Unit 5

Eco friendly packaging

Packaging
Rising climate change awareness started contributing to the need of considering sustainability in packaging
decisions. Sustainability objectives relate to packaging life cycle in terms of material sourcing, packaging design,
manufacturing, transportation and disposal.[14] According to Sustainable Packaging Coalition
(http://www.sustainablepackaging.org), packaging can be considered sustainable if it meets the following criteria:
Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle
Meets market criteria for both performance and cost;
Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy;
Optimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials;
Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices;
Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy;
Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial closed loop cycles[15]
Besides the traditional 3 Rs of reduce, reuse, and recycle,[16] the 7 Rs of Eco Friendly Packaging
principles should be applied to the packaging and product development in order to move it towards sustainability
objectives:
Renew - use materials made from renewable resources
Reuse - use materials over and over when economically feasible
Recycle - use materials made of highest recycled content without compromising quality
Remove - eliminate unnecessary packaging, extra boxes or layers
Reduce - minimize and optimize packaging materials
Revenue - achieve all above principles at equal or lower cost
Read - get educated on sustainability, educate producers and customers[17][18]
Optimizing packaging materials and design can significantly help to optimize logistics by improving vehicle load.
For example changing firm packaging to flexible can help to deliver maximum lorry load per kilometer travelled,
increasing the volume of goods being transported by lorry and thus reduce CO2 emission along time and costs
optimization.[19]

Labeling
Labeling is an important means of communicating with consumers about sustainable consumption, and it plays a
critical role in shopping for food and domestic appliances.[20] Used as a promotional mechanism, eco-labels
inform customers about social and environmental effects, the possibilities of recycling the product and its
packaging, methods of production (e.g. bio farming), products characteristics (e.g. vegan), or the producers
way of running business (e.g.Fair Trade / Marine Strewardship Council).
There is a challenge for consumers though to be able to recognize, understand and cope with sheer number of
emerging labels dealing with specific aspects of the sustainability agenda.[21]

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 assessment (LCA)[2][3] 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 function, to marketing, and then through to
end of life (LCA) and rebirth.[4] Additionally, an eco-cost to value
ratio can be useful[5] 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 to meet their own needs.[6] Sustainability is not
necessarily an end state but is a continuing process of
improvement.[7]

Molded pulp uses recycled newsprint to

form package components. Here, researchers
are molding packaging from straw[1]

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 these eco-friendly actions
are reducing their carbon footprint, using more recycled materials and reusing more package components.[8]
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] (http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100120.htm) 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-based film,
but advances in sustainable packaging are actively being pursued.[9]
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, are providing guidance to packagers[10]
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 phases of packaging, distribution, and logistics are
included.[11]
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.

1 Criteria
2 Benefits
3 Costs
4 Criticism

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.
Government,[12] standards organizations, consumers, retailers,[13] and packagers are considering several types of
criteria.[14][15][16][17]
Each organization words the goals and targets a little differently. In general, the broad goals of sustainable
packaging are:
1. Functional[18] 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 (product to
packaging ratio), lower volume, etc.[19]
Logistics efficiency (through complete life cycle) cube utilization, tare weight, enablement of efficient
transportation, etc.,[20]
Energy efficiency, total energy content and usage, use of renewable energy, etc.
Recycled content as available and functional
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 resources in packaging
Use of biodegradable materials when appropriate and do not 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.

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 as a radar chart (spider
chart, star chart, etc.).[21]

Some aspects of environmentally sound packaging are required by regulators[22] while others are decisions made
by each packager. Investors, employees, management, and customers can influence corporate decisions and help
set policies. When investors seek to purchase stock, companies known for their positive environmental policy
can be attractive.[23] 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 product reputation. Going green is often a sound investment that can pay off.[24]

The process of engineering more environmentally acceptable packages can include consideration of the costs.[25]
Some companies claim that their environmental packaging program is cost effective.[26] 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 safe to the public, and approval may take up to two years.[27] 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 should become more sustainable, but how-to and how-soon to do it.[4]

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 food supply chains, little processed foods, etc.[28][29][30] Less
packaging would be needed in this economy; fewer packaging options would exist; simpler packaging forms may
be necessary.[31]

Packaging
Rising climate change awareness started contributing to the need of considering sustainability in packaging
decisions. Sustainability objectives relate to packaging life cycle in terms of material sourcing, packaging design,
manufacturing, transportation and disposal.[14] According to Sustainable Packaging Coalition
(http://www.sustainablepackaging.org), packaging can be considered sustainable if it meets the following criteria:
Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle
Meets market criteria for both performance and cost;
Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy;
Optimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials;
Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices;
Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy;
Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial closed loop cycles[15]
Besides the traditional 3 Rs of reduce, reuse, and recycle,[16] the 7 Rs of Eco Friendly Packaging
principles should be applied to the packaging and product development in order to move it towards sustainability
objectives:
Renew - use materials made from renewable resources
Reuse - use materials over and over when economically feasible
Recycle - use materials made of highest recycled content without compromising quality
Remove - eliminate unnecessary packaging, extra boxes or layers
Reduce - minimize and optimize packaging materials
Revenue - achieve all above principles at equal or lower cost
Read - get educated on sustainability, educate producers and customers[17][18]
Optimizing packaging materials and design can significantly help to optimize logistics by improving vehicle load.
For example changing firm packaging to flexible can help to deliver maximum lorry load per kilometer travelled,
increasing the volume of goods being transported by lorry and thus reduce CO2 emission along time and costs
optimization.[19]

Labeling
Labeling is an important means of communicating with consumers about sustainable consumption, and it plays a
critical role in shopping for food and domestic appliances.[20] Used as a promotional mechanism, eco-labels
inform customers about social and environmental effects, the possibilities of recycling the product and its
packaging, methods of production (e.g. bio farming), products characteristics (e.g. vegan), or the producers
way of running business (e.g.Fair Trade / Marine Strewardship Council).
There is a challenge for consumers though to be able to recognize, understand and cope with sheer number of
emerging labels dealing with specific aspects of the sustainability agenda.[21]