11.05.07
Public awareness
When we speak of PLA and biodegradable plastics you have to, in the same breath, talk about composting. This composting is not your generic backyard version but an industrial composting. The question is…”How do we inform the public that plastic is not always plastic and has to be separated?”.
The dilemma is to create a large enough market for compostable plastics to where the general public will recognize it from the ordinary polyethylene packaging. I read in a recent trade magazine that the fear is that the market segment will not grow fast enough and the confusion will be the death of bioplastics in mainstream packaging.
How do we convey the message? Is it through the media? What about branding or symbols? I know BPI (www.bpiworld.org) has a logo that designates compostability. Is this the answer? Being in the packaging design business it is difficult to make sure that the consumer can EASILY make ther right choice when disposing of a particular medium.
What are you thoughts on this subject?
