{"id":22414,"date":"2025-06-18T10:00:56","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T10:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/?p=22414"},"modified":"2025-06-18T12:12:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T12:12:25","slug":"plastica-e-imballaggi-tra-demonizzazione-e-realta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/plastica-e-imballaggi-tra-demonizzazione-e-realta\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic and packaging: between demonization and reality"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plastic is today at the centre of a heated debate <strong>environmental debate<\/strong>. Often considered the symbol of modern pollution, it is the subject of criticism, media campaigns and restrictive regulations. But <strong>What is the real role of plastic in packaging?<\/strong> Is it really the enemy to be eliminated, or are we underestimating its advantages and potential in a circular economy perspective? In this article we analyze the \u201c<strong>plastic paradox<\/strong>\u201c, debunking some myths and offering a balanced vision based on data, innovation and best practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Plastic as a packaging material: advantages and critical issues<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plastic is an extremely durable material. <\/span><b>versatile, lightweight, durable and moldable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which makes it ideal for numerous applications in packaging, especially in the food, cosmetic and medical sectors. Compared to other materials, it allows a <\/span><b>lower environmental impact during production<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (less energy, lower emissions) and better protection of the contents, resulting in reduced waste.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it also presents some obvious critical issues:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It degrades slowly, causing accumulations in natural environments if not properly directed to a recycling system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is often used excessively or unnecessarily (overpackaging).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Many plastics are difficult to recycle due to mixed compositions which, however, are often necessary for specific uses.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is therefore essential to distinguish its correct use from its superfluous use, analyze the real needs of particular packaging characteristics to avoid incorrect uses and design plastic-free packaging only where really necessary and possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Plastic bashing: how justified is it?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In recent years, an extremely negative narrative has spread towards plastic, a phenomenon known as <\/span><b>plastic bashing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Viral videos, advertising campaigns and images of oceans filled with waste have contributed to creating a distorted perception of the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, as he also points out <\/span><b>Corepla<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the project \u201cThe Plastic Paradox\u201d by <\/span><b>Canon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the main problem is not the plastic itself, but rather <\/span><b>its improper management<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demonizing plastic can lead to hasty choices, such as substitutions with alternative materials that, in some situations, turn out to be <\/span><b>more polluting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the complete life cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is therefore necessary to shift the focus from the &quot;fight against plastic&quot; to <\/span><b>promotion of recycling, reuse and eco-design<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Bioplastics, compostables, recyclables: what really changes?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the world of packaging we hear more and more often about <\/span><b>bioplastics<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>compostable materials, biodegradable materials<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> And <\/span><b>recyclable plastics<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but confusion reigns supreme. Here are some key distinctions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b> Bioplastic: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can be <\/span><b>bio-based<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (vegetable or animal origin) but not necessarily biodegradable. Some are, some are not.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b> Compostable: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It degrades under controlled (industrial) conditions, but not always in home compost.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b> Biodegradable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: it degrades in certain conditions, even in nature, but humidity and adequate temperature are needed, in addition to the presence of microorganisms (such as enzymes, bacteria, fungi or algae) that physically destroy the polymer; this process does not necessarily occur only with Bioplastics. To be defined as biodegradable, a material must degrade at least 90% within 6 months.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b> Recyclable: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it is a single-material plastic that can be returned to the form of raw material, often in a low-impact mechanical way, to be reworked in the same conditions as virgin plastic of fossil origin and then reintroduced into the production cycle, provided that it is correctly collected and separated<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ideal solution is not always bioplastic but the right material in the right context, with a design that considers the necessary characteristics of the packaging for its intended use and period of use as well as the entire life cycle of the product.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The challenge of single-use plastic (SUP Directive)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The European Union has introduced the <\/span><b>SUP (Single Use Plastic) Directive<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to combat the use of non-essential single-use plastics by banning or limiting products such as straws, cutlery, plates and cotton buds. However, after just a few months it was realized that some plastic products, such as straws, are not so easy to replace, so much so that America has put them back into production and circulation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For packaging, this has led to a push towards:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the adoption of alternative materials<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">redesigning packaging to reduce the amount of plastic<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increasing recycled content in packaging (e.g. recycled PET)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Italy has implemented the directive by seeking a balance between sustainability and industrial competitiveness, supporting companies in <\/span><b>production reconversion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and in the search for innovative solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Concrete initiatives for circular plastic<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many Italian companies are distinguishing themselves on the path towards a <\/span><b>circular plastic<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Some examples:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.corepla.it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Corepla<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has developed innovative plants for the treatment of mixed polymers and educational campaigns to improve the collection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aliplastspa.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Aliplast<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> produces high quality recycled plastic for food contact<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ferrarelle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> uses recycled PET 100% bottles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Startups and SMEs are experimenting with biodegradable plastic from marine sources, agricultural waste and algae<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, projects such as <\/span><b>IPPR (Institute for the Promotion of Recycled Plastics)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> certify products containing recycled plastic, promoting greater transparency and traceability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plastic in packaging is not the enemy, but a resource to be managed responsibly. Demonizing it does not solve the problem, indeed it risks making it worse. We need a rational approach, based on <\/span><b>eco-design, recycling, education and innovation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Only in this way can we transform the plastic paradox into a <\/span><b>challenge won for sustainability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/contatti\/\">Contact us<\/a> today to find out more.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>La plastica \u00e8 oggi al centro di un acceso dibattito ambientale. Spesso considerata il simbolo dell\u2019inquinamento moderno, \u00e8 oggetto di critiche, campagne mediatiche e normative restrittive. Ma qual \u00e8 il&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22416,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-22414","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22414"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22417,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22414\/revisions\/22417"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamplast-srl.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}