COVID-19 Impact on Eco-Friendly Packaging in Materials and Packaging Industry
INTRODUCTION
Eco-friendly packaging is a kind of environmentally-friendly packaging usually composed of recycled or renewable materials considered sustainable for both individuals and the environment. It is also known as sustainable packaging or green packaging. Eco-friendly packaging can help decrease carbon emissions and create notably limited waste, thereby playing an important role in keeping the planet healthy. There are plenty of alternative packaging solutions that are biodegradable and recyclable such as paper, cardboard, corn starch, bagasse paper, and others. Moreover, some plastics and metals can be recycled, such as PET bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, ice cream tubs, takeaway tubs, plastic utensils, plastic bags, and steel cans.
Although, the coronavirus pandemic has introduced different challenges for the economy and businesses across the globe. Lockdowns have strongly impacted the industrial transform processes that have existed for a long time. Impact on demand and decreased investment have caused major disruptions in supply chains and trading patterns in the global eco-friendly packaging market. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, and there is no indication that food itself is a vector of its transmission. However, coronavirus, and measures to control its spread, have had profound implications for packaging, such as food security, nutrition, and food systems. This chaos in supply chains affected mainly packaging food availability in some cases, especially where proper packaging could not reach markets, putting pressure on prices on some scarce goods.
UPCOMING FUTURE OF GLOBAL ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING MARKET
After the COVID-19, the eco-friendly packaging market will increase in upcoming years because eco-friendly packaging development is a global objective that aims to address the societal challenge of climate action, the environment, resource efficiency, and raw materials. In this sense, an essential strategy is the promotion of green packaging, that is, the use of sustainable materials and designs for the packaging of goods. Moreover, the influence of eco-friendly packaging on the industry and purchasers, including the design and materials used in sustainable packaging, its costs, marketing strategies, and corporate social engagement related to green packaging, drives the market. The impact of eco-friendly packaging in waste management, logistics, and supply chain management also contributes to driving the global eco-friendly packaging market.