Future of Plastics

360 re-thinking from design, to application to afterlife

Plastic waste has become a visible representation of humanity’s impact on the planet, with images of plastic debris floating amongst marine life leaving a lasting impression. However, consumer perceptions of plastic often overlook the many innovations and sustainable advantages that the material enables - from the prevention of food waste to light-weighting electric vehicles.

It’s also important to mention that the recyclability credentials of plastics far exceed those of paper or glass (even though they are often considered more sustainable materials), which is fortunate given their ubiquity within our ecosystems.

Plastics are undoubtedly problematic, but demonizing them distracts us from having critical conversations about how we use them, and what fundamental changes need to be made to the way they are valued, processed, collected and reused across the value chain.

We shouldn’t just demand that plastics be good, we should create better systems at every stage of a product’s existence, including design, product life and afterlife. The future of plastics is circular.

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Designing for recyclability

Eco-design infographic - Avery Dennison — Eco-design Infographic

Discover how the discipline of Eco Design for products can enable a circular economy within plastics.
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Extending the product life

Future of Plastics - Avery Dennison — New innovations that keep food fresh without contaminating the recycling process
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