Resin analysis of the food container packing plastic and precaution of the distinction method

Abstract

The global plastic waste generation exceeds 300 million tons per year, raising concerns about increased environmental burdens such as its release into the environment and the generation of greenhouse gases through incineration. In Japan, out of a total plastic waste discharge of 9 million tons, container packaging accounts for 4 million tons. Japan has set a target to achieve a 25% cumulative reduction in one-way plastic by 2030 and has been working towards the mandatory reduction of disposable products since April 2022. Plastic is widely used in the food manufacturing due to its lightweight, durability, ease of processing and coloring, and storage capabilities due to its low permeability to moisture and oxygen. However, the increasing use of various resins and materials for multi-layering complicates proper sorting during disposal, making recycling difficult. Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze multiple identification methods for the resins and materials used in food packaging with high usage of layered plastics and to clarify the associated challenges