However, analyzing a research conducted by the University of Oxford, the facts come out reversed. The study investigates the composition of the most used objects and you will be surprised to see how plastic only accounts for 1% compared to the total. It therefore appears evident that eliminating it does not eliminate the problem, on the contrary, it exacerbates it.

Pollution: the real factors of responsibility

Today, technology has made enormous strides forward, allowing the creation of excellent and biodegradable plastics, produced with very resistant and sophisticated granules.. Through their use and correct disposal, infinite recycling of the material has become possible with a truly minimal loss of quality in the product.

As already underlined in thearticle about the situation of beaches and seas We have explained several times how the main cause of pollution is man, not raw materials.  Each of us is required to decide according to our own responsibility where to throw waste, choosing whether the appropriate container for collection or the street is right. And after having used any packaged good that has become garbage, it is our own hands that make us participants in ecological protection. In Teamplast we always support education for people and, before unfairly demonizing any consumer good, we support its correct use and disposal.

Supermarket Bags, Plastic or Paper? The Decision Is Yours

Let's start with the facts: neither of the two materials is completely eco-sustainable.. And if it is true that to produce plastic a precious commodity like oil is used, it is equally correct that to produce paper we deforest forests that are necessary for the regeneration of oxygen for the planet. As regards the recovery of plastic, research is proceeding towards the regeneration of polymers that can be used in the food sector, starting from the recovery of material for domestic use that is cleaned, regranulated and brought to the form of raw material. Furthermore, as indicated by the studies, we must underline that the recycling process presents clear differences: for plastic the processes are mechanical and very low-polluting; much worse are the chemical agents needed for the recovery and bleaching of paper.

It becomes necessary to evaluate the complete impact of a material taking into account the entire production and disposal process that derives from it.. Producing a paper bag involves three times more CO2 emissions than the same item made of plastic. Returning to supermarket bags, we can specify that for the production of a 60 g paper bag, approximately 0.60 kg of CO2 are emitted compared to 0.19 kg for the same product in plastic.

Weight is also important and has an impact on the surrounding environment, because the heavier (or bulkier) an object is, the more energy and costs will be needed to sustain its production, transportation and final disposal. The plastic bags we find at supermarket checkouts weigh about 6 grams, compared to 60 grams for paper bags.

Furthermore, a paper bag from the supermarket is more fragile than a plastic one. If it contains heavy or sharp objects, it is easy for it to break with all the consequences that this entails. The tendency is therefore to fill them less and use more than what is actually needed. Plastic bags, on the contrary, are more resistant and even if they break slightly, they are unlikely to tear completely. And even better, they are reusable and potentially recyclable infinite times.

Conclusions: waste disposal is a fundamental part

As we have seen, it is easy to have a distorted opinion when you do not know the facts in detail. Paper, glass, metal, wood and ceramics have excellent properties and are ideal materials for the production of certain items: as is plastic!

Especially in the food and medical-pharmaceutical sectors, it is essential to use a reliable, clean, safe and resistant material that guarantees the protection of the contents of the 100% and its total isolation from other possible contamination.

Plastic bags, to date, are the safest and most ecological alternative for containing food and, only if they are disposed of in the appropriate containers, allow for their correct recycling and subsequent re-introduction into the market..

Until we learn to differentiate correctly we will not solve the problem of pollution. And in Teamplast we are and will always be at the forefront for a correct culture of plastic and its use.

The characteristics of food packaging

In the food industry it is essential that food is preserved in a way that is safe for human health.. Consequently, the packaging containing it must be compliant and suitable for contact. This means that “under normal or foreseeable conditions of use, they do not transfer components to foodstuffs in quantities such as to:

(a) constitute a danger to human health;

(b) cause an unacceptable change in the composition of food products;

or

c) cause a deterioration in their organoleptic characteristics” (Source: Community Regulation 1935/2004 – art.3).

Currently, according to Italian law, the manufacturer of food packaging must provide a declaration attesting its suitability for contact with food products. 

The attention towards recycled plastic materials and those intended for contact with food is therefore very high especially because some fundamental steps have not yet been fully clarified by the European Community. Considering also that the market of plastic materials is continuously expanding, It would be urgent for us operators in the sector to implement the recycling processes as soon as possible as they have already been approved by the legislator.

What does Regulation (EC) No. 282/2008 provide?

The standard referred to at European level for the use of recycled plastic materials intended for contact with food is Regulation (EC) No. 282/2008, amending Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006. Regulation establishes common rules and eliminates legislative differences between different countries. Until before its entry into force, each country followed its own rules and, for example in Italy, the use of recycled plastic materials intended for contact with food was prohibited, with the exception of fruit and vegetable crates. We can say that, since the transition phase has not yet been completely concluded, we still have to refer to national legislation. But let's proceed in order.

Regulation 282/2008 introduced the concept of authorisation at European level and established a European Register of authorised recycling processes., the only ones that can therefore cope with the production of recycled plastic granules suitable for the production of food packaging. The recycler must therefore submit an application for authorisation to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)., through the competent authority of your country, which demonstrates that it is capable of producing a polymer suitable for contact with food. Once the authorization has been obtained, the owner of the authorized recycling process must communicate the conformity of his product to the sector operators and the competent authorities through a declaration of conformity. This declaration must expressly indicate the authorization number, thanks to which it is possible to trace the recycled material used for the manufacturing of the product.

Once plastic packaging intended for contact with food is found to be compliant, it is considered equivalent to similar virgin materials and, as such, must then comply with the provisions set out in Framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004.

The situation today

As anticipated, we are in a transition phase, in which the entities responsible for verification are still evaluating the requests received. In order to allow the various countries to adapt and comply with the rules set out in the regulation, the legislator has given the owners of recycling processes time to submit an application by 31.12.2009. The delays that are occurring are creating many problems and slowing down the development of new processes. 
We therefore find ourselves still having to refer to the Italian legislation which, in fact, prohibits the use of recycled plastic materials intended for contact with food. (art. 13 Ministerial Decree 21 March 1973).
Chemical recycling, considered by European legislation as a process for the production of monomers and oligomers, remains permitted, provided that the polymer producer is able to demonstrate that the monomers and oligomers obtained from the recycling of plastic materials are authorised for use and are of adequate purity for the production of plastic materials suitable for contact with food as provided for by Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 and Framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 (Source: Italian Packaging Institute).
As regards food packaging, In 2005, the production of crates for certain types of fruit and vegetables in polypropylene and high-density polyethylene was authorised in Italy, using recycled plastic materials and/or crates. However, there is an obligation for producers of recycled plastic crates to notify the competent health authority of the use of recycled polypropylene and high-density polyethylene.  
Furthermore, in 2010, the use of recycled PET (Rpet) was authorised, subject to certain conditions and restrictions, for the production of bottles for natural mineral water and soft drinks.

The most famous soft drink company has already started marketing PET bottles that have an almost brownish color. This global giant has managed to create an internal accredited and EFSA certified recovery center for the production of recycled PET bottles. And it is also a sign of encouragement in terms of plastic material recovery and green economy.

Once EC Regulation 282/2008 comes into full force, the above-mentioned decrees and individual national laws will lapse and will no longer be valid..

Teamplast's point of view

According to research by Federazione Gomma Plastica, the trend regarding polymer recycling is constantly increasing, especially with regard to domestic waste. This indicates that people are gradually adopting increasingly virtuous behavior, committing themselves more to separate waste collection. Of course, there is still a long way to go, and It is essential that clear measures are adopted as soon as possible at national, European and global level to enable plastics producers to further improve their recycling processes.. As is evident, it is possible to use recycled plastics that are intended for contact with food: it is a certainty that, if treated correctly, they do not represent any danger to human health. For this reason, if we want to progress in terms of sustainability and circular economy, it is necessary to provide greater clarity and above all in a short time, to allow all the operators involved to adapt as soon as possible and have the possibility of obtaining EFSA certified granules from recovery.

Why Food Grade Plastic Is Safer Than Other Materials

In recent decades, attention to food safety has grown steadily, because it goes hand in hand with a greater sensitivity to health in general. Ensuring healthy and safe food is therefore one of the priorities of the food industry., which is why they often prefer plastic to other materials such as cardboard and glass for product containment. Plastics, such as Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP), in fact, are particularly suitable for contact with food., especially with the dry ones, then there are the composite plastics or also called "coupled" which ensure protection of the 100% from external contact (think for example of how many bags are touched on supermarket shelves); furthermore They are non-toxic and impermeable to water or gases.

Other important features include the flexibility, the resistence and the transparency of the material, which allows you to see the product inside, promoting its sale.

Glass, cardboard or aluminum cannot boast these characteristics and make the food more susceptible to alterations or modifications. 

Polyethylene or Polypropylene packaging allows you to preserve food for longer while maintaining its properties intact., not only because they provide adequate protection but also because they are very resistant to impacts or contact with other materials, and to deterioration, unlike cardboard.

Safe packaging is certified packaging

Staying on the subject of food safety, It is important to underline that the raw material used for the packaging must be certified and declared suitable for contact with food.. In fact, there are specific and strict community standards to follow throughout the production process, starting from the choice of plastic material and granules used. In particular, reference is made to the UNI EN 15553/2008 certifications, on food safety and ISO 9001:2015 which guarantees a production system in line with the highest quality and safety standards. At Teamplast we obtain and periodically renew both certifications and we have also adopted an internal detailed Quality and Safety Policy aimed, among other things, at ensuring constant commitment to improving and researching the products used.

PE and PP: Safe, Reliable and Customized

In addition to all the positive properties of plastic that we have already listed, let's not forget the aesthetic aspect, also because these are products intended for sale. Thanks to modern printing techniques it is possible to obtain personalized packaging tailored to the company image., in addition to obviously being able to reproduce information and technical specifications related to the contained product.

The result is therefore a finished product that is unique in its kind and designed on the basis of the specific needs of the customer..

Teamplast products for the food industry

We have been working in the food industry for many years and have gained in-depth knowledge of the needs of those who work in that sector.. There are many aspects to consider when thinking about the containment and preservation of food, from the choice of raw materials, to the thickness of the plastic material or its shape and size. 

At Teamplast we produce many products for the food sector including:

• Printed PP Envelopes
• Neutral or coloured PE bin covers
• Neutral or coloured and printed PE UV barrier envelopes
• Printed Coex PP Coils
• Neutral or colored and printed PE envelopes
• Neutral or colored and printed PE reels

DISCOVER OUR PRODUCTS

And much more. Furthermore, each product is made according to specific customer requests, so we can design the most suitable packaging for your food or final use.