The packaging of products affects the environment in various ways. It is worth noting that products that are sold in a retail environment are packaged using paper and plastic. Packaging should be focused on promoting a healthy environment. This is achieved through sustainable practices. Retail packaging contains user instructions, content, and legal information. There are advantages and disadvantages of using paper packaging. The advantage of paper bags is that it is environmentally friendly. Paper packaging can easily decompose and form part of the soil. Also, it can be recycled, which enhances sustainability in the environment (Chiellini, 2008). In critical perspective, paper packaging reduces the amount of waste in the environment. The disadvantage of paper packaging is that it disintegrates easily. Paper packaging is expensive for business owners, which forces them to increase the price of products.
Plastic packaging is associated with various advantages and disadvantages. Plastic packaging is light in weight, water resistant, and strong compared to paper packaging. These features are advantageous to the customers. Also, plastic materials can be restored and reused by the consumers. Plastic packaging has the potentials of delivering and protecting the product from the retailer to consumer. Also, it enhances efficiency and resource conservation. Plastic packaging is cheaper and does not affect the pricing policy. Plastic packaging is a huge threat to the environment (Selke & Culter, 2015. This is because it pollutes the environment. For example, burning of plastics creates toxic fumes, which are harmful to the ecosystem. Chemical additives that are found in plastics causes severe health issues. Plastics clog drainage pipes and waterways leading to floods.
In the general perspective, retail packaging influences the environment. The use of paper and plastic for packaging have positive and negative impacts. Global warming and environmental degradation are the major concerns associated with packaging of products. Analytically, paper packaging is environmentally friendly compared to plastic packaging.
References
Chiellini, E. (2008). Environmentally compatible food packaging. Cambridge: Woodhead.
Selke, S. E. M., & Culter, J. D. (2015). Plastics Packaging: Properties, Processing, Applications, and Regulations. (Plastics Packaging.) München: Hanser
