Go green with d.a.pak
We as a company are committed to reducing our impact on the environment
Environmental impact remains at the forefront of our minds
Like many of us, we were all woken by the dramatic scenes from Blue Planet II that rippled through the world causing the ‘David Attenborough Effect’ which has now seen a 53% drop in single use plastics, and with Parliament hoping the Single-Use Plastic Ban will come into effect by 2021.
We aim to meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations.
We aim to do this by...
- Complying with all relevant environmental legislation
- Aiming to use, wherever possible, renewable or recyclable materials
- Include environmental considerations in future investment decisions
- Actively promote recycling both internally and amongst our customers and suppliers
Did you know…
Flexible plastic can be the eco-friendliest packaging solution when disposed of correctly, along with its many benefits which include increased shelf life, decreased carbon footprint and recyclability.
Bulk Bags – Yes, your bulk bags can be recycled! Bulk bags are made from the widely recycled material, polypropylene. Bulk bags need to be grouped in 3 x different ‘types’ in order to be recycled. These types are detailed below.
Once the bags are grouped, they need to be baled ready for collection from a recognised bulk bag recycling centre, the bags are then sorted, cleaned, melted down & produced into pellets to begin the life cycle again as a new plastic product. This cycle can be repeated many times as polypropylene is safe to recycle multiple times.
Bulk bags can also be made at a 6:1 safety factor, which means they can be safely used multiple times. Rather than a standard bulk bags being only made for single use (Safety factor 5:1). Using multi trip bulks bags is a more eco-friendly option, with the bag still being able to be recycled after its multiple uses.
Grade A
Clean, bright white, coloured stitching & handles
Grade B
Not as clean, duller white, minimal stitching
Grade C
Dirty or coloured bags
How a bulk bag is recycled...
1. Sorting
All bulk bags are required to be sorted into types, such as, Type A, B & C of bulk bags, this makes collection a simple process for either a recycling centre or a Waste-to-Energy plant.
2. Collection
Once sorted, the bulk bags are then collected in tonne bales of the ‘Types’ and taken away to a specialist recycling centre.
3. Washing
A wash solution is added to water within a wash tank and is used to effectively get rid of all the contaminants in the plastic material, ensuring that all items are thoroughly clean and ready for the next step.
4. Shredding
The bags are then fed into a machine which has sets of blades that shred through the material of the bag into small pieces.
5. Pelleting
The shredded pieces are then melted down and put through a machine called an ‘extruder’. This machine shapes the melted plastic into thick ‘noodle-like’ tubes, which are then cut into small pellets by a set of rotating blades.
The pellets are then ready to be used and made into new items. This loop can be repeated multiple times as polypropylene can be safety recycled many times.
What other packaging can be recycled?
WPP Sacks – WPP sacks can be recycled! They are made from the same material as bulk bags, polypropylene. Known for their strength and durability, once a WPP sack has been used multiple times it can then be recycled. Just like bulk bags, they will need to be sorted and baled for collection from a recognised bulk bag recycling centre.
Have you thought about using Bulk Bags instead of WPP sacks? Using a bulk bag instead of multiple WPP sacks will decrease your loading time and save you money. 40 x 25kg WPP sacks will need to be used to carry 1 tonne of product or you can use just 1 bulk bag.
Stretch Wrap – Pallet Stretch wrap can be recycled due to being made from LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polythene), which is identified under Recycling Group 4. This wrap is accepted at carrier bag recycling points.
BOPP Bags – Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene is also recyclable! The BOPP lamination is applied to a WPP bag to allow high quality printing; however this does not stop the packaging from being recycled.
Paper Sacks – Our paper sacks suppliers use FSC certified paper, and the sacks are suitable for recycling. However, please ensure that your paper sacks do not include a foil/plastic liner when they are taken for recycling. If you paper sacks have plastic handles, they will need to be removed and placed separately.
Cardboard – Our cardboard suppliers use FSC certified paper to create our cardboard products. Cardboard is a widely recycled product which can be recycled in your kerbside collection.
For more details on what you can recycle locally in your area, click here; https://www.recyclenow.com/
Waste to Energy
Bulk bags which cannot be recycled, due to their colouring or the contamination of products which have been kept in the bag, such as Grade C bags, are sent to be burnt at a waste for energy plant.
Much like a coal burning plant that creates electricity by burning coal, a waste-to-energy plant burns waste and turns it into electricity. Not only does this procedure create energy from waste but also reduces the amount of waste going into landfills. Therefore it has a double beneficial effect.
How it works
The Bulk Bags which cannot be recycled are gathered into tonne bales and transported to an industrial plant, where the products are then burnt. The gas collected from the burning waste is then sent to the National Grid to provide electrical power across the country.
