In today's world, cosmetic packaging plays a crucial role in both protecting products and shaping our health and the state of the natural environment. However, their production and disposal come with a series of challenges. The goal is to protect products from contamination, oxidation, and external factors while maximizing respect for the surrounding world.
Plastic
Plastic is lightweight, which reduces the carbon footprint in transportation. It is relatively easy to mold at low temperatures, lowering energy consumption. However, its production and recycling are highly problematic. Furthermore, it contains many chemical additives that, along with the plastic itself, can be harmful to health and the environment: microplastics find their way into water and soil, and then through the food chain, penetrating our skin or entering our bodies through respiratory pathways.
Chemicals and Toxins:
Bisphenol A (BPA): Used as a plasticizer in plastic production. BPA can disrupt the endocrine system, affect fertility, and increase the risk of obesity.
Phthalates: Used as plasticizers in plastics. They can cause fertility problems and negatively impact fetal development.
Stabilizers and Dyes: Added to plastic to give it desired properties. These chemicals can be toxic and migrate into products we consume or apply to our skin.
Recycling Plastic and the Environment
New Plastic on the Market
Each year, approximately 400 million tons (400,000,000,000 kg) of new plastic is introduced to the market.
To better illustrate this amount, it means that 400 billion kilograms of plastic are produced annually. Of these 400 million tons, only about 9% (or 36 million tons) are recycled. Of these 36 million tons of recycled plastic, between 6% and 13% can end up back in the environment as microplastics.
This means that from 2.16 to 4.68 million tons (2,160,000,000 to 4,680,000,000 kg) of plastic returns to water and air as microplastics, solely from the recycling process.
Environmental Cost
The plastic recycling process generates significant amounts of toxins and microplastics. During recycling, various chemical substances are released, which can pollute the air and water. Research conducted by the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow found that recycling plants can release up to 13% of microplastics from processed plastic into the environment.
Emissions and Toxins
The plastic recycling process includes the emission of dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are toxic and cause serious health problems. Additionally, the melting and processing of plastic lead to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which pollute the air and contribute to smog.
Microplastics
Water from recycling plant waste, even after filtration, contains billions of microplastic particles per cubic meter. For example, one recycling plant found up to 75 billion plastic particles per cubic meter of water. Most of these particles were smaller than 10 micrometers, and 80% were even smaller – below 5 micrometers.
Energy and Resources
The plastic recycling process also requires large amounts of energy, water, and other natural resources. It is estimated that recycling one ton of plastic consumes up to 2.5 megawatt-hours of energy and significant amounts of water, further burdening the environment.
Efficiency
Ultimately, plastic recycling is only a partial solution to the pollution problem, as most plastic is not fully processed into new products, and some of it returns to the environment as waste, increasing the overall level of pollution.
Alternative Methods of Plastic Recycling
To minimize the negative impacts of plastic recycling, scientists and engineers are working on alternative methods:
Chemical Recycling: Processes like pyrolysis, hydrolysis, and gasification break down plastic into its basic chemical components, which can be reused.
Enzymatic Recycling: Using enzymes to break down plastic into monomers that can be repolymerized.
Upcycling: Transforming plastic waste into higher-value products, such as composite materials or clothing.
Bioplastics: Creating plastics from renewable resources that are biodegradable and less harmful to the environment.
Ecological Packaging Alternatives
Glass
Glass is often used for its impermeability and lack of reactivity. Although it can be reused many times, its fragility and high recycling costs are significant drawbacks. Glass also requires additional protection during transportation, which, considering its weight (higher than other materials), increases its carbon footprint. It is primarily obtained from quartz sand, calcium, and soda, which are melted at high temperatures to achieve a uniform glass mass.
Lelya Cosmetics
The cosmetics we create at Lelya are packaged in glass containers. Our products are not water-based, making them significantly more concentrated and effective than their conventional counterparts. Consequently, the packaging can be smaller, which reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and minimizes the amount of materials used in production.
Biodegradable Materials
Made from natural resources like cellulose, starch, or polylactic acid (PLA), biodegradable materials are designed to decompose under composting conditions. Although they are not yet widely used, they represent a promising alternative to traditional plastics.
Cardboard Packaging
Cardboard packaging is both biodegradable and easy to recycle. It is often used to package cosmetic products, especially solid ones like soaps and shampoo bars. Cartons for liquid products, such as juices or milk, may be lined with plastic, which complicates their recycling, but efforts are underway to improve these packaging solutions. Cardboard packaging is more ecological than plastic; however, its production also impacts the environment, including deforestation and water usage.
Reuse and Refill Programs
Promoting the reuse of packaging and implementing refill programs can significantly reduce the environmental impact of cosmetic packaging. Reusing containers reduces the demand for new materials and minimizes waste. Refill programs allow consumers to refill their existing containers with product, decreasing the need for new packaging and encouraging sustainable consumption practices.
Benefits of Reuse and Refill Programs:
Reduced Waste: Reusing containers and refilling them decreases the amount of packaging waste generated.
Conservation of Resources: Refill programs reduce the demand for raw materials, conserving natural resources and energy.
Lower Carbon Footprint: Reusing and refilling containers minimize the environmental impact associated with the production and disposal of packaging materials.
Conclusion
Cosmetic packaging has a significant impact on our health and the environment. It is crucial that we, as consumers, increase our awareness and promote more ecological approaches. While plastic recycling is important, it is not the only solution – limiting its use in favor of more sustainable materials is even more critical. Choosing the right packaging is thus our next small but significant step towards a healthier future for all of us.
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