Years ago, almost every food or beverage bought was packaged in plastic and this was the norm. Today, more often than not food will be packed in recycled materials such as cardboard or recycled plastic packaging and it seems that single-use plastic is gone for good.
There are many reasons why this change was necessary and why as we have transitioned into more sustainable packaging options, the idea of plastic packaging returning is becoming less and less likely.
For one, single-use plastic is terrible for the environment. plastic takes a very long time to degrade and often the chemicals released during the break-down process are toxic to the environment
Single-use plastics are bad for the planet, they pollute our oceans and rivers and fill up landfills and never break down like organic materials do. Therefore, it is no longer in our best interest to use plastic.
Other packaging solutions such as cardboard deli boxes or using recycled plastic which is more easily reused and recyclable after use, have become far more popular and there has been a conscious shift in attitudes towards food packaging.
Most businesses now will actively avoid using single-use plastic, instead opting for a range of other options.
We have even left plastic cutlery behind, opting for single-use wooden or paper options over plastic straws and one-use knives and forks. Using biodegradable options is now the norm, overtaking single-use plastic by miles.
With so much public support for the reduction in plastic waste and many companies now striving to be as sustainable as possible, there is little to no room for plastic to make a comeback in the food and beverage industry.
Furthermore, the constant introduction of more sustainable options such as bamboo or other recycled and biodegradable products, has made it so plastic is no longer needed or useful.
