Sustainability has been one of the biggest trends in the past few years. It made many companies to switch to eco-friendly practices. Even the food industry made a big shift and replaced its single-use plastic packaging with paper-made food and beverage boxes. The trend was expected to grow more but the outbreak of COVID-19 has brought a drastic change. The experts found that the food packaging which can be used again and again spreads the pandemic more easily. The situation has put sustainability at the back seat. The box food company has started using disposable takeout containers wholesale to avoid the widespread. Although plastic packaging hurts sustainability efforts, but the single-use packaging has become the need of time.
• Single-Use Plastic Packaging avoids the Widespread:
COVID-19 originated at the wholesale seafood and meat market in Wuhan, China. Following the epidemic, the government enforced tighter regulations to alter meat handling and its distribution practices. The businesses started distributing meat in plastic packaging rather than corrugated food boxes. This helped in reducing the risk of a future outbreak of the virus. Aseptic single-use packaging is again in fashion. A famous food and beverage brand, Yakult launched its first aseptic products in the Korean market as Ecolean Air Aseptic lightweight packages.
Previously it was using, reusable beverage packaging and food subscription boxes. In the same way, disposable packaging is again gaining momentum due to the temporary rise in the demand for food deliveries and takeaways. Many food delivery boxes suppliers have also shifted towards this change. Single-use food packaging has faced a lot of criticism in past years because of its environmental concerns, but these days it is seen as a better packaging hygienic alternative. It is because of limited handling or access to the inner products and immediate disposal after use.
• Is Single-Use Packaging Safe For Environment?
The concerns about cleanliness that apply to reusable wholesale food boxes also apply to single-use plastic packaging. For example, when a customer gets its food in disposable food tray sleeves, it's an issue of concern that how he disposes of it. It can't be reused again and again like custom cardboard lunch boxes. The main reason for switching to single-use packaging is to minimize the spread of COVID-19. If the purpose is not fulfilled, all goes in vain. According to the latest research, plastic is hard for the atmosphere. It takes hundreds of years to decompose releasing harmful gases in our environment. This makes it unsafe to use due to the waste it generate but the business has no way out to overcome this pandemic.
A better option is to use compostable plastic packaging. Whether the compost gets hot enough to kill the virus? This discussion is still on, but it will be a less big threat to our planet. No one knows how long COVID-19 will last. Will it end completely or evolve again and again after intervals. In such a situation, we have to carry our environment and preventive measures side by side. The research agencies are also working on antimicrobial additives and antiviral packaging, to ensure actual safety and recyclability. Finally, whether you use reusable packaging or single-use, you need to remain cautious about the handling of both.
• Relation between Plastic and COVID-19:
The environmental activists all over the world have protested claims single-use plastic food packaging is safe or not. According to the data collected by Break Free From Plastic website, this disposable packaging in not safer than properly washed reusable packaging. Disposable food packaging like plastic dessert boxes or frozen food boxes wholesale contain pathogens that settle on them during the manufacturing process, stocking, transportation, and even usage. Corona Virus spreads mainly through cough, sneezes but not through reusable packaging if it gets washed properly. Just make sure that after contact with any of the surface you wash your hands properly or clean the surface/packaging if it is to be used again.
According to the latest research, the virus stays on plastic surface for 2-3 days. If the surface is not cleaned with a disinfectant it may result in widespread. Finally, even though you can use disposable or reusable packaging, the safest way to proceed and keep food and groceries ongoing is to maintain hygienic practices as far as possible. The packaging box manufacturers should also address this concern. Corona Virus is making us clear that it's not the compulsion to use reusable food boxes to go or disposable deliveries, it's all about how we develop good hygienic habits.
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