Is PET the PVC Killer?
February 23, 2012
Proctor and Gamble (P&G) began avoiding the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in its packaging back in the early ’90s. However to “reduce” and to “eliminate” are two very different beasts. Although PVC only accounts for less than 1.5 percent of P&G’s packaging plastic, the company is still the world’s largest multinational consumer goods company.
This may all sound like a bunch of science mumbo-jumbo but the real-world significance of this reduction can positively impact the plant for coming generations.
That’s why it made big news in January when P&G announced it was taking another step in removing PVC from their Oral-B packaging and instead is going with Octal Petrochemicals direct PET (DPET) as an alternative.
Octal COO Joe Barenberg told plasticstoday.com that “more companies are making the switch to PET because of its recyclability, sustainability and great appearance.” Taking it one step further, P&G’s use of DPET lowers the carbon footprint of traditional PET, making it an even greener solution.
PVC has long been a thorn in the side of proponents of environmental packaging. As large companies begin to embrace PET and similar packaging options, we will see a world with more sustainable distribution networks.
It’s advances like these that reduce materials, reduce the amount of energy required to transform sheets of plastic into incredible packaging and finally are more eco-friendly at the point of disposal that are converging into major packaging trends.
Every company not run by Lex Luthor would like to be greener and more environmentally aware. The balance of costs, appearance and finding the right solution are keys.
You can’t change your production line every time a better plastic comes out. At the same time, however, you can’t avoid the change forever.
There are many different ways to reduce and reuse shipping materials. There are always new advances in recyclable plastics and other options. You need a partner that has found working solutions for many different packaging quandaries while creating process cost savings. Contact Ernest Packaging Solutions today.
