The world before plastic packaging
News
Why aluminium
Sustainability
Today, it’s hard to imagine packaging without plastic.
Everything from our food containers to everyday product packaging, plastic has become a defining material in modern consumer life.
But for most of human history, packaging looked very different.
Before plastics, goods were stored and transported using durable materials like glass, ceramics and metals. Beverage bottles were often returned, cleaned and reused, while containers were designed to last for years rather than minutes.
Plastic packaging surged in the mid-20th century thanks to its low cost, light weight and versatility. It transformed manufacturing and convenience but also accelerated the shift toward single-use packaging. Today, that model is being challenged by consumers and innovators like ourselves.
Plastic packaging is one of the largest contributors to global plastic waste, even as governments introduce bans, improve recycling systems and work toward international agreements like the Global Plastics Treaty. As industries rethink packaging, attention is turning back to materials that can remain in circulation, and it’s no surprise that aluminium is leading that shift.
It can be recycled infinitely without losing quality, making it a key material in more circular packaging systems, where resources are reused rather than discarded.
Looking back reminds us of something important: durable, recyclable packaging materials have always existed. The future of packaging may simply be about designing smarter systems that keep them in use. At Recorp, we believe aluminium will play a central role in that shift.
References
Earth Day
Global Plastication
UNEP
But for most of human history, packaging looked very different.
Before plastics, goods were stored and transported using durable materials like glass, ceramics and metals. Beverage bottles were often returned, cleaned and reused, while containers were designed to last for years rather than minutes.
Plastic packaging surged in the mid-20th century thanks to its low cost, light weight and versatility. It transformed manufacturing and convenience but also accelerated the shift toward single-use packaging. Today, that model is being challenged by consumers and innovators like ourselves.
Plastic packaging is one of the largest contributors to global plastic waste, even as governments introduce bans, improve recycling systems and work toward international agreements like the Global Plastics Treaty. As industries rethink packaging, attention is turning back to materials that can remain in circulation, and it’s no surprise that aluminium is leading that shift.
It can be recycled infinitely without losing quality, making it a key material in more circular packaging systems, where resources are reused rather than discarded.
Looking back reminds us of something important: durable, recyclable packaging materials have always existed. The future of packaging may simply be about designing smarter systems that keep them in use. At Recorp, we believe aluminium will play a central role in that shift.
References
Earth Day
Global Plastication
UNEP