Economy of packaging and waste from packaging on the example of the wood industry

In recent years, the packaging market has become an important element of the economy of many countries. Its growing importance is associated with rapid industrial development, globalization, free transfer of goods and growing demand from consumers. Customer requirements affect the growing demand for more functional, colorful, light, flexible, ecological and environmentally safe packaging. Currently, the packaging has become an element that in many cases determines the demand for a given product. In particular, this applies to households. Industrial packaging is also a very important part of the packaging market. In most cases, their task is to adequately protect the product during transport. In recent years, Poland has become one of the largest producers of various types of packaging in Europe. This industry is equipped with modern means of production and uses the latest technologies. The dynamically developing industry favours the production and sale of an enormous amount of packaging for the domestic and European market. However, this production results in a huge amount of waste that has a negative impact on the natural environment. That is why Poland, as a member state of the European Union, was obliged to conduct an effective policy against excessive packaging waste. The article characterizes the global packaging market and the waste generated from it. Waste management from packaging was discussed, focusing in particular on waste from industrial packaging. In the group of industrial waste, wooden and wood-based packaging is of great importance and it should be used and reused as much as possible. Legal conditions, apart from various economic aspects are of great importance in the process of waste management. For this reason, the analysis of legal acts regulating the waste management market was presented in this work. Based on the acquired data, structural analysis of the waste, with particular reference to wood waste, was made. This article also presents data from one of the companies dealing with the production and management of waste from wooden packaging. The obtained data show that the management of waste from wooden packaging can be economically viable and very beneficial for the natural environment. This work should be treated as a voice in the discussion on the protection of the natural environment and improve the environmental awareness of the society. Currently, all types of waste are a big economic and social problem. For some industries this particular problem may be an important barrier to their development.