From the manufacturer to the grocer and to our dinner tables, airtight plastic packaging is an essential part of modern life—protecting and preserving goods, and ensuring they are transported efficiently.
For decades plastics have driven innovation in packaging design.
From tamper resistant medicine packaging to the new Heinz dip/squeeze packet, plastic helps drive innovation and is a leading material in creating effective packaging solutions for a variety of needs.
Plastics don’t just make packaging more effective; they can also make packaging more efficient, helping to conserve resources.
Plastic is often a more efficient material to choose than alternatives. That's because plastics are incredibly energy efficient to manufacture and because they are lighter than alternative materials. Just two pounds of plastic can deliver 10 gallons—of a beverage. You'd need three pounds of aluminum, eight pounds of steel, or over 40 pounds of glass to bring home the same amount.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Plastic’s durability makes it a preferred material for reusable items such as storage bins, sealable food containers and refillable sports bottles. In industrial shipping, plastic pallets are impervious to moisture and most chemicals, so they can be used over and over.
Plastic recycling rates are growing faster than ever before. Bottles remain one of the most readily recycled plastics, but a growing number of communities are collecting and recycling other rigid plastic containers, such as tubs, trays and lids. And many national grocery and retail chains now invite consumers to return used plastic bags for recycling.
Learn how plastics are enabling us to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover the energy and materials.