LifeSpan modified atmosphere bulk packaging impact on the environment
LifeSpan MAP products generally have a positive impact upon the environment.
The positive impact can occur as LifeSpan is designed to preserve the quality of fresh produce after harvest. Thus the wastage rates of fresh produce packaged in LifeSpan are reduced and this has positive environmental impacts as described below. LifeSpan is a specialised form of plastic bag, and like all plastic bags it may have a negative impact on the environment if manufactured, used and disposed of without care. The level of impact of plastic bags is greatly influenced by their design, method of manufacture, use and disposal.
As discussed below, Amcor designs and manufactures LifeSpan products to ensure minimal negative impact on the environment.
For LifeSpan products, a box liner typically weighs less than 50 grams but it is used to reduce or eliminate wastage to 5-20 kg of fresh produce packed inside the liner. Thus the impacts upon the environment due to manufacturing the LifeSpan product are very small compared to the impact upon the environment achieved by preventing wastage of fresh produce. Similar logic applies for the larger formats of LifeSpan products that can be holding up to 1 tonne of fresh produce.
This information focuses on 3 principal areas of impact on the environment:
- The consumption of energy and raw materials
- The carbon footprint of products
- The impact of chemicals on the environment
Wastage Reduction
The production of fresh produce involves the use of equipment such as tractors and pumps that consume energy. It also involves the use of certain chemicals and fertilisers that have an impact on the natural environment. Fresh produce farmers are responsible in their use of chemicals and fertilisers, and use products that largely break down into harmless substances. However, if a proportion of the crop is lost due to wastage at retailers and consumers, then a proportion of the energy usage and chemical usage has occurred with no effective output. LifeSpan can help prevent that wastage.
After growing a crop, it must be harvested, graded, packed, cooled and distributed to the market. All these activities use energy to drive the machinery and transport. Again, if a proportion of the crop that is harvested and distributed to the market is then lost due to wastage at retailers and consumers, then a proportion of this energy usage has occurred with no effective output.
LifeSpan can assist in reducing the wastage of fresh produce, and the wastage of the energy consumption and chemical consumption used to grow, harvest, package and distribute that fresh produce. In turn, the chemicals and energy wasted have further consumed energy during their production and distribution to the farm and pack-house. So there is a potential further saving in wastage at this level.
Use of this product or information is not guaranteed, and is for general guidance only. Users should conduct their own tests to determine suitability. Freedom from patent restrictions cannot be assumed.
Plastic Packaging and the Environment
The use of materials and energy in manufacture of plastic packaging is largely proportional to the weight of the packaging product. For modified atmosphere packaging, a critical performance factor is that the package does not puncture or tear during usage. If a hole occurs, the entire modified atmosphere effect is lost. LifeSpan is manufactured from oil-based raw materials because this allows strong packaging to be manufactured at the thinnest gauges and lowest weight. Most plastics based on renewable raw materials have strength limitations which require thicker films to be used for successful MAP.
Thicker plastics also use more energy during the manufacture of the packaging products. Energy use is generally proportional to the weight of the packaging being produced. The weight of the packaging also impacts on the distribution of the packaging to the fresh produce packing facility and then on the distribution of the fresh produce to retailers. Thicker MAP bags weigh more and thus require more energy use during distribution.
Renewable Plastic Materials
Amcor is continually working with suppliers of plastic materials globally to develop and test new materials. This includes materials from renewable sources as well as oil-based materials. Into the future, Amcor will strive to introduce products that have low environmental impact. In doing this, we will take account of all the environmental effects of our products and not focus solely on a single environmental parameter.
Environmental impacts not only occur during the manufacture and use of a product, but also in the disposal of the waste generated when the use of the product is complete. Biodegradable materials can be collected and recycled via commercial composting operations. Some products made from renewable plastic materials can be recycled into a new plastic product.
Existing LifeSpan products should be collected and recycled back to a plastic material that can be used to manufacture a new product. LifeSpan is packaging of fresh produce for storage or distribution of the produce. Thus the usable life of LifeSpan products normally ends at either cool storage facilities or at retailers, where collection is easily achieved. Please check with your local recycling facilities on taking back the LifeSpan liners. Such recycling facilities exist in almost every country.
