Toccographic #7: The Material Lie - Packaging Impact
Packaging Impact Is Set Before You Pick The Polymer
Why packaging format and system-fit matter more than material choice for plastic waste: decision order, reuse upside, and real recycling rates.
What You'll Learn
- Packaging is the biggest driver of short-lived plastic waste – around 40% of it comes from packaging.
- Only a small share of plastic is truly recycled – labels and “green” claims do not fix the system.
- Format beats material: rigid bottles are collected and recycled far more than films, bags and wraps.
- The right decision order is 1) format, 2) system-fit, 3) material tweaks – not the other way round.
- Well-designed reuse systems can cut material use, emissions and water compared to single-use formats.
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