According to 44% of top executives in the fashion sector, it is the duty of their clients to dispose of Proper packaging Only 14% of buyers are aware of the kind of material used to package the clothing they purchase; 25 million tonnes may be eliminated using HydropollTM. Four examples of traditional, difficult-to-recycle clothing packaging in the UK annually
Its report, The Future of Packaging in the Fashion Industry, highlights the significant misunderstanding surrounding the environmentally safe disposal of the various packaging types used by the fashion industry and the notion that consumers bear the primary responsibility for proper packaging disposal. Aquapak Polymers Ltd., a company that specialises in polymer-based material innovations, publishes Industry.
The analysis is based on a study conducted with top executives from fashion businesses and retailers in the US, UK, and Australia, including CEOs, retail directors, sustainability directors, and COOs.
Every respondent stated that they continue to use plastic or recycled plastic in their operations. 38% of respondents said that plastic is recycled after use, compared to 25% who said it ends up in a landfill, 22% who say it is reused, and 14% who say it is incinerated. This is in sharp contrast to the World Economic Forum’s official data 2. This demonstrates the uncertainty around the destiny of plastic packaging trash by showing that about 36% of all plastic manufactured is utilised to build packaging, with 85% of that packaging ending up in landfills.
Similar findings apply to home compostable packaging, where just 36% of respondents stated it was properly composted at home, 28% said it was reused, 20% believed it ended up in a landfill, and 15% said it was burned. The results demonstrate the intricacy and opacity of safe disposal in established markets for garbage, such as the US, Australia, and the UK.
When asked who should be in charge of properly disposing of packaging, 44% of respondents answered that their consumers should be in charge, 30% said that the brand should be in charge, and 25% indicated that both parties should be in charge.
However, it became evident that the notion that customers are ultimately in charge of disposal is a little off-base when UK consumers were questioned about packaging and disposal. Only 14% of respondents claimed to be aware of the kind of material used to wrap the fashion products they purchase, whereas two thirds said that they occasionally know what kind of package it is, while another 21% stated that they never do.
Additionally, more than half (53%) of respondents stated that they are confused about how to dispose of and recycle various package kinds, which has led to 59% of respondents recycling less.
The results also imply that the sector isn’t always providing the best possible service to its clients. Only 5% of customers stated that the packaging always has clear instructions on how to dispose of it without harming the environment, 58% stated that there are occasionally, and 23% said often, whereas 6% claimed that instructions are never shown. Yet again, a confused picture.
With the development of HydropolTM, a polymer that is soluble and non-toxic to marine life, Aquapak has created a substitute for traditional plastic that offers the same functionality without the environmental issues. Products like clothing bags are made using it. provide all the essential qualities of conventional polybags, including durability and resistance to punctures, film clarity, and defence against spills and dirt.
Importantly, HydropolTM clothing bags have no end-of-life problems since they dissolve instantly in hot water without creating dangerous microplastics, or they may be disposed of in household recycling bins where they safely wash away with the rubbish. sorting procedure. They also naturally break down on land or in the ocean and are appropriate for both aerobic and anaerobic landfills.
A shift to a new material that leaves no trace after usage is long overdue, as most soft plastics, like polybags, are still burned, dumped in landfills, or recycled. According to Aquapak’s estimations, if HydropolTM were substituted by traditional plastic in Clothing packaging might stop an estimated 25 million tonnes of traditional, difficult-to-recycle packaging from ending up in the environment annually. Finisterre, Zone 3, and Parlez are just a few of the innovative textile and apparel companies who have been employing Hydropol for their garment bags for a number of years.
More recently, JD Williams, Jacamo, and Simply Be brands are owned by N. Brown, an inclusive fashion shopping platform that has joined this packaging revolution and is poised to become the biggest online To cut down on plastic waste and avoid confusion about recycling, a UK shop will utilise HydropolTM packaging for its clothing bags.
“Our study highlights the misconception of plastic disposal versus reality, where recycling rates remain stubbornly low,” says John Williams, Chief Technology Officer at Aquapak. The ambiguity around the proper disposal of waste packaging is a persistent issue that is preventing return recycling rates globally.
Additionally, we must acknowledge that customers cannot resolve this issue on their own. Packaging technologies that offer a variety of end-of-life choices, such as recycling and composting, can accomplish the same tasks as plastic without having a detrimental effect on the environment. We require more Instead of shifting the burden to the end user, businesses should use new technologies and expand the waste system to include more materials if we are to create a circular economy.