Plastic packaging can have substantially smaller environmental impacts—including 70% lower greenhouse gas emissions—compared to other packaging materials, according to a new study.
The findings suggest that although there are major concerns about the short use span of single-use plastics and the consequences of improper disposal, in the big picture the strain they cause on the planet may be less than that of reasonable alternatives.
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In the new study, researchers performed a life cycle analysis to compare the environmental impact of packaging …
In [the vast majority of studied comparisons, plastic] was associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions, water scarcity impact, [fossil fuel] and mineral resource use.
The findings can inform debates about regulating single-use plastics or implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR), which requires manufacturers to help cover the cost of recycling or disposing of their products, the researchers argue.
