Food Service and Packaging

Using less energy to perform better

In this application large rolls of polystyrene sheeting can be formed and filled directly by the dairy producers, which represents a particularly efficient means of packaging and distributing a range of dairy products and desserts whilst ensuring the highest standards of hygiene. The unique processability characteristic of polystyrene also enables it to produce such yoghurt containers at very high speeds, and its inherent stiffness allows very thin container walls thus helping to reduce the overall use of resources.

It also makes sense for the environment: a lorry (truck) can carry much more product and much less packaging when glass packaging is replaced with plastics. Numerous studies have shown that, thanks to the change from glass to plastics, fuel consumption and the resulting pollution is reduced drastically due to the need for fewer delivery trips.

Polystyrene yoghurt packaging is typically 15 times lighter than other packaging materials, saving fuel used to transport them; and they are getting lighter. In 1978, a polystyrene pot for 125g (17 ounces) of yoghurt weighed 6.5g (0.9 ounces). By 2000, the same standard pot weighed only 3g (0.4 ounces). In production too polystyrene yoghurt pots use less energy and cause less air and water pollution than their glass or paper than their glass or paper alternatives. (Source: Migros, Switzerland 1984)




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