Study of corporate reports shows need for standardized metrics

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) recently reviewed a number of publicly available reports from various companies on their financial and sustainability performance to determine how they were reporting on packaging systems. Though these reports were not packaging-specific, many of them came from companies with strong connections to the packaging industry.

While the traditional financial information was commonly reported and could be compared across all companies, it was immediately clear that little of this information—financial or otherwise—was specific to packaging. It also was clear that it would be no simple task to try to derive packaging data from aggregated corporate data or to fairly compare information between companies. For example, some companies report energy demand per square foot of retail space compared to other companies reporting fuel use per 1,000 packaging units. In short, the findings suggest that many companies collect data and report on many similar metrics differently.

While the results made it difficult to assess performance of the industry as a whole, they were promising as they showed that many companies are actually collecting data and monitoring their economic, social and environmental impacts. Though we can't aggregate totals for the recycled material used by companies, the specific material being recycled, or whether they are referring to pre- or post-consumer content, we do know that companies are consciously tracking recycled material and integrating more of its use into their production operations.

Interestingly, the annual "Sustainability in Packaging" survey conducted by Packaging Digest and the SPC, released in November 2011, is already measuring much of this kind of information and has been doing so for the last five years. Yet while this survey details overall trends in how companies are approaching their packaging operations in terms of sustainability concerns, there is no industry-wide effort to aggregate data on actual impacts from companies.

The reality is that companies eventually will be required to provide more hard data about their products' impacts to partners along the supply chain. There have been longstanding concerns about the difficulties of complying with various organizations' reporting requirements, yet there seems to remain a strong resistance and concern around unifying the way that information is collected, presented and distributed. The recently released Global Protocol on Packaging Sustainability (GPPS) may help alleviate some of these concerns.

While many are likely aware of the GPPS, for those who are not, it is a framework and measurement system that describes metrics and indicators for analyzing packaging sustainability. It is intended to provide a common language to encourage dialogue about the relationship between packaging and sustainability. With an emphasis on life cycle assessment, a more complete assessment of product impacts can be assessed and lead to less degrading product developments.

A common concern is that companies are aware of the GPPS but have little motivation or knowledge about how to integrate it into their reporting efforts. Recognizing the importance of standardized metrics, the SPC will continue to explore opportunities to help companies implement the GPPS framework or similar approaches into their collection and reporting process.

Determining a cost-effective and accessible framework for companies to begin reporting this information is an important first step, but the hope is this responsibility will be shared across the supply chain.

Author Eric DesRoberts is a project associate for GreenBlue's Sustainable Packaging Coalition (www.sustainablepackaging.org). For additional information, email [email protected].

.