The Urgency of Greenhouse Gas Reduction in Packaging and Waste Systems
The complexities surrounding climate change can be daunting, as individuals may feel overwhelmed by the interconnectedness of their daily actions with Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and the scale of the issue. Recent IPCC reports highlight the urgency of immediate action, emphasizing the need to peak GHG emissions by 2025 at the latest and achieve a 43% reduction by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Failure to do so could result in intensified extreme weather events, accelerated sea level rise, and widespread ecological damage, potentially leading to irreversible consequences in vulnerable regions, including food and water insecurity and mass displacement.
Barriers to Composting and Packaging Waste Management
By promoting the shift from landfills to industrial composting through readily accessible curbside options for consumers, we can significantly contribute to mitigating GHG emissions and slowing global warming. This aligns with the crucial principle of waste hierarchy management, where prevention is prioritized, followed by design for reusability and recovery, and lastly recycling with the aim of minimizing waste generation and maximizing resource utilization. However, current limitations in waste management infrastructure, including outdated sorting practices at many facilities, a lack of government support, and enforced recycling mandates, often result in compostable and recyclable materials being improperly disposed of in landfills, further hindering our efforts towards a sustainable waste management system. Additionally, the financial burden of weekly waste collection can act as a barrier for some households, further exacerbating the issue.
Greenhouse Gases and Their Effects
Greenhouse gases are gases in our atmosphere that raise the surface temperature of planet earth. They absorb the wavelength of radiation that our planet emits, resulting in the Greenhouse effect. The most common GHGs are CO2 (79.7%), methane (CH4) (11%), N2O (6.1%), and Fluorinated gases (3.1%). H2O vapor accounts for 50% of GHGs but is not a significant contributing factor to global warming. Ozone is considered a GHG but is not a driver of global warming.
Ozone, Fluorinated Gases, and Industrial Impacts
The ozone holes impact on global warming is comparatively small. Stratospheric ozone depletion (ozone hole) has a cooling effect on Earths surface, but the stratospheric ozone depletion and cooling is small compared to the warming effect of the tropospheric ozone and other GHGs like CO2. The ozone thinning is particularly over Antarctica and is caused by human produced Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It is important to note that the Montreal Protocol has had a positive impact on climate change by phasing out ozone depleting substances, CFCs, thus averting approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming. It is interesting to note that semiconductor manufacture use Fluorinated gases for tasks like etching and circuitry on silicon wafers and cleaning chemical vapor deposition on steel chambers (HF4, C2F2, NF3, and SF6). There is also a significant amount of fossil fuel utilized resulting in Carbon emission and ultra-pure water resources depleted. Life cycle analyses will need to be monitored and advanced environmental measures taken to help industries such as this switch to greener, more environmentally friendly production processes, or risk taking a large step backwards in necessary advancements.
Global Emissions by Sector and Region
A substantial portion of GHG emissions (29%) originates from natural gas and petroleum systems, primarily composed of CO2 and Methane, with 70% attributed to vehicles and vans. Coal-fired power plants contribute another 20% within this category. Enteric fermentation from livestock, particularly cattle, accounts for 25% of GHG emissions, followed by landfills (15%), waste plants (8%), coal mining (6%), and wetlands (6%), including rice paddy farming. China, the United states, India, Russia, and Japan are the leading global CO2 emitters per capita. Canada experiences significantly faster warming due to oil and gas production (45% of their emissions) and transportation (28%). Iran and Saudi Arabia rank eighth and tenth, respectively, in global carbon emissions from fossil fuels.
Why Methane Matters for Compostable Packaging Decisions
Although CO2 is emitted in greater quantities, methane is a significantly more potent GHG, trapping considerably more heat. Over a 20-year period, methane is 80 times more effective than CO2 in trapping heat, and even over 100 years, it remains 28 times more potent. According to NASA estimates, human activities are responsible for approximately 60% of current methane emissions, with primary sources being agriculture, fossil fuels, and landfill decomposition. Natural sources contribute the remaining 40%, including wetland emissions from areas like the Arctic, thawing permafrost, and rice paddies. Noteworthy, Europe is the only region demonstrating a decrease in methane emissions. Due to its rapid increase over the past two centuries, methane is estimated to be responsible for 20-30% of global warming since the Industrial Revolution.
Composting Packaging to Reduce Methane Emissions
This underscores the importance of responsible packaging design and waste reduction strategies, highlighting composting as a key solution to mitigate methane emissions from landfills. Composting through its aerobic decomposition process effectively converts organic waste into a valuable soil amendment, significantly reducing GHG emissions compared to anaerobic decomposition in landfills, where methane is a more prevalent produced byproduct (50-60% methane) along with CO2 (34-50%).
Limitations of Reusable Packaging Systems
In a forthcoming blog post, I will delve into the advantages/disadvantages of transitioning from Single-use Shippers to Reusable, Returnable Shippers. While the initial premise of reusable shippers was to reduce carbon emission, emerging research indicates that the concept may not be as effective as anticipated. Studies, including those by McKinsey, suggest that the additional transportation required to return shippers for cleaning may actually increase GHG emission and double the carbon footprint left from fossil fuels spent during transportation, while also introducing the possibility of pollutants from cleaning products.
How Compostable Packaging Supports Climate Goals
In conclusion, transitioning the packaging industry toward compostable and recyclable materials can significantly reduce annual methane and CO2 emissions. This shift could result in a reduction of 27-50% or more, depending on the specific materials and processes used. Specifically, composting organic waste instead of landfilling can reduce emissions by over 50% due to the methane generation in landfills. Industrial composting, verified by ASTM D6400 standards, effectively accelerates natural decomposition processes, yielding compost that supports plant life. Adopting more sustainable packaging and waste management practices, including curbside composting and recycling programs, is crucial for mitigating CO2 and methane production. The United States, a major contributor to GHG emission, must prioritize these actions to address climate change and global warming.
