Paper vs Plastic Packaging – An Alternative View
ISN’T PAPER CHEAPER THAN PLASTIC? Well, you would be surprised! PAPER IS DEFINITELY BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAN PLASTIC, RIGHT? Wrong! The actual environmental friendliness of paper is questionable. The Film and Bag Federation, a trade group within the Society of the Plastics Industry based in Washington, D.C., said the right choice between paper or plastic is clearly plastic. Compared to paper, plastic consumes 40 percent less energy, generates 80 percent less solid waste, produces 70 percent fewer atmospheric emissions, and releases up to 94 percent fewer waterborne wastes, according to The Film and Bag Federation The International Energy Agency (IEA) identified that paper and pulp production in 2014 consumed 5.6% of the world’s industrial energy requirements. Paper is mainly made from hardwood. This process is highly intense and is composed of the pulping process – a lot of water, chemicals and energy are also used to make paper and dangerous chemicals are ...