Plastics Packaging a Key To Water Management

March 22nd 2013 is UN World Water Day in the ‘international year of water cooperation’.  With an increasing global population, economic development and changing lifestyles pressure on the world’s limited water resources is continuing to increase.  Plastics packaging plays a key role in the water management co-operation chain and, as the industry continues to innovate, its role as a key preserver of water is growing in importance.

British Plastics Federation Packaging Group Members understand the importance of water usage; water is part of the manufacturing process, primarily as a cooling agent. BPF Packaging Group Members have all made dramatic improvements across the industry to reduce and reuse water within their manufacturing processes. One BPF member in particular has achieved a significant decrease in water usage over the last five years by 27%.

70% of the world’s freshwater resources are used for food production therefore when food is wasted so is water. The water footprint of 1kg of wheat is approximately 1,500 litres and for 1kg of beef around 15,000 litres. The waste of food and drink is associated with 4% of the UK’s total water footprint.

BPF Packaging Group Members' products are making a dramatic and significant impact on helping to preserve water and decrease water wastage. The durability and sealability of plastics packaging protects goods from deterioration and increases shelf life.  Modified atmosphere plastics packaging can increase shelf life from 5 to 10 days allowing food loss in stores to be reduced from 16% to 4%. Innovation within the industry has lead to a new range of packs to suit different needs including re-sealable fridge packs or packs that are subdivided so you can use some now and some later.

Jonathan Bloom, Senior Executive Industrial Issues at the BPF stated ‘plastic bottles and containers have become key facilitators in providing clean, hygienic water to areas where fresh water is not as accessible,  often providing relief to distressed people in emergency situations.

By reducing water usage in manufacturing and producing innovative products to preserve food for longer plastics packaging has become a key component of the global water management chain’.

ENDS

For all media enquiries, BPF logos and images, please contact Philip Law, Director, Public and Industrial Affairs on 0207 457 5011 or email [email protected]

Notes for editors:

British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the UK trade association for the plastics industry – representing the whole supply chain including polymer producers, distributors, additives suppliers, machinery manufacturers, processors and recyclers.