Lifecycle of Cartons Made Out of PP/PVC

Cartons made from PP and PVC are gaining a lot of traction in the market due to the various benefits they offer. Read on to know more about the lifecycle of cartons made of PP or PVC.

Plastic has become an inherent necessity in our everyday lives. Right from medical to consumer goods, plastics have found their way into every industry. In this article, we will be focusing on cartons made from polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride. Let’s have a look at the entire lifecycle of the products to know the time taken by the plastic carton manufacturers to manufacture them and whether or not they can be properly disposed off after use:-

• Production of raw material – PP can be produced by a variety of industrial methods such as slurry methods, gas phase and so on. On the other hand, PVC can be produced by the method of polymerization. They require huge quantities of finite natural resources for the production process.

• Production of cartons – Cartons can be produced from PP by various methods like extrusion and molding whereas they can be produced from PVC by adding various additives to it and then further processing it under specific conditions, in huge factories or industrial units.

• Use of cartons – The cartons are then used for various purposes like storing items, moving things from one place to another and so on and so forth. They are supplied in bulk quantities by plastic carton suppliers or printed carton manufacturers. They are also custom made for specific uses.

• Disposal of cartons after use – After being used, the cartons are then disposed off in a normal manner. They are tossed out with other plastic products. After that, they may be picked up and made to undergo proper disposal techniques.

• Reuse – Despite scientific advancements, the reuse of plastic products has not taken up in most places. Their quality degrades after persistent use, which makes them unfit to be reused in any way. However, PP cartons may be reused more effectively than PVC cartons.

• Recycle – Recycling of PP or PVC products effectively and efficiently is a scientific feat that is yet to be achieved. Depending upon the production process and materials used, a few of the PP or PVC cartons may be recycled to some extent. But the proportion is distressingly low. PP cartons are easy to be recycled and can then be reused in many ways. But PVC cartons are much harder to be recycled.

• Dumping – If the other disposal techniques are difficult to be carried out, at the end of the day, the PP or PVC cartons are just dumped in a landfill or barren land or into water bodies like the rest of the non-degradable items.

The lifecycle of PP or PVC products have a precise beginning, but their life span may be infinite, and their lifecycle may never end. They may end up adding to the huge amount of waste already polluting the environment. Hence, the lesson at the end of the day remains the same as it was since the beginning. It is better to reduce the usage of plastic and look for better alternatives if we want to save our planet.

Rich offset India Private Limited is a leading name in the printing and packaging industry in India. It is one of the most prominent names in the pharma packaging industry. Their latest machines and state of the art infrastructure sets them apart from their competitors.