8 reasons why recycling packaging is good for you, your family and the planet

Whether it be packaging from online shopping, food shopping, or take away food, as consumers it is hard to avoid packaging altogether. However, by choosing packaging made from recycled materials, picking products with less packaging, and recycling as much of our packaging as possible, we can all reduce the human impact on our environment.

The benefits of recycling go far and wide beyond what we see everyday. We look at eight good reasons to recycle that can make a positive difference to us, our families and the planet. 

1. Reduces materials going to landfill

According to Sustainability Victoria, Australians throw away around 1.9 million tonnes of packaging each year – enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground nine times over. Landfill is an environmental hazard destroying otherwise untouched habitats, producing toxins that can leak into the local ecosystem. According to WWF plastic packaging that goes into landfill will never decompose and will take an average of 450 years to break down into micro-plastics. By recycling our household packaging and other products, we can make a real difference by reducing the amount of waste directed to landfill.

2. Gives materials a second life

Whether it’s timber, fossil fuels, minerals, fresh water or fertile land, our natural resources aren’t finite. By recycling you reduce the demand for natural resources, and support them being turned into recycled materials ready for use in new products. Our own Australia Post branded plastic satchels made with 80 percent recycled plastic are a case in point.¹   

3. Reduces the impact on the natural environment

Using less natural resources through recycling, reduces the impact on the environment from sourcing and extracting raw materials such as logging, quarrying and mining. This helps to protect both human health, water catchments and wildlife habitats that would otherwise be disturbed.

4. Recycling can save energy

Using already refined recycled materials to make products, instead of having to extract, refine and transport raw materials, can save dramatically on energy usage throughout the whole production process. For instance, aluminium can be recycled endlessly and according to the Australian Aluminium Council, saves 95% of the energy it would take to make new aluminium metal.

5. Can reduce carbon emissions

It can take less energy to produce recycled products, lessen the amount of carbon emissions and therefore our carbon footprint. Recycling can reduce the greenhouse gases produced by landfill and the incineration of waste too. 

6. Diverts plastic from waterways

The effects of plastic pollution on the environment and particularly marine life are catastrophic. According to Ellen McArthur Foundation, 32% of plastic waste leaks to waterways and land. By recycling your hard plastic packaging via kerbside recycling, you can help divert waste plastic from the oceans and waterways. 

7. Helps boost employment

By recycling your packaging you are supporting the recycling industry and helping boost jobs within a growing sector. The Australian Council of Recycling states that the recycling industry directly employs over 20,000 people and indirectly employs almost 35,000 people.

8. New technologies and discoveries

The more that people recycle, the more interest and investment will be put into researching and developing new products made from recycled content and new recycling technologies. Technologies that could help save the planet.

Article was originally published on 13 May 2022