We will have a very different world if we’d stop using plastic. Our lives will significantly change as most goods will not be enjoyed by many in a safe, convenient, practical, and affordable manner. Goods travel a long way before they reach us. Such goods need durable protection every step of the way. This is mainly the reason why plastic is still one of the best packaging available as it allows for the optimum protection and safety of goods during transit across all endpoints. To give you an idea of how important plastic is, we will enlist everything that humans would have to deal with if plastics were completely out of the picture. Plastic is not the devil, it is our way of using it that makes it so.
1. Short Shelf Life
Manufacturers use the term ‘shelf life’ to define the longevity or period for the best use or consumption of a good. All available goods that we now conveniently enjoy will have shorter shelf lives if we stop using plastic. This will be the case because it is plastic packaging that makes it possible for goods to last for longer. Without it, all goods, including foods, will easily perish and contaminate in just days — if not just hours. Plastic is best in securing a longer shelf life as it provides safe packaging during good transport. As it allows for tight factory-sealing of items, the original texture, flavour, and color of foods are always excellently preserved.
2. High Cost
The world would have to prepare for more money for packaging costs if we’d stop using plastics. This is because we’d be left with paper, wood, glass, and metal if we’d stop using plastic. Paper is not efficient enough as it cannot secure goods in an air-tight and durable manner so most manufacturers will have no choice but to use glass or metal. Glass, wood, and metal are expensive packaging options. They are also significantly heavier so manufacturers would have to prepare themselves to spend more for delivery while sending less.
3. Contamination
Nothing compares to the amount of flawless sanitation that plastic provides. As items can be sealed air-tight upon production, users can be sure that goods that reach them are free from any form of contaminant, toxin, dirt, bacteria, or virus. This is primarily the reason why most medical tools and medicines come in plastic packaging. People will no longer enjoy this exquisite sanitary benefit if people would stop using plastic. People would have to get used to spending more on packaging alternatives. Cases of consuming contaminated goods will also be on the rise. People would suffer more from cases of infection or poisoning from consuming poorly packaged goods.
4. Limited Customization
People would also be limited when it comes to customizing goods. What makes plastic more fun is you can do so much with it. You can make it in different shapes, colors, textures, and designs. Without plastic, this level of liberal customization will simply not be possible. Apart from the fact that other packaging alternatives are not as flexible when it comes to customization, such customization will also be more expensive. Customizing glass and metal is not cheap. Without such a level of customization, businesses will have a hard time differentiating themselves from one another. Customers will have a hard time choosing one brand over another as all would relatively look the same.
5. Limited Durability
Plastic is used by many because they are highly affordable and durable. They can withstand rough transport and strong weather. This in turn allows manufacturers to ship goods easily without spending much on delivery and packaging. Without plastic, we would have to get used to receiving damaged or incomplete goods. As most items would then be delivered placed in paper, wood, glass, or metal — you’d have to get used to receiving damaged goods if you won’t be willing to spend extra for safer packaging options. Plastic is extremely durable and waterproof because its material has carbon-to-carbon bonds. With such a make-up, goods remain safe, protected, and sanitized at all times.
6. Limited Packed Items
Without affordable and durable plastics, people would have to get used to not consuming the following products conveniently:
- all kinds of liquid products
- all kinds of powdered products
- all kinds of easily degradable goods
This is the case because such products can only ever be conveniently transported from all parts of the world in a safe and fully protected manner if they are packed in plastic. Safe transportation can also be had if manufacturers would use metal or glass but such would entail additional expenses. As such packaging alternatives will be significantly heavier, manufacturers would also have to deal with sending fewer goods despite spending more. Plastic secures liquid, powdered, and non-degradable goods with maximum ease so multiple sectors will definitely suffer if people would stop using it.
7. No Recycling
Recycling should be a way of life for each and every one. This will cease to be a reality if we would stop using plastic suddenly. People fail to realize that plastic is not the problem. Plastic is even the solution and it has been paving the way for easy and convenient consumption of goods without having to use massive amounts of natural resources. You have to take note that a plastic bottle manufacturing company, like Plas-Pak, now faithfully practices recycling like most plastic manufacturing companies. This is the current trend for all kinds of plastic goods these days. Such lifestyle development and understanding of how the world works will cease to exist if we’d stop using plastic.