The rise of self-service merchandising spawned the need for new packaging materials.
Today’s post is written by Ivy Ray, Account Manager at SafeSourcing Inc.
The rise of self-service merchandising spawned the need for new packaging materials to both protect and help sell products. Today, packaging comprises one-third of solid waste. Out of every $10 spent buying things, $1 (10%) goes for packaging that is thrown away. Packaging represents about 65% of household trash.
We currently have massive amounts of waste accumulating in landfills across this country. The U.S. is the number one trash-producing country in the world, at 1,609 pounds per person per year. This means that 5% of the world’s people generate 40% of the world’s waste. Studies of effective waste management options consistently indicate that prudent practices hold the greatest promise of lessening the need for new landfills and incinerators. These practices(the “3 Rs”): reduce consumption of disposable consumer products, particularly packaging materials; re-use materials wherever possible; and remake or recycle used items. Of these, recycling is a key component to reduce waste and increase environmental sustainability.
Many people simply do not feel comfortable about the huge volumes of garbage they tote to the curb each week. Much of our waste retains some value (energy, fibre, metal) and can be converted into recycled goods, instead of adding it to our landfills. Some facts to think about as listed on Recycling Revolution website:
- A 60-watt light bulb can be run for over a day on the amount of energy saved by recycling 1 pound of steel. In one year in the United States, the recycling of steel saves enough energy to heat and light 18,000,000 homes.
- Each ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution.
- Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour, and 25,000,000,000 Styrofoam coffee cups every year.Most of them are thrown away.
Thousands of U.S. companies have saved millions of dollars through their voluntary recycling programs. Recycling benefits the environment and the economy. Recycling creates 1.1 million U.S. jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales and $37 billion in annual payrolls. It also benefits the air and water by creating a net reduction in ten major categories of air pollutants and eight major categories of water pollutants.
It is imperative that we all find ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle, because every little bit helps!
For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist you in exploring your procurement solutions for your business or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.
We look forward to your comments.
References———————————————————–
http://recycling-revolution.com/recycling-facts.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling
