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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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uses
& benefits
