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Returnable Plastic Crates Triumph in 'Green' Research
21 April 2008
Plastic, often unjustly vilified in some environmental literature, has triumphed in a new research study of materials handling and packaging products commissioned by Coles Group Limited.
The study into the life cycle of returnable plastic crates (RPC), found that the plastic products far outperformed competing materials such as corrugated fibreboard, waxed corrugated fibreboard and expanded polystyrene.
Conducted by international environmental engineering consultants, Hyder Consulting, the study found that RPCs outperformed their rivals across seven fresh product lines.
Key findings included:
- Water use - Using RPCs requires consumption of only 7.8% of the water of alternative products. This means that in 2007/08 the water savings equate to the annual water consumption of 3,200 households
- Energy use - RPC usage for the fresh products requires only 35.9% of the energy required when using alternative products. The difference in energy consumption in 2007/08 between RPCs and alternatives equates to electricity and gas consumption of 8,900 average Australian households
- Greenhouse gas emissions - the RPCs emit 38.2% of the greenhouse gases of alternatives. This equates to removing 20,400 cars from Australian roads for 2007/08
- Resource use - RPCs have a mere 40.7% impact on non-renewable resources compared with the alternatives.
- Overall - The environmental burden of RPCs is 20.1% of the alternative products.
Commenting on the report, Catherine Moran Manager - Materials Handling for Viscount Plastics said that the study demonstrated the value of using readily recyclable materials. Viscount was one of the study's sponsors.
"Good environmental outcomes are also good for the bottom line. It makes sound economic sense to adopt the best environmental practices," she said. "Used in the correct applications, plastics are the best environmental solution, as this study has found."
"This study shows that every recyclable plastic crate in use will complete an average 12.5 cycles in 2007/08," said Ms Moran.
About the study
The study was carried out during 2007 and a final report presented to Coles Group Ltd in late 2007. Coles commission the study to assess the environmental impacts of these materials handling products.
The company received support from several manufacturers including Viscount Plastics, Australia's largest manufacturer of plastic packaging and materials handling products and a supplier to Coles.
The fresh product lines selected for this study were tomatoes, celery, beans, apples, chicken (rotisserie birds), lamb (legs) and pork (tenderloins).
The study was conducted on the supply of fresh products to Coles' Victorian stores and the conclusions were extrapolated to national impacts using existing data from a broad range of sources.
The researchers used the Life Cycle Assessment method, an internationally accepted and standardised method for product-based assessments.
For further information:
Catherine Moran
Viscount Plastics Australia Pty Ltd
Freecall - 1800 659 075
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