Soft Plastic
Definition
Soft or flexible plastics are the most widespread single-use consumer plastic. They are commonly used as sachets, packets, bags or wrappers for packaging for fruit, vegetables, confectionery and cosmetics. They can be folded, wrapped or scrunched, and they are lightweight and durable. Despite their often singular use, once discarded these highly functional properties of soft plastics mean they also take hundreds of years to degrade.
Production
The consumption of plastic has doubled over the past 20 years, significantly driven by an increased demand for plastic packaging, which itself is set to double by 2060.1 As a packaging material, soft plastics have proven so efficient at improving the transportation, protection and storage of goods that they overshadow less polluting alternatives. Modern consumer goods are now reliant on the material and supply chains are optimised around its production.