Can plastic packaging be sustainable? | PakTech

Discover why there’s a place for plastic in sustainable packaging 

Plastic is everywhere. From construction sites to electronics, it has become an industry staple. Within the packaging market, plastics are widely used for their versatility, durability and unique ability to safeguard and transport essential products.¹

But as plastic’s role has grown, so has the conversation about its environmental impact. This debate is often clouded by misinformation, opinion, and not enough facts, leading both the public and businesses to view all plastic as bad, which may be hindering the adoption of more effective solutions.

With rising concerns over pollution, single-use culture, and waste generation, both consumers and brands are rethinking how plastic is made, used, and reused. 

So, what’s the path forward? Is eliminating plastic from our world realistic—or even possible? Or is there a smarter, more sustainable way to work with plastic that benefits both people and the planet?

To find the answers to these questions, we asked industry packaging professionals across Europe what they think of the current plastic packaging situation.

But before we dive into their perspectives, let’s take a closer look at why not all plastics are created equal. 

Single-use plastic vs recycled plastic 

As the name suggests, single-use plastics are designed to only be used once, before being discarded. Examples may include plastic shopping bags, straws, disposable cutlery, food packaging, and many, many more everyday items. Despite their short utility, these plastics stick around for hundreds of years, often ending up in landfills which then necessitate more virgin plastic to be created.²

On the other hand, recycled and recyclable plastic options like recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) are made from plastic waste, leading to: 

• Reduced demand for virgin plastic 

• Conservation of fossil fuel resources 

• Reduced carbon emissions 

• Less plastic waste in landfills 

By choosing rHDPE packaging, brands can enable plastics to be recycled into new products again and again, supporting a circular economy. Yet, despite these benefits, there are several misconceptions around recycled plastic and its role in sustainable packaging.

To better understand these barriers, we turned to industry professionals for their insights. 

What do industry professionals think about rHDPE? 

To better understand the real-world challenges facing packaging manufacturers, we carried out proprietary quantitative research on 500 European packaging professionals across the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.³

We asked them where plastic belongs in their operational, procurement, sustainability and marketing strategies—and what’s holding them back from doing more for responsible plastics use. Here’s what we found out: 

1 - Plastic plays a pivotal role in packaging

Our research made one thing clear—plastic is necessary in certain circumstances, and we need to find a way to live with it sustainably.

In fact, over 85% of industry professionals either strongly agreed or tended to agree that plastics are essential to the supply chain, led by sustainability specialists, who showed the greatest support.

What’s more, 80% said that they’re aware of the benefits of rHDPE, with many citing its strength, durability, lightness, recyclability, sustainability and relatively low cost as advantageous.

These findings show that industry insiders understand not only the necessity of plastic, but also the value of making smarter, more sustainable choices—like choosing rHDPE.

2 - Responsible plastic use is the way forward 

Eliminating plastic is not on the agenda, instead, it’s about using it smarter. Our data revealed that 33.6% of industry professionals are working on reducing their use of plastics while accepting that they are still sometimes necessary.

Another 33.4% are continuing to use plastics but are aiming to move to more sustainable plastic options. And another 33.0% are focused on eliminating plastics use altogether.

This means that over two thirds of industry professionals are pursuing more responsible plastics rather than abandoning its use. 

3 - Smarter decisions start with better understanding

It is clear from our research that even within the packaging industry, there is confusion around recycled and recyclable plastics.

For instance, when asked to compare how much of their company’s plastic is recyclable versus how much it is actually recycled, 41% of professionals were either unsure or assumed the numbers were the same.

Over half of industry professionals also underestimated or significantly overestimated the number of times plastic can be recycled, believing this number to be either 2-5 times (32%) or unlimited (25%).

When in fact, HDPE can be recycled up to ten times, without significant changes to its processability or long-term mechanical properties. ^{4, 5, 6}

What’s more, there is still a ‘green halo’ effect surrounding fibre-based packaging, with almost half of industry professionals (47%) considering recycled fibre to be more sustainable than recycled plastic. However, a Sphera life cycle analysis study has revealed that our 100% rHDPE handles have the lowest carbon footprint in relation to paperboard carriers and cartons.⁷

These findings highlight the need for more education—so brands and consumers alike can make more informed, sustainable packaging choices. 

Closing the loop: Unlock the recycled plastic opportunity 

rHDPE presents a promising avenue to support the secondary packaging industry in certain scenarios, where plastic is necessary. However, there is a big opportunity for brands to educate consumers, and in some cases, industry professionals, on the benefits of recycled plastic.

To help close the loop on plastic and move the industry towards a circular economy, PakTech is handling plastic differently.

All our rHDPE handles are 100% recycled from products such as milk, water, juice, and other unpigmented household containers. And they are fully recyclable for a third life as composite lumber, park benches, planter pots, new PakTech handles, and more. 

Beyond their sustainable advantages, our rHDPE handles are also lightweight and minimal but mighty in performance, durable, heat- and water resistant, protective and hygienic, cost-effective and customizable.