Competence in Plastics - Brochure - BASF Plastics Portal

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16 Packaging –Thin layers keep things fresh about one-half of the food produced in developing countries becomes spoiled, while in Europe only one to two percent suffers this fate. modern packaging keeps food hygienic and fresh, protects goods from damage and provides consumers with important Plastics account for 17 percent by weight of all packaging materials. This might not sound like a lot, but roughly one-half of all commodities are packaged in plastics. Plastics have so much to offer when used as packaging. For example, a plastic bag weighs less than 10 grams, but can be used to carry up to 10 kilograms! A polystyrene pot for 150 grams of yogurt weighs 5 grams, whereas a glass jar for the same amount weighs 85 grams. Combining low weight with high performance is the great strength of plastic packaging. This means that plastics reduce the impact on the environment in a variety of ways: Their manufacture consumes much information. Plastics are particularly eco-efficient when it comes to packaging. over the years, the weight of packaging has been steadily reduced so that more goods can be packaged with less plastic. less energy than for conventional materials, and the costs, volume of waste and greenhouse gas emissions are also much lower. And lighter packaging also saves fuel during transport. It is therefore no surprise that plastic packaging also looks good in ecobalance calculations. Back in 1985, a study commissioned by the German Federal Environmental Agency showed that the manufacture of a plastic carrier bag places a smaller burden on the environment than the manufacture of a paper carrier bag. Studies conducted for yogurt pots, polyethylene sleeves as milk packaging and polyethylene bags for fruit came to similar conclusions.
The thinner, the easier on resources: • Styropor ® crates for the safe transport of food • Cling film made from Ecoflex ® is biodegradable • Paper cup coated with biodegradable Ecovio ® FS Paper Various types of film are particularly effective as packaging materials. Although they are usually only a few hundredths of a millimeter thick, they protect foods from oxygen, keep moisture out and stop flavors and fragrances from escaping. Composite films especially that consist of several ultrathin layers (e. g., polyethylene and Ultramid ® ) combine these properties to optimum effect. But the potential uses of plastics have not yet been exhausted: Styroflex ® developed by BASF, for example, performs just as well as conventional packaging but uses even less material, thus making a further contribution to waste prevention and eco-efficiency. BASF’s biodegradable products Ecoflex ® and Ecovio ® extend the range for special applications. Consequences of packaging without plastics Figures in percent 100 packaging weight 398 100 189 manufacturing costs 100 garbage collection volume alternative packaging materials plastics packagings 161 100 150 production energy Source: Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung mbH ( GVM ) Gesellschaft für umfassende Analysen ( GUA ) 100 195 greenhouse gas emissions Example: Germany PacKaging – Thin layErS KEEP ThingS frESh 17
Page 1 and 2: Competence in Plastics
Page 3 and 4: Foreword 02 Plastics - Versatile ma
Page 5 and 6: BASF has achieved many major breakt
Page 7 and 8: Freeport Geismar Verbund site Produ
Page 9 and 10: Product developments under the aspe
Page 11 and 12: Polyurethanes are energy-efficient
Page 13 and 14: For fast and reliable communication
Page 15: No sporting activities without plas
Page 19 and 20: Toys, Sports and Leisure Household
Page 21 and 22: EnGInEErInG PLaSTICS ulTramid ® fo
Page 23 and 24: FOaMS PaluSol ® Suitable for appli
Page 25 and 26: POLYUrETHanES ElaSTocool ® Extreme
Page 27 and 28: POLYUrETHanES ElaSToPaVE ® High co
Page 29 and 30: DESIGnFaBrIK TM Surrounded by pipel
Page 31 and 32: Degradation of Ecoflex ® in the fi
Page 33 and 34: In the transport sector, plastics a
Page 35 and 36: contact us by post, telephone or e-

Competence in Plastics - Brochure - BASF Plastics Portal

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