Research on Commodity Packaging in the New Century (I)

In today’s world, economic globalization has become an irresistible historical development trend. To continue to catch up with the pace of development of the world economy in the new millennium, the Chinese economy must actively integrate into this trend and develop normal and stable development through the countries of the world. A lasting trade relationship creates and seizes its own development opportunities so as to achieve new growth. Economic globalization is actually a market economy on a global scale. Therefore, opportunities are bound to present challenges. The new century also put forward new requirements and challenges for China's packaging industry. On the one hand, with the further development of the national economy, social progress, and the implementation of sustainable development strategies, people have created new requirements for the packaging of goods; on the other hand, China has joined the WTO, people's consumption concepts, consumption patterns. There have also been major changes in the consumption level, consumption structure and so on. How the commodity packaging adapts to the requirements of the new situation and shapes the new image of the commodity is an important issue facing the packaging industry in China.
I. Analysis of the status quo of commodity packaging
With the development of market economy, commodity packaging becomes increasingly important. Currently in the country, the packaging industry has become an important part of the national economy. For example, the packaging industry in the United States ranks fifth in the entire national economy, second only to steel, automobiles, petroleum, and construction. Although China's packaging industry started late, it has developed very rapidly. It currently ranks 14th in the 40 major industries of the national economy and plays an important supporting role in the national economy.
Although China's commodity packaging continues to improve, there are still many problems compared to overseas advanced packaging.
First, the recycling rate of packaging waste is low. China's commodity packaging includes metal barrels and cans, glass bottles, paper box bags, and various plastic bottles, boxes, barrels, bags, etc., which are about 15 million tons per year, of which the amount of plastic is 6 million tons, and the recycling rate of packaging waste is quite low. Compared with foreign developed countries, the paper and paperboard recycling rates are added: 27% in the United States, 40% in Japan, 50% in the EU, and 15% in China; the plastic recycling rate is 27% in Germany and 26% in Japan. China is only 9.6%. Others, such as metals and glass, are also far below the level of developed countries.
Second, "white pollution" is serious. Among various packaging materials, plastic ranks second only to paper and cardboard. Plastic packaging is widely used and can be used for food, food, cement, fertilizers, detergents, daily necessities, etc. As plastic packaging is widely used and non-degradable, as well as the environmental pollution problem of packaging waste is becoming more and more serious, causing “white pollution” problems that plague current society, people are eager for the “green packaging”.
Finally, the quality and value of packaged goods are not high enough. If the problem of packaging damage has not been completely solved, it will cause great losses every year. Some unscrupulous traders use packaging fraud to disrupt the market; some manufacturers do not work hard to improve the quality of goods, and only use tricks on the packaging to make the goods over-packed and cause waste. In order to increase the value of packaged goods and extend their life cycle, it is the primary task of the packaging industry.
Second, improve the measures for the packaging of goods
1, increase the intensity of green packaging
(1) Starting from the packaging design, it is necessary to pay attention to the reduction of packaging when starting material selection. Glass containers should be thin-walled, and paper packaging must be reduced. Metal bottles, aluminum-paper composites, and aluminum-plastic composite materials should not be excessively packed. Pay attention to the saving of packaging materials. If possible, use domestically produced materials. Do not use imported materials blindly. Pay attention to the use of reusable materials, especially the harmlessness of packaging, and avoid using plastic packaging that is difficult to degrade and harm the environment. Pay attention to the multifunctional design of the packaging, and the used packaging can be used for other purposes to reduce packaging waste.
(2) Vigorously develop new types of packaging materials, such as plant-type packaging materials that can be degraded after use and new types of biodegradable plastics. (To be continued)