# Significance of Sustainable Packaging: A Case-Study from a Supply Chain Perspective
## 2 Literature Review  
Packaging performs diverse and complex functions in the supply chain as it is the most important aspect for any product; a well packed product can assure protection to the consumer [11]. Packaging is not only about a simple carton or a box or a plastic wrap, but it is a process that ensures safe, cost effective, and efficient storage, delivery, and handling of the products [6]. However, there are various studies among developing and developed economies that highlight the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) due to packaging production. [PERSON] et al. (2019) identified approximately 7.80 mmt of packagingdisposal were dumped every year in China due to e-commerce activity [12]. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. (2018) evaluated that approximately 1.5 mt was an outcome from online food delivery service (OFDS) which includes consumption of fuels, paper, and plastics utensils [13]. Huge quantities of natural resources such as raw materials and natural energy are consumed in order to manufacture packaging, the large quantity consumption of energy and raw materials causes a strain in the environment due to the depletion of resources and emission of greenhouse gases [14]. As packaging largely consumed multiple resources (for instance consumption of energy based on multiple sources) [15; 16; 17]. The utilization of multiple energy sources leads to a burden on the environment through the consumption of multiple natural resources allowing manufacturing companies to emit harmful greenhouse gas (GHG). Impaired packaging and dispatch can also steer to discharge a variety of harmful impurities in the shape of natural and synthetic contamination into the ecosystem [18]. However, according to International organization for standardization (ISO), life cycle assessment (LCA) can be applied to gauge the environmental impact related with packaging production. This perspective quantify the comprehensive environmental aspect of product flow occurring during entire product life cycle starting from unfinished product to its final dispatch. According to [PERSON] et al. (2017), in 2015 alone the production and packaging contribute up to 1.2 Mt of CO2 emission from China [17]. Plastic packaging is one of the most used ways of packaging around the world. Though plastic is known for its longer lifespan and toughness, it is frequently used for single-use applications. Plastics output has been steadily increasing for more than half-century, peaking at 299 million metric tons in 2013 [19]. A growing utilization of plastic packing due to its economical production cost and permanence is considered a specific area of interest among many firms, as pollution due to massive involvement of plastic has surfaced as potential threat to the ecosystem in recent time [20]. Despite of its characteristics, plastic roots ecological complications at the disposal stage, such as impacting human life, environment, and ocean life; around 5000 million tons of plastic has accumulated in the natural environment and landfills and is predicted to be increased by 12,000 million tons by the mid-century [21]. Single-use plastic must be reduced, and this implies that people play a critical part in this effort. In 2021, European Union has imposed restrictions on several single-use plastic products which enters the marine environment every year. As single-use plastics refer to disposable plastic that can only be used once before they are thrown away; however, the ban imposed by the European Union has decreased the use of single-use plastic by 10-20% ([PERSON], [PERSON], & [PERSON], 2020) [22]. How much plastic waste has been generated till 2010 and what will be the world's situation by the end of 2025, and where being on number one in production of plastic waste as shown in Figure 1.  
In case of Pakistan, things are getting even worse in term of utilization of single layer plastic. Due to its characteristics such as longevity, water-resistance, and low cost, the use of single-use plastic has become very common in Pakistan' everyday life.