Sustainable packaging

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Molded pulp uses recycled newsprint to form package components.

Here, researchers are molding packaging from straw[1]
Sustainable packaging is the development and use of packaging which results in
improved sustainability. This involves increased use of life cycle inventory (LCI) and life cycle
[2][3]
assessment (LCA)  to help guide the use of packaging which reduces the environmental
impact and ecological footprint. It includes a look at the whole of the supply chain: from basic
[4]
function, to marketing, and then through to end of life (LCA) and rebirth.  Additionally, an eco-cost
[5]
to value ratio can be useful  The goals are to improve the long term viability and quality of
life for humans and the longevity of natural ecosystems. Sustainable packaging must meet the
functional and economic needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
[6]
to meet their own needs.  Sustainability is not necessarily an end state but is a continuing process
[7]
of improvement.
Sustainable packaging is a relatively new addition to the environmental considerations for packaging
(see Packaging and labeling). It requires more analysis and documentation to look at the package
design, choice of materials, processing, and life-cycle. This is not just the vague "green movement"
that many businesses and companies have been trying to include over the past years. Companies
implementing eco-friendly actions are reducing their carbon footprint, using more recycled materials
[8]
and reusing more package components.  They often encourage suppliers, contract packagers, and
distributors to do likewise.
For example, researchers at the Agricultural Research Service are looking into using dairy-based
films as an alternative to petroleum-based packaging. [1] Instead of being made of synthetic
polymers, these dairy-based films would be composed of proteins such as casein and whey, which
are found in milk. The films would be biodegradable and offer better oxygen barriers than synthetic,
chemical-based films. More research must be done to improve the water barrier quality of the dairy-
[9]
based film, but advances in sustainable packaging are actively being pursued.
Environmental marketing claims on packages need to be made (and read) with caution.
Ambiguous greenwashing titles such as green packaging and environmentally friendly can be
confusing without specific definition. Some regulators, such as the US Federal Trade Commission,
[10]
are providing guidance to packagers
Companies have long been reusing and recycling packaging when economically viable. Using
minimal packaging has also been a common goal to help reduce costs. Recent years have
accelerated these efforts based on social movements, consumer pressure, and regulation. All
[11]
phases of packaging, distribution, and logistics are included.
Sustainable packaging is no longer focused on just recycling. Just as packaging is not the only eco
target, although it is still top of mind for many. Right or wrong, packaging is frequently scrutinized
and used as the measure of a company's overall sustainability, even though it may contribute only a
small percentage to the total eco impact compared to other things, such as transportation, and water
and energy use.

Contents
 1Criteria
 2Benefits
 3Costs
 4Criticism
 5See also
 6References
 7Further reading
Criteria[edit]
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The criteria for ranking and comparing packaging based on their sustainability is an active area of
development. General guidance, metrics, checklists, and scorecards are being published by several
groups.
[12] [13]
Government,  standards organizations, consumers, retailers,  and packagers are considering
[14][15][16][17]
several types of criteria.
Each organization words the goals and targets a little differently. In general, the broad goals of
sustainable packaging are:

[18]
1. Functional  – product protection, safety, regulatory compliance, etc.
2. Cost effective – if it is too expensive, it is unlikely to be used
3. Support long-term human and ecological health
Specific factors for sustainable design of packaging may include:

 Use of minimal materials – reduced packaging, reduced layers of packaging, lower mass
[19]
(product to packaging ratio), lower volume, etc.
 Energy efficiency, total energy content and usage, use of renewable energy, use of clean
energy, etc.
 Recycled content – as available and functional. For food contact materials, there are special
safety considerations, particularly for use of recycled plastics and paper. Regulations are
[20][21]
published by each country or region.
 Recyclability – recovery value, use of materials which are frequently and easily recycled,
reduction of materials which hinder recyclability of major components, etc.
 Reusable packaging – repeated reuse of package, reuse for other purposes, etc.
 Use of renewable, biodegradable and compostable materials – when appropriate and do not
[22][23]
cause contamination of the recycling stream
 Avoid the use of materials toxic to humans or the environment
 Effects on atmosphere/climate – ozone layer, greenhouse gases (carbon
dioxide and methane), volatile organic compounds, etc.
 Water use, reuse, treatment, waste, etc.
 Worker impact: occupational health, safety, clean technology, etc.
The chosen criteria are often used best as a basis of comparison for two or more similar packaging
designs; not as an absolute success or failure. Such a multi-variable comparison is often presented
[24]
as a radar chart (spider chart, star chart, etc.).

Benefits[edit]
Some aspects of environmentally sound packaging are required by regulators while others are
decisions made by individual packagers. Investors, employees, management, and customers can
influence corporate decisions and help set policies. When investors seek to purchase stock,
[25]
companies known for their positive environmental policy can be attractive.  Potential stockholders
and investors see this as a solid decision: lower environmental risks lead to more capital at cheaper
rates. Companies that highlight their environmental status to consumers can boost sales as well as
[26]
product reputation. Going green is often a sound investment that can pay off.

Costs[edit]
The process of engineering more environmentally acceptable packages can include consideration of
[27]
the costs.  Some companies claim that their environmental packaging program is cost effective.
[28]
 Some alternative materials that are recycled/recyclable and/or less damaging to the environment
can lead to companies incurring increased costs. Though this is common when any product begins
to carry the true cost of its production (producer pays, producer responsibility laws, take-back laws).
There may be an expensive and lengthy process before the new forms of packaging are deemed
[29]
safe to the public, and approval may take up to two years.  It is important to note here, that for
most of the developed world, tightening legislation, and changes in major retailer demand (Walmart's
Sustainable Packaging Scorecard for example) the question is no longer "if" products and packaging
[4]
should become more sustainable, but how-to and how-soon to do it.

Criticism[edit]
Efforts toward “greener” packaging are supported in the sustainability community; however, these
are often viewed only as incremental steps and not as an end. Some picture a true
sustainable steady state economy that may be very different from today's: greatly reduced energy
usage, minimal ecological footprint, fewer consumer packaged goods, local purchasing with short
[30][31][32]
food supply chains, little processed foods, etc.  Less packaging would be needed in a
sustainable carbon neutral economy, which means that fewer packaging options would exist and
[33]
simpler packaging forms may be necessary.

See also[edit]
 Bioplastics
 Cradle to cradle
 Sustainability metric and indices
 Ecodesign
 Sustainable Design
 Life Cycle Assessment

References[edit]

1. ^ Wood, Marcia (April 2002). "Leftover Straw Gets New

Life". Agricultural Research.
2. ^ Zabaniotou, A; Kassidi (August 2003). "Life cycle
assessment applied to egg packaging made from polystyrene
and recycled paper". Journal of Cleaner Production. 11 (5):
549–559. doi:10.1016/S0959-6526(02)00076-8.
3. ^ Franklin (April 2004). "Life Cycle Inventory of Packaging
Options for Shipment of Retail Mail-Order Soft Goods" (PDF).
 Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2008.
Retrieved December 15, 2008.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b Jedlicka, W, "Packaging Sustainability: Tools,
Systems and Strategies for Innovative Package Design",
(Wiley, 2008), ISBN 978-0-470-24669-6
5. ^ Wever, R; Vogtlander, Joost (June 2013). "Eco-efficient
Value Creation: An Alternative Perspective on Packaging and
Sustainability". Packaging Technology and Science. 26(4):
229–248. doi:10.1002/pts.1978.
6. ^ World Packaging Organization (17 April 2008). "Position
Paper on Sustainable Packaging" (PDF). Archived from the
original (PDF) on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
7. ^ "What is Sustainable Packaging? Our Vision". EUROPEN,
European Organization for Packaging and the Environment.
May 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
8. ^ Amcor (2014). Sustainability Review 2014.
(http://www.amcor.com/sustainability/). Retrieved 10 January
2015.
9. ^ "Potential of Dairy-based Wraps Outlined". USDA
Agricultural Research Service. January 22, 2010.
10. ^ "Environmental Claims". Federal Trade Commission.
2008-11-17. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
11. ^ Fecourt, Adrien; Li, F. (2013), "Report No.
E2013:015" (PDF), Improving transport packaging
sustainability – a case study in a production logistics
company, Gothenburg, Sweden: CHALMERS UNIVERSITY
OF TECHNOLOGY, Department of Technology Management
and Economics, retrieved 28 February 2014
12. ^ "Packaging, Product Stewarship". US Environmental
Protection Agency. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
13. ^ "Wal-Mart Unveils Packaging Scorecard to Suppliers".
Wal-Mart. November 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
14. ^ "Sustainable Packaging Metrics and Indicators
Framework". Sustainable Packaging Coalition. December
2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-06.
Retrieved 14 December 2009.
15. ^ "COMPASS, Metrics for Rating Packages" (PDF).
Sustainable Packaging Coalition. 2011. Archived from the
original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 6 Sep 2011.
16. ^ "Towards Sustainable Packaging" (PDF). Sustainable
Packaging Alliance. October 2002. Archived from the
original (PDF) on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
17. ^ "PRINCIPLES, STRATEGIES & KPIs FOR
PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY" (PDF). Sustainable
Packaging Alliance. July 2010. Archived from the
original (PDF) on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 5 Sep 2011.
18. ^ anon: "Packaging Matters", Institute of Packaging
Professionals, 1993
19. ^ Jason DeRusha. "The Incredible Shrinking Package".
16 Jul 2007. WCCO.
20. ^ Guidance for Industry: Use of Recycled Plastics in
Food Packaging: Chemistry Considerations, Contract, US
Food and Drug Administration, 2006, retrieved 22 Feb2015
21. ^ Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 176.260
(Pulp from reclaimed fiber)(PDF), US Government, 2009,
retrieved 22 Feb 2015
22. ^ ASTM D6400, Standard Specification for Labeling of
Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal
or Industrial Facilities
23. ^ Ammala, Anne (2011). "An overview of degradable and
biodegradable polyolefins". Progress in Polymer
Science. 36 (8): 1015–
1049. doi:10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2010.12.002.
Retrieved September 21, 2018.
24. ^ Svanes, Erik; Mie Vold; Hanne Møller; Marit Kvalvåg
Pettersen; Hanne Larsen; Ole Jørgen Hanssen1 (2010).
"Sustainable Packaging Design: a Holistic Methodology for
Packaging Design". Packaging Technology and Science. 23:
161–175. doi:10.1002/pts.887.
25. ^ Benefits For Being Green
26. ^ More Benefits For Green Companies
27. ^ Seidel, Manuel; Shabazpour, Tedford
(2007). "Sustainability in Practice, a case of environmental
packaging for ready to assemble furniture" (PDF). Talking and
Walking Sustainability. Auckland, New Zealand: The New
Zealand Society for Sustainability Engineering and Science.
Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008.
Retrieved 23 December 2008.
28. ^ "Packaging - Global Citizenship". H-P. Archived
from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved 23
December 2008.
29. ^ Is Going Green Worth It
30. ^ Kunstler, James Howard (2012). Too Much Magic;
Wishful Thinking, Technology, and the Fate of the Nation.
Atlantic Monthly Press. ISBN 978-0-8021-9438-1.
 31. ^ McKibben, D, ed. (2010). The Post Carbon Reader:
Managing the 21st Century Sustainability Crisis. Watershed
Media. ISBN 978-0-9709500-6-2.
32. ^ Brown, L. R. (2012). World on the Edge. Earth Policy
Institute. Norton. ISBN 9781136540752.
33. ^ Speigleman, H, and Sheehan, B. (2010). "Climate
Change, Peak Oil, and the End of Waste". In McKibben, D
(ed.). The Post Carbon Reader: Managing the 21st Centery
Sustainability Crisis. Watershed Media. ISBN 978-0-9709500-
6-2.
Further reading[edit]
 Azzato, Maureen, "Facilitating the Use of Recycled Content in Packaging"
 Jedlicka, W, "Packaging Sustainability: Tools, Systems and Strategies for Innovative Package
Design", (Wiley, 2008), ISBN 978-0-470-24669-6
 Selke, S, "Packaging and the Environment", 1994, ISBN 1-56676-104-2
 Soroka, W, "Fundamentals of Packaging Technology", IoPP, 2002, ISBN 1-930268-25-4
 S.,Sterling, "Field Guide to Sustainable Packaging", 2008
 Stillwell, E. J, "Packaging for the Environment", A. D. Little, 1991, ISBN 0-8144-5074-1
 Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-
470-08704-6
 Packaging Sustainability
 Packaging Systems and Design - Department of Sustainable Biomaterials
 The Centre for Sustainable Design
 Sustainable Packaging: Why Should We Care?
 ISO 18601-18606 Packaging and the Environment series of Standards