Early in my packaging career I made a very good living selling plastic films. I sold just about every type of plastic packaging film including shrink, stretch, bagging and bundling films. Then around year 2000 there was a new focus on environmental sustainability, and packaging, especially plastics, were blamed for most of the planet’s ills.
How to fix plastic packaging problem?
The plastics industry responded with lighter, stronger film formulations believing doing “more with less resin” was the solution. There was even an attempt to make “biodegradable” (cornstarch infused) plastic films such as those used for some pallet wraps and bags. That solution was a dismal failure, resulting in poor performing films and “plastic dust” when and if the film broke down.
Recycle Labeling on Plastics.
In an effort to make recycling easier for consumers, in 1988 companies began using the triangular and number coded Resin Identification Codes (RIC’s). BTW, a very good source for details and info was published by Good Housekeeping “How to Decode Recycling Symbols”. You’ll find it accurately lists the various codes and what they represent as well as the most common uses.
I will not assume the original motivation behind these recycled codes, but in retrospect, many people believe they are “deception through misdirection”. We know if the consumer focuses on the triangular recycled code label, they tend to not ask the most important questions such as, how or where the item can actually be recycled. There is a false comfort in seeing that familiar recycled triangle.
For example, the most popular, #4 code printed on most plastic bags, means it was produced with low density polyethylene (LDPE) resin. The only place I know you can take plastic bags is a collection bin you may find at a retailer. However, you can find countless articles and news programs confirming the majority of bags we leave at those convenient retail drop of bins DO NOT get recycled. They are far more likely to be incinerated or end up in a land fill. Not exactly what we hoped and thought.
Finally, a 100% Accurate Recycling Code! 
The Amazon Prime mailer envelope in this photo caught my eye and I am grateful. Yes, they are admitting and suggesting this packaging should NOT and can NOT be recycled. The fact is that NO bubble lined mailer envelopes can be recycled. We can get into the science, because they are made of two different resins, etc. but suffice to say air trapped in a bubble will leak out unless it is it has a barrier layer to contain the air. So if you want the protection of a bubble container, you have to give up the minimal environmental benefits of a single resin, assuming it is recycled properly.
The best recyclable packaging option?
It always comes back to paper and corrugated board for shipping containers. There are exceptions such as papers that are not recyclable, but they are rare, such as specialty multi-layer, barrier boards designed primarily for food applications. Otherwise, over 90% of corrugated board can be easily be recycled, and here is the best part: at curbside along with any other paper waste.
This all may sound hypocritical coming from a guy who spend the first few decades in packaging and selling plastics, but I blame it on the movie The Graduate. (My fellow boomers will get that.) The truth is that I did not realize what an environmental problem plastics would become in the years ahead. I always assumed that the industry would eventually develop large volume solutions, but they have not. I also am deeply disappointed in our federal, state and local governments that have not forced the plastics industry to do right. As the first related Earth Day post below states, we only have enough recycling capacity to process 22% of beverage bottle waste alone!
It is not easy to blame anyone because it is all of our fault. In the meantime, look for sources like Salazar Packaging who will tell you the truth about recycled content and recyclability and will help you make good decisions in your packaging design. Call us at 630-551-1700 or contact us through this link. Our trained and very experienced people are waiting to help you create the most attractive, greenest and lowest cost e-commerce packaging solution for you, your customers, and your products.
Related posts:
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/is-earth-day-still-a-big-deal/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/non-plastic-packaging-for-apparel-clothing-brands/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/is-eco-friendly-packaging-ever-wrong/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/green-packaging-solutions-for-fast-rising-plastics-prices/