Navigating the Pros and Cons of PET Plastic in the Global Travel Retail Industry
In the fast-paced world of global travel retail, packaging plays a crucial role in delivering products efficiently to consumers. Among the most common materials used in packaging is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. PET offers numerous advantages, especially its low cost to make, yet it also presents environmental challenges that demand careful consideration within an industry that already contributes heavily to climate change. This article seeks to explore the weighting of continuing PET plastic in the context of global travel retail, amid an era of consciousness and change.
First, we must consider the draw for PET on the buying side. The most obvious is cost. PET plastic is relatively inexpensive compared to alternative packaging materials, making it an attractive choice for companies looking to minimize costs without compromising product quality as a tried-and-testd quantity.
With fuel prices showing no sign of devaluing, PET’s lightweight construction also makes it ideal for travel retail where weight restrictions are significant concerns. Its durability and ease of handling also ensures products remain intact throughout the rigors of transportation and handling.
Furthermore, PET can be molded into various shapes and sizes, offering versatility in packaging design. This flexibility allows brands to create eye-catching packaging solutions that enhance product visibility and appeal to travelers. Although usually a secondary factor to purchasing decision-making, we live in the era of collaborations and on this point PET’s adaptability cannot be ignored.
However, the end-consumer also influences what products are listed onboard. Rightly or wrongly, plastic carries with it an low-cost image that converts into real savings, and in a cost of living crisis consumers take this into account, even subconsciously. PET plastic offers familiarity too, a consideration that is easy to overlook. Travel retail is a rather reluctant trend-setter, and ditching PET in favour of other packaging formats does carry a risk of alienating your clientele, as we have found.
The plastic industry has fought hard to renew its image, in line with consumer wants and needs. PET is recyclable, and many consumers are familiar with the recycling symbol, making it easier to encourage responsible disposal practices. This aligns with the growing demand for sustainable approaches to the travel retail industry.
Despite its recyclability, however, PET still contributes significantly to environmental pollution, and is built off the back of antiquated package solutions. Improper disposal and inadequate recycling infrastructure especially can lead to plastic ending up in landfills or oceans, where it poses a threat to wildlife and ecosystems.
Where sustainability is increasingly valued by consumers, excessive use of PET plastic packaging in the travel retail industry can reflect poorly on brands, leading to reputational damage and at the extreme end, loss of customer trust.
Plastic is not without its growing number of critics, who often rightfully associate it with single-use items which perpetuate a disposable consumer culture. This lifestyle culminates in significant waste, especially in travel environments whose own identity prioritises maximum convenience. The intrinsic benefits of PET are embedded into the fabric of the travel culture, and how we mould this to fit the urgent challenges of our world will be critical to re-shaping perspectives on all aspects of onboard consumption.
PET also provides limited barrier properties against oxygen and moisture, which may impact the shelf life and quality of certain products, such as food and beverages, especially in travel environments with fluctuating temperature and humidity levels.
Then there are concerns about the potential leaching of harmful chemicals, such as phthalates and antimony, from PET plastic into the contents of packaging, particularly when exposed to heat or sunlight during travel. This, combined with the above, makes PET a concern with long-term storage, looping back to the argument of needing to move away from the instant gratification of our consumption habits.
In summary, while PET plastic offers undeniable advantages in terms of affordability, durability, and versatility for the global travel retail industry, its environmental impact and associated challenges cannot be ignored. As sustainability concerns continue to shape consumer preferences and industry regulations, stakeholders must carefully evaluate the use of PET in packaging.
Furthermore, we must explore alternative materials and recycling solutions to minimise the negative consequences of consumption. By prioritizing responsible packaging practices, the travel retail industry can align with evolving sustainability goals while meeting the demands of modern travelers, many of whom are already looking to make the switch.
