Paper vs.

Plastic
* * Balboa, Clarisse * Rubina, Cricelle * Patrick * Custodio, Cyron * Salen, Vladimere

Why Plastics?
Replacing Traditional Materials Due to Superior Properties

Safe and Hygienic Inert and Chemical Resistance Light Weight and Non-Breakability

Excellent Barrier Properties- Enhancing Shelf-Life

Superior Impact Resistance Transparency as well as Opacity Lower Fuel Consumption and Product Loss during Transportation

All these at Lesser Cost

Plastic carry bag accounts for less than 1% of the total plastic consumption

 Increase shelf life of contents Essential for Packaging / carrying of confectionary and bakery products Essential for Packaging / carrying hygroscopic products like sugar and salt Convenient for carrying fish, meat, poultry and other wet food products which has no other appropriate alternatives

Essential to carry commodities during rainy season

Add convenience to day-to-day life

TOP GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION SAVER

Based on 2005 scientific research, the total global emissions must be 51.2 GtCO2e but because of the development of our Chemical Industry, it was lessen to 46 GtCO2e.

PLASTICS SAVE GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND SAVE THE EARTH FROM GLOBAL WARMING
- from: Mckinley cLCA study for International Council of Chemical Association

DESPITE ALL THESE POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES

Major Issue
Health and Safety Toxicity Biodegradability Disposal and Waste Management

Health and Safety

Polythene is approved safe material for use: In contact with food, pharmaceuticals and drinking water As implants within human body In medical applications like IV bottle, packaging of table

Toxicity
Issue: Plastics are termed as toxic and injurious to health Fact: Plastics are inert materials and do not pose any danger of toxicity Emissions during processing of plastics are well within regulatory norms Additives used in plastics are approved as per BIS/FDA standards Emissions at fire situation have similar or lesser implications in comparison to situation involving natural organic materials like paper and cotton Emission during burning of paper and polyethylene are similar

Biodegradability
Issue: Non-biodegradable property of plastics carry bags is termed as the major reason of waste management problems Plastics are useful for its long life characteristics Nothing decomposes substantially in modern landfills. It requires additional mechanical action for composting degradable waste Biodegradable or Recyclable Plastics? Compostable plastics will degrade/ compost only in composting conditions The concept of biodegradable plastics will encourage littering Spurious products cannot be detected in market place causing flooding of fake bags A mixture of degradable and non-degradable plastics will disturb the plastic recycling activity During decomposition stage in biodegradable plastics emit CO2 and CH4- both green house gases.

Reuse and Recycling is preferred over degradation to encourage Resource Management Disposal

Biodegradation or Recycling? Biodegradable Plastics have been developed However these are required in applications where recycling is not possible or difficult Developed countries - -major manufacturers of BD Plastics - - have not mandated use of Biodegradable carry bags in their countries

Issue: Plastics are blamed as the major cause of MSW problems Fact: According to studies plastics form, there is only about 5% of total MSW in major Indian Metros A recent study at Deomar Dumping Area (Mumbai) reveals that- 90% of plastics brought to the landfill are picked up by rag pickers and sold to waste trades recycling

(Source: Pira International, 2012; Global Industry Analysts, 2012)

Global Packaging Paper Industry expected to reach $820 billion by 2016

US:largest consumer for packaging of paper in 2010 with a demand of $137 billion Paper Packaging Materials to reach 223.9 metric tons by 2015

Sustainability is a Shared Responsibility

Eco-conscious. Consumer demand for more Sustainable and Convenient packaging Retailers and manufacturers perceive a marketing advantage. Eco-friendly, Green, Bio-based, Compostable and Biodegradable : big selling points

Legislation and regulations pushing for innovative ecofriendly packaging

Paper-based Packaging: The Responsible Package

Paper has an excellent image as packaging material (renewable, recyclable and biodegradable)

Paper and paperboard account for 29% of the Total MSW generation in 2010 (Total 250 million tons)
About 71% of paper and paperboard containers and packaging was recycled, including 85% of all corrugated boxes

 Plastic bags pollute beaches & oceans.

Plastic bags litter the landscape. Plastic bags kill animals. Plastic bags effect on human health. Plastic bags are non-biodegradable.

PLASTICS ADVERSE EFFECTS ON OUR ENVIRONMENT

1}Plastic pollute beaches &oceans

Garbage has been discarded into the oceans for as long as humans have sailed the seven seas or lived on seashores or near waterways flowing into the sea. Since the 1940s, plastic use has increased dramatically, resulting in a huge quantity of nearly indestructible, lightweight material floating in the oceans and eventually deposited on beaches worldwide.

PLASTIC DEBRIS ON MOVE

2} Plastic bags litter the landscape

Once they are used, most plastic bags go into landfill, or rubbish tips. Each year more and more plastic bags are ending up littering the environment. Once they become litter, plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks, beaches, and streets. And, if they are burned, they infuse the air with toxic fumes.

3} Plastic bags kill animals

About 100,000 animals such as dolphins, turtles whales, penguins are killed every year due to plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for food, and therefore die. And worse, the ingested plastic bag remains intact even after the death and decomposition of the animal. Thus, it lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.

4} Plastic bags are non-biodegradable

And one of the worst environmental effects of plastic bags is that they are non-biodegradable. The decomposition of plastic bags takes about 1000 years.