The selection of priority order commonly used packaging materials are paper, cardboard, aluminium, glass, plastic, iron and so on. From the perspective of green packaging, the most priority choice is no packaging or the least amount of packaging, it fundamentally eliminates the impact of packaging on the environment; The second is returnable, refillable or recyclable packaging, whose recycling benefits and effects depend on the recycling system and consumers' concepts.
Green packaging design generally follows the three R principles, namely Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
- Recycled and recycled packaging materials
The land and forests are the basis of the ecological balance of human beings. In view of this situation, people can consider the use of reusable and recycled packaging materials, such as beer, beverages, soy sauce, vinegar and other packaging using glass bottles repeatedly, polyester bottles after recycling can be recycled with some methods. Recycling packaging can be used in two ways, physical method refers to the direct and complete purification and crushing, no residue of any pollutants, after the treatment of plastic and then directly used in recycling packaging containers. Chemical method refers to the recovery of PET (polyester film) after crushing and washing, under the action of catalyst, PET all depolymerization into a monomer or partial depolymerization, purification and then polymerization monomer into recycled packaging materials. The reuse and regeneration of packaging materials only prolong the service life of polymer materials such as plastic as packaging materials. When the service life of packaging materials is reached, they still have to face the problem of waste disposal and environmental pollution.
- Edible packaging material
This is a good way to solve the contradiction between food packaging waste and environmental protection. In the design of partial food packaging, it can be made into an edible packaging film that does not affect the original flavour of packed food. By the 21st century, countries around the world have developed a variety of, such as an Australian company developed an edible potato chip packaging, people eat potato chips after eating the packaging. Another example is an edible fruit and vegetable preservative made by a British company. It is a translucent emulsion made of sugar, starch, fatty acid and polyester, which can be sprayed, painted or dipped on the surface of fruits and vegetables such as apples, oranges, watermelons, bananas and tomatoes. Because this kind of preservative forms a layer sealing film on the surface of the fruit, it can prevent oxygen from entering the interior of fruits and vegetables, thus prolonging the ripening process and playing a role in keeping fresh. The preservative period of fruits and vegetables coated with this preservative can be as long as 200 days or more. Best of all, it can also be eaten with fruits and vegetables.
The glutinous rice paper used on candy packaging and the corn baking cup used in ice cream packaging is typical edible packaging. Synthetic edible packaging film in the more mature is transparent, colourless, odourless, non-toxic, with toughness, the high oil-resistant film can be used for food packaging. Its lustre, strength, folding resistance are better.
- Degradable material
Degradable material refers to a kind of plastic whose chemical structure changes in a specific environment that causes performance loss in a specific time. Biodegradable plastic packaging materials not only have the functions and characteristics of traditional plastics but also can be completed after the service life, through the role of ultraviolet light in the sun or the role of microorganisms in soil and water, in the natural environment to split degradation and reduction, and finally re-enter the ecological environment in a non-toxic form, return to nature. For example, a French dairy company mixes ingredients from sugar beets with minerals to create an eco-box.
- Paper material
Paper raw materials are mainly natural plant fibre, in nature will rot quickly, will not cause pollution to the environment, can also recycle paper. Therefore, many large international companies use recyclable paper for annual reports and publicity materials and use recycled paper to make letterhead and letterhead to reflect their green purpose of environmental concern and establish a good corporate image. Paper materials also pulp injection parts, composite materials, building materials and other USES. Pulp moulded products in addition to lightweight, cheap, shockproof and other advantages it also has good air permeability, is conducive to fresh goods, in the international circulation of goods, is widely used in eggs, fruits, glass products and other fragile, fragile, afraid of extrusion items turnover packaging.
In addition, packaging designers can use pure and natural materials to improve the packaging design, such as using coconut shell to design a bowl container can be cleverly designed into food packaging. With packaging design design and color and arouse people's environmental consciousness, the design and colour of the product packaging sounds a little to do, and environmental protection, but it has a direct impact on consumers' visual perception, if deliberately attach some environmental mark on the package and environmental image, will stimulate the consumer's brain, remind consumers don't want disorderly throw away packaging waste. Some packaging pictures often use beautiful landscape pictures, not only can give people visual enjoyment but also enhance consumer awareness of environmental protection.
