Tech Talk – Mitigating Emissions in the Packaging Industry

Packaging is vital in our modern lives, serving as a pro­tective barrier for products and a canvas for branding. From the moment we wake up and reach for breakfast cereal to the evening when we unwind with our favorite snack, packaging surrounds us.

However, while packaging plays a crucial role in product delivery and consumer convenience, its production and disposal can con­tribute to environmental challenges, including air pollution. In this article, we dive into the importance of the packaging industry, the impact of air pollution, and effective strategies for mitigating emissions through air pollution control technologies.

The Problem of Air Pollution

Despite its undeniable benefits, the packaging industry is not without its environmental challenges. One significant issue is air pollution, stemming from the various stages of the packaging lifecycle, includ­ing manufacturing, transportation, and disposal. Manufacturing pro­cesses such as printing, coating, and laminating release volatile or­ganic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to smog formation and respiratory ailments.

Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs): The Preferred Solution

RTOs are typically the preferred technology within the print­ing and packaging industry because they effectively control high volumes of air with low to moderate solvent concentrations. RTOs mitigate emissions in a cost-effective way, and achieve be­tween 98% to 99%+ destruction efficiency, with impressive ther­mal efficiencies of up to 97%. Due to the high thermal effective­ness, RTOs have minimum natural gas consumption and lower operational costs, thereby offsetting capital equipment costs in comparison to alternative technologies. RTOs are reliable, dura­ble, easy to maintain, and use a programmable logic controller (PLC) with a human machine interface (HMI).

In conclusion, packaging stands out as a critical component of our daily lives, providing both protection for products and a platform for brand communication. However, its significance is accompanied by environmental challenges, notably air pollution stemming from var­ious packaging lifecycle stages. Despite these challenges, the indus­try is actively pursuing sustainable solutions that ensure long-term revenue and production growth, with air pollution control technol­ogies playing a pivotal role. Among these technologies, Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs) are a preferred solution due to their high efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Reach out to us at sales@shipandshore.com or call our office in Signal Hill, CA at +1(562) 997-0233 to see if E-RTO benefits make sense for your operation.