Currently, the most common recyclable materials include paper products, glass, and metal materials.
Paper Packaging Materials: Paper packaging materials are among the most widely accepted in the market and are a key focus for development. They play an essential role in the packaging industry’s growth. The raw materials for paper packaging primarily come from fibers isolated from plants like wood and straw. Compared to other packaging materials, paper packaging is more economical. It also offers benefits such as being lightweight, having good cushioning properties, and excellent print adaptability. These features make paper one of the mainstays of packaging materials.
Glass Packaging Materials: Glass packaging also holds a significant position in the market due to its good transparency, print adaptability, excellent barrier properties, and mature processing technology. Glass is widely used in liquid packaging. However, the production of glass generates a large amount of polluting gases. As most countries increase their focus on environmental issues, the usage range of glass containers has drastically reduced. Common examples include the transition from glass to plastic for hospital infusion bottles, and from glass to plastic or metal for beverage bottles. Companies like Coca-Cola have recently introduced new paper packaging, leading to a substantial decrease in the market share of glass packaging containers.
Metal Packaging Materials: Metal’s share in packaging materials is relatively low, constrained by its chemical stability and economic aspects. However, the environmental pollution from recycling metals is relatively minimal, making metal an eco-friendly material.
