The World in 2030

160 The World in 2030
One factor behind the packaging explosion is the way
goods are mass-produced in one part of the world
and shipped to another to be sold. Products need to
be boxed, wrapped or bagged in a way that gets them
from the farm or factory and into the consumer’s
home in one piece. If the environmental impact of
producing the items that might get damaged on the
way is greater than that of the packaging needed to
keep them safe, then the wrapping makes environmental
sense. 312
And, as Ms. Marshall uncovers, there is no simple answer to
what type of packaging is most suitable for a specific purpose
(although plastics comes out overall best):
Plastic is light and uses relatively little energy, but it
is non-renewable, non-biodegradable, and only some
types can easily be recycled. Glass is energy-hungry to
make, and even to recycle. Glass containers are also
heavier than plastic ones, so shipping them consumes
more fuel, but on the plus side they are easier to reuse
and refill. Paper is renewable and degradable, but it is
bulky to ship, can be energy intensive to produce, and
uses environmentally damaging chemicals in its manufacture.
Aluminium’s environmental performance
depends heavily on recycling: it takes a lot of energy
to produce in the first place, but recycled aluminium
has significantly lower environmental impact. Steel
takes less energy to produce, but it’s heavier. 313
The plastic shopping bag is another topic which ignites
environmentalists, and it is easy to see why. Although they