacing aluminum foil with high-performance plastic barrier materials, the beverage paper-based composite packaging will transform from a traditional paper-plastic aluminum ternary structure into a paper-plastic binary structure, which will not only reduce the carbon footprint of the packaging, but also make the resource utilization of the packaging easier.
Plant-based plastics replace fossil-based plastics
Traditional plastics originate from non-renewable petroleum-based products, and they produce a large amount of carbon footprints, whether in the production stage or the waste management stage. The International Energy Agency (IEA) released the World Energy Outlook 2021 report, pointing out that by 2030, the global average temperature will rise by more than 1.5℃ and will rise by 2.6℃ in 2100. Reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and protecting the climate is urgent. Therefore, plant-based has opened up the green transformation of plastic. The PE raw materials in Fenmei Planet products come from well-managed and sustainable forests, which improves the renewability and sustainability of beverage paper-based composite packaging raw materials.
In order to protect the environment and respond to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, more and more companies are actively shouldering the responsibility and mission of promoting green and low-carbon development in society. Fenmei Packaging is taking the special committee on beverage paper-based composite packaging recycling and utilization as a platform to self-discipline the extension system of producer responsibilities, and work with upstream and downstream enterprises and peer companies in the supply chain to continuously play and enhance the environmental protection advantages of beverage paper-based composite packaging to promote the development of the circular economy model.