Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.

Opinion: COVID-19 Swings “Reusable” from Good to Bad

Screen Shot 2020 03 25 At 10 33 17 Am

“These are environmentally challenging times for packagers, particularly those who pack water and beverages in plastic packages.”

That’s how I had started this column in early February. A notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed that. The matter-of-fact wording of the notice – “A respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus was detected in China” – belied the impact the announcement would have on life in China and around the world in the days that followed. Early on, there were hints that the spread of the coronavirus might compromise the availability of some materials–non-woven polypropylene, for instance–and some healthcare supplies and machines–face masks made of spun-bonded PP and portable ventilators. Some of us began to wonder if and how the growing pandemic would affect our families, friends, and associates in the packaging business.

Over the next couple of weeks as the disease was officially declared a pandemic and spread from China to Europe, North America, and beyond, packagers moved to make online contact with vendors and, when possible, take early delivery of needed materials, parts, and equipment.

Meanwhile, public concern over marine plastic waste, a high- profile issue at the beginning of the year [and a well-documented one in this issue, see more on page 28], drawing more public criticism than the 23% or so presence of plastics in the overall U.S. packaging mix warranted, has been recast since the emergence of COVID- 19. Seen as a villain in the marine plastic waste issue, single-use plastics are now seen, if not as a hero, at least a positive force versus reusables in the war against coronavirus. “Personal drinking cups and reusable shopping bags are being shunned,” noted the March 19 Wall Street Journal. Several states that had weighed bans on single- use plastics are now rethinking the pros and cons of disposables vs. reusables.

Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in packaging & processing!
At PACK EXPO Las Vegas, you’ll see machinery in action and new tech from 2,300 suppliers, collaborate with experts and explore transformative solutions. Join us this September to experience a breakthrough in packaging and processing.
REGISTER NOW AND SAVE
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in packaging & processing!
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Discover the latest breakthrough packaging technologies shaping the pharmaceutical sector. This report dives into cutting-edge innovations, from smart containers that enhance patient safety to eco-friendly materials poised to transform the industry’s sustainability practices. All from PACK EXPO. Learn how forward-thinking strategies are driving efficiency and redefining what’s possible in pharma packaging.
Learn More
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report