The pandemic spurred an uptick in plastic bag use, as already limited retail take back options became more scarce. Stakeholders from all sides think it's time for new ideas.
What happened
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Why it matters
Last spring, as coronavirus restrictions reversed single-use bag bans, plastic film was once again in the limelight. The thin, flexible sheets of plastic are best known for their use in grocery store bags, but get used prolifically in everything from the packaging on Twinkies to bubble wrap.
“With COVID, a lot of folks actually went back to using the single-use bags from the reusable shopping bags, from a health and hygiene and sterility safety perspective,” said Alison Keane, president and CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association. Film’s ability to hold up well in shipping and keep perishables fresh, all the while scoring well on life cycle assessments, is the reason why interest in it is only growing.
Yet those same fears — about health, hygiene, and sterility — had another unforeseen effect. As reasons to use plastic film climbed, the already limited avenues through which to recycle it appeared to dissolve.
This news brief is based on reporting published by Waste Dive on 2021-01-04. The original report is linked below.
Waste Dive
https://www.wastedive.com/news/plastic-film-bag-takeback-chemical-recycling-coronavirus/592503/This independent news brief is based on the public source identified above. It is an original summary or translation, not a reproduction of the source article. Rights in source text, research, trademarks and images remain with their respective owners; images are used under the licence or permission identified in the credit. Rights holders may contact rights@goodproductasia.com with evidence of ownership. Verified concerns will be corrected, replaced or removed promptly. This report is not investment, legal, medical or purchasing advice.
