Many people aren't aware of it, but packaging suppliers in Australia make up a huge part of the overall recycling effort in the country. Although food packaging manufacturers generate a lot of the waste that is created each year, they are also on the forefront of recycling endeavours and do a huge part to help keep the country - and the planet - clean. You can learn more about the numbers behind these facts by reading on below.
Paper And Cardboard Use In Australia -
In order to get a feel for how important packaging materials are in the lives of average, everyday Australians, it is smart to begin by learning how much paper and cardboard are used each year. As a data point, between the years 2002 and 2003 Australians used approximately 4 million tonnes of the materials. Incredibly, that number is a 10.2% increase over the previous year which reflects the steady rise in popularity of these materials.
How Much Of Those Materials Is Recycled?
When presented with the huge numbers outlined above, many people are quick to assume that most of it ends up as waste. The truth is, though, that about 1.9 million tonnes of that cardboard and paper waste is collected for recycling. That is a very significant percentage and demonstrates how useful those materials are in terms of being reused. Furthermore, the vast majority of that recycled material was made up of packaging materials. It is clear that the industry does a lot to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Creating New Packaging Materials From Old Products -
After being recycled, where does most of that material go? As it happens, approximately 83% of the cardboard and paper materials that are recycled in Australia each year are used to create packaging supplies. This fact closes the loop and clearly outlines the interesting way that the packaging industry does its own part to help save the planet. Rather than relying on brand new paper and cardboard from freshly felled trees, the packaging industry makes a concerted effort to rely mostly on recycled materials.
How Much Does That Recycling Help?
When looking at all of these numbers, it can be difficult to put the benefits for the planet into perspective. For every one tonne of recycled cardboard or paper:
> 31,780 litres of water are saved
> 4100 KwH of electricity is saved
> 13 trees are left standing
> 4 cubic metres of landfill aren't built
> 2.5 barrels of oil aren't used
As you can see, the packaging industry does a whole lot when it comes to recycling and reusing paper and cardboard materials. In this way, it has a direct - and positive - impact on the health of Australia and the world.