Plastic is widely used by freight forwarders for packaging and securing cargo due to its durability, flexibility, and other advantages. Common types include low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate, each serving different packaging needs but also causing environmental problems.
Low-density Polyethylene
Low-density polyethylene is a protective sheeting material used for packaging food, textiles, and consumer goods such as electronics, toys, and cosmetics. It is preferred by forwarders for its durability and moisture resistance, yet its environmental impact is significant. The light weight of LDPE means that it can easily be carried away by the wind. Also, when left near water bodies, it can be swept away by moving water, whether from rivers, streams, or even stormwater runoff, because of its light weight. This can lead to environmental degradation as LDPE can take up to 1000 years to decompose.
High-density Polyethylene
High-density polyethylene is a widely used material for packaging heavy items and general chemicals. Due to its strength, it is ideal for packing heavy cargo such as construction materials and automotive components. Additionally, its high resistance to chemicals makes it suitable for extra wrapping around units or pallets with chemical products like detergents and bleach. This added layer helps prevent leaks and spills that could occur if the bottles or jugs are damaged.
However, despite its utility, HDPE also poses environmental risks. When discarded improperly, it is more likely to sink in aquatic environments. As its density is close to that of water, it becomes even denser when waterlogged and sinks over time. Thus, it can accumulate at the bottom of lakes, rivers, and oceans which leads to underwater pollution and smothering marine life and habitats. Additionally, HDPE can take 400 to 500 years to fully break down, depending on factors like exposure to sunlight, oxygen levels, and microbial activity. In deep-sea or buried conditions with limited light and oxygen, degradation can take even longer.
Polyvinyl Chloride
Also known as PVC, polyvinyl chloride is used for consolidating multiple items into a single unit. This is because its flexibility allows for efficient wrapping around multiple items to hold them together for pallet shipping or in large boxes. However, the environmental impact of using this plastic is also significant. Recycling PVC is complicated by the various additives it contains which often results in higher rates of disposal in landfills or incineration. Yet, PVC includes chlorine in its composition which can lead to the release of hazardous dioxins and other chlorinated pollutants when the material is burned or decomposes.
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate is widely used for packaging large shipments of bottled water, soft drinks, juices, and cooking oils because of its strength and lightweight nature. However, when discarded improperly, it often enters waterways where it fragments into microplastics and pollutes ecosystems. Moreover, it decomposes slowly, often taking 450 to 500 years to break down in landfills, and its widespread use contributes to plastic waste accumulation.