Sustainable Packaging - Essay Example

?Sustainable Packaging The complete manufacturing chain may include the actual production, packaging, storage, distribution, and marketing. The mode of packaging will determine storage, distribution, marketing, and possible sales. However, on devising the best packaging methods, variant aspects like the size of the product, safety, cost effectiveness, convenience, identification, customers taste efficiency, target market, government regulations, and environmental factors surface (Pike Research Web). This paper will analyze the sustainability of packaging in relation to manufacture, selling, use, and disposal mechanisms and impacts in relation to environmental and social dimensions. It will emphasize on the use of lifecycle assessment and consequently describe the state of knowledge about the technology’s sustainability. A sustainable packaging is the designing and use of packaging materials that are more sustainable. In designing a company’s sustainability strategy, packaging comes in handy as a very fundamental factor. The sustainable packaging design aims at increasing the use of life cycle inventory and reducing the environmental impacts. Its main objectives are the maintenance of quality human life, secure habitats for the present and future generation needs. Government regulations, corporate goals, branding, logistical optimization, and consumer expectations determines the design of a sustainable packaging. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) and the Sustainable Packaging Alliance (SPA) provides businesses and factories with the best information for making sustainable packaging decisions that commercially an environmentally beneficial (SPA web). The sustainable packaging products emanate from materials that are healthy, recyclable, and environmental friendly throughout their lifecycle. The materials may include papers and recyclable plastic products. The manufacturing process of sustainable packaging uses clean production technologies and best practices that minimise environmental pollution. Gas emissions from manufacturing factories may cause air pollution and global warming. Hence, the production of sustainable packaging must consider this hazard in ascertaining a habitable environment. The design of sustainable packaging products aims at optimizing materials and energy use. This ensures cost effectiveness in production. According to Pike Research, the demand for packaging is valued at $429 billion (Pike Research Web). Packaging ahs also employed more than five million people in the world (SPC Web). The employment, security and protection of human life are social aspects that sustainable packaging offers. With the demand expected to rise with relative increase in population and industrial growth, it is very important to use the most sustainable packaging materials. Non-renewable and non-recyclable materials decrease t he level of cohabitation. Air, land, and water pollution are some of the effects of using hazardous packaging products. Hence, manufacturing companies should strive to use eco friendly and life supporting materials in producing the sustainable packaging products should be eco friendly and with an ability to support life. The manufacturing process should conserve raw materials, water, and energy. We can achieve this by shifting from the use of fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. This would reduce or eliminate toxic emissions, which are harmful to human life and environmental conservation (SPC Web). The products should equally meet the market criteria and guarantee effective performance throughout their life cycles. The process of tendering, acquisition, and production of sustainable packaging should be cost effective to realize targeted comp-any profits. Paper and paper-based packaging dominate the global packaging market. However, according to pike research the use of plastic-based packaging will also grow significantly by the year 2014. Moreover, the demand for sustainable packaging is considerably more than that of general packaging. Better disposal methods conserve the environment from water, air and land pollution. The state of knowledge about the technology’s sustainability is growing rapidly in the developed countries. The use of efficient machines and renewable energy sources manifest in sustainable packaging. New technology also enables recycling of many packaging products. An example of sustainable packaging is Star Packaging’s Terra FLEX RP. It constitutes 100% polythene that is fully recyclable and guarantees more quality performance when compared to plastic packaging. A Green hot beverage cup designed from Biopac’s 100% compostable is also a sustainable packaging of beverages (Packaging world Web). South Phoenix is a neighbourhood in Phoenix, Arizona that is the largest and capital city of U.S state of Arizona. South Mountain Park borders South Phoenix, Arizona to the south, 27th Avenue to the west, Salt River to the north, and 48th Street to the east. Broadway Road, Baseline Road, and Southern Avenue connect South Phoenix Arizona to the Tempe. The wide transport network enables access to the city and facilitates trading, communication, tourism, and administration. Phoenix has a population of 14,445,632 according to the 2010 United States Census (US Census Bureau Web). It has wide range of races. Whites, black American, Asians, Native Americans, and Hispanic are some of the most dominant races in South Phoenix Arizona. The languages spoken here include English, Mexican, Italian, German, and French. However Mexican dominates. The diverse language and race background confirm its richness in culture and democracy. The land near 15th Avenue and Broadway was the first land purchase in South Arizona between 1884 and 1885. The land was unpopulated except for the Mexican farmers who lived south of Salt River. The building of highline and western canals from Salt River to south mountain area between 1912 and 1913, led agricultural development. Land ownership was limited to a few in Arizona. Indeed, prior to1970s, home ownership in South Phoenix was limited to African American and Mexican American residents only. The south side was predominated by the working class while the African American occupied the downtown and areas close to Tempe. The agricultural development in South Phoenix provides foods to the residents while the working class provides markets for farm produce. This set up promotes the economy of the city. There are many historical sites in South Phoenix like Pueblo Grande Ruin. There are historical museums in South Phoenix like Mesa Historical museum and Arizona military museum. The museums and historical sites conserve the history and cultures of the South Phoenix Arizona. They also act as tourist attraction sites that generate foreign income. The mayor, residents, and the City Council of South Phoenix are committed to sustainable environment for the present and future generations. In fact their sustainability motto is, “Living Like it Matters.” The city has more than 80 programs aimed at conserving and improving the environment. They exercise utmost care for trees and resources materials. They have also won many environmental awards (City of Phoenix Web). The level of unemployment in South Phoenix Arizona is at a decreasing level, Additionally, Women and the minority own business that generate considerable amounts of income. Although the growth rate in employment is at an average zero, this may relate to the concentrated job market. However, the employed earn considerable amounts of money hence maintaining the economy. There are numerous industries in South Phoenix Arizona that offer employment and products to the residents. The city equally attracts foreign income from the historical sites, Tempe Lake, Salt River, and its beautiful sceneries. It is the best-run city government in the world. The median household income is $ 40,558 at the local level and $41,994 at the national level (PODUNK Web). Works Cited City of Phoenix Environment and Sustainability City of Phoenix, 2012 Web 11, March 2012. Packaging world Sustainable Packaging Pack world, 2012 Web 11, March 2012 < http://www.packworld.com/sustainability> Pike Research. Sustainable Packaging Pike Research, 2012 Web 11, March 2012. < http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/sustainable-packaging> PODUNK Profile for Arizona, Arizona PODUNK, 2012 Web 11, March 2012 < http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=3> SPA Welcome to SPA SPA, 2000 Web 11, March 2012. < http://www.sustainablepack.org/default.aspx> SPC Definition of Sustainable Packaging GreenBlue, 2011 Web 11, March http://sustainablepackaging.org/uploads/Documents/Definition%20of%20Sustainable%20Packaging.pdf US census Bureau 1997 Economic Census Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses Arizona US Census, 2010 Web 11, March 2012 < http://www.census.gov/epcd/mwb97/az/AZ.html> Read More