Paper vs. Plastic: Which is More Sustainable?

August 7, 2024|Exclusive Features, Materials, Sustainable

The sustainability issues surrounding packaging are not about the material itself, but whether the packaging is made for single use. © fotofabrika – stock.adobe.com

By Mike Jones, Head of Innovation at Mainetti

While 2023 was the hottest year on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted with a 61% probability that 2024 will break records again. This highlights the urgency for businesses and consumers to adapt their practices to move toward a more sustainable future that protects our planet and livelihoods.

Many companies are already reshaping their business models to produce and consume more sustainable materials. However, much debate remains over what this exactly involves. In the packaging industry, the question always comes down to paper or plastic – which is more environmentally friendly?

The Bigger Picture – Where Did the Material Come From?

While paper is often viewed as the more sustainable option as it biodegrades more easily than plastic and is renewably sourced, there is more to consider than just where the material ends up.

When considering where the product is manufactured, what fuels the process relies on, and how much transportation is involved, CO2Everything.com found that the carbon footprint of a paper bag amounts to 5.52kg carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂e), while a single-use plastic bag produces 1.58kg CO₂emissions. In fact, a 2020 study from the Journal of Energy & Environmental Science reports that in the U.S. alone, the paper industry produces 150 million tons of CO₂ emissions every year.

Moreover, the paper industry is currently the world’s fifth largest consumer of energy, with the Northern Ireland Assembly finding that one paper bag takes four times as much energy to manufacture than a plastic one. It is therefore no surprise that the International Energy Agency concluded in 2023 that the global paper industry is not on track to support the energy sector in achieving net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. This is partly due to the transportation required during paper production as paper is much heavier than plastic (where 2,000 plastic bags weigh 30 pounds and 2,000 paper bags weigh 280 pounds). This means that on average, seven trucks are needed to transport the same volume of paper as can be carried by one truck of plastic.

It also must be considered that paper massively contributes to deforestation, accounting for 35% of all clear-felled trees as found by a 2023 analysis from the European Environmental Bureau. The reality is that for a paper bag to counteract its environmental impact, it must be reused at least three times. This is problematic as paper bags are known to rip easily and weaken in the rain.

Where Is the Material Going at the End of Its Lifespan?

Despite the challenges involved in the manufacturing of paper, the answer is not single-use plastic.

While paper presents challenges in the manufacturing stage, plastic becomes difficult when it reaches the end of its lifespan. While paper biodegrades within a month, plastic takes decades, if not hundreds of years to do so. This is especially concerning when understanding that only 9% of global plastic is properly recycled, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This means the rest ends up in landfill, incineration or is dumped into the world’s oceans. Consequently, the 8 million tons of plastic waste that becomes marine pollution every year will stay there for a very long time. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation predicts that by 2050, the weight of plastic in the oceans will surpass that of fish.

What’s more, if the plastic doesn’t end up in the ocean, it is left for landfill where it takes up to 1,000 years to decompose, infesting the surrounding soil and bodies of water with toxic substances. The subsequent level of terrestrial microplastic pollution is four to 23 times higher than marine pollution, with plastic fragments contaminating environments across the world, as found by a 2018 study from Science Daily.

Overall, the global plastic packaging industry produces 1.8 billion tons of carbon emissions every year, as estimated by non-government organization, Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). This means that it is essential that plastic is properly recycled and manufactured for reuse to extend its lifespan and keep it usable within the supply chain for as long as possible.

The Path Toward Reusable Packaging and the Circular Economy

A 2023 study by Zero Waste Europe found that reusable packaging created significant savings in greenhouse gas emissions – regardless of if it was plastic or paper. The enemy is therefore not the material itself, but whether it is made for single use.

The U.S. is beginning to work toward a circular economy, with President Biden announcing an Executive Order in 2021 aiming for the increased production of recycled products. The Secretary’s Order then followed in 2022 which aims to phase out the distribution of single-use plastic products by 2032. In 2024, 12 states including California, New Jersey, and Washington, implemented a ban on single-use plastic bags altogether.

Although these are welcome changes and work to combat the plastic pollution problem, we are yet to see the same treatment toward paper despite its significant environmental impact.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation advocates for the circular economy where materials are kept usable in the supply chain for as long as possible before they are then recycled and used again. This approach is critical to the preservation of the planet as we draw closer to several climate tipping points that are set to bring about the irreversible collapse of ecosystems and environments on a global scale, as well as mass displacement, political instability, and economic breakdown.

To avoid such a future, we all must do our part. Businesses must innovate and distribute more reusable and recyclable products, while consumers must take responsibility of recycling such products. Additionally, governments must implement sufficient recycling infrastructures and policies that encourage such action from the public and industry.

Overall, we must consider the entire picture, asking ourselves where our products come from and where are they going? With this kind of circular thinking, we will be one step closer to achieving a truly circular economy and with it, a safer, greener future.

About the Author

Mike Jones leads a team of 50 research and design specialists at Mainetti and holds patents for sustainable packaging designs. Please visit www.mainetti.com for more information.

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