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28 May, 2021

Sustainability of Bag-in-box: advantages of the flexible packaging

In the 21st century, sustainability is one of the most important aims for the company development in general. Not every market representative treats the environment responsibly, but every company should care about the problems of environmental pollution and minimize the negative impact of the production process on the atmosphere.

Minimization of CO2 emissions during transportation of packaging in the context of UN goals

The UN declares 17 sustainable development goals, which are also relevant for Ukraine and are reviewed by the national commission every year. Among them is a goal number 13 – Climate action, which should also be addressed by manufacturers. Its main aim is to fight for the normal living conditions of people, which is directly related to the activities of the state and producers. The goal addresses CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which as a result are directly related to global warming.

Sustainability of Bag-in-box: advantages of the flexible packaging. Image 1

According to the Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals, the last 5 years have shown a negative dynamic towards the 13th goal, i.e. an increase in CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is a positive point – since 2015, GDP growth is not necessarily accompanied by an increase in CO2 emissions, as it was before. This is primarily due to the beginning of the active implementation of energy efficiency policy and the responsible attitude of some manufacturers to CO2 emissions.

The report, made by the European conference of ministers of transport states that the transport usage is 31% of total CO2 emissions.

The production and consumption of food products, and thus packaging, are a source of CO2 emissions and have a direct impact on achieving sustainable development goals. The level of CO2 emissions during transportation depends on the size and material of the package. The lower the CO2 emissions from the production and transport of packaging are, the more environmentally friendly it is.

ADVANTAGES OF USING FLEXIBLE PACKAGING IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Bag-in-box – a flexible package for liquid and pasty products, that includes a high-strength multi-layer bag placed in a hard case (cardboard box, barrel, box, etc.). Bag-in-box packaging covers all market needs, because it has a wide range of bag formats – from 2 to 220 liters.

It should be noted that CO2 emissions into the atmosphere during the transportation of Bag-in-box packages are much lower compared to other types of packaging.

According to Nordic Report August 2010, 107 kg of CO2 is emitted when transporting 1000 liters of wine in 5-liter Bag-in-box packages, 164 kg of CO2 in 1.5-liter pouches, and 875 kg of CO2 in a 0.75-liter bottle.

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Flexible packaging is more environmentally friendly compared to rigid packaging for the following reasons:

  1. Significantly fewer machines are involved in transporting empty bags compared to transporting bottles, as such packaging is more compact. 1 truck with a 5-liter Bag-in-box is approximately equal to 9 trucks with 0.75liter bottles. This option helps reduce CO2 emissions.
  2. The Bag-in-box comes in different sizes and has larger capacity than the bottle. Therefore, the consumption of beverages in the Bag-in-box reduces the consumer’s need to go to the supermarket for additional drinks. Transport use is reduced, as are CO2 emissions.
  3. Most of the materials we use in production are made by coextrusion, which reduces the release of solvents and harmful fumes from adhesives into the atmosphere.
  4. Transparent bags are processed by incineration, which does not require the use of gases with additional harmful impurities.
  5. There are also plastic processing plants in the world and our LDPE fitments can be processed into pellets, which can then theoretically be used for production of plastic products in other spheres.
  6. Flexibility of Bag-in-box packaging also helps reduce food waste. When the product is poured out of the package, the package shrinks. This allows you to pour its contents 100% in contrast to, for example, tetra bricks, which usually have a certain amount of drink at the bottom.

Thus, the transition to flexible packaging doesn`t only contribute to the development of the company, but also has significant advantages over rigid packaging in the context of sustainable development. You can already order Bag-in-box packaging, which consists only of PE. We are currently testing in production a PA-free barrier structure that is 96% PE.

Sustainability of Bag-in-box: advantages of the flexible packaging. Image 3