EUROPEN study examines impact of packaging's design on sustainability

Packaging should be seen as part of the solution in achieving a resource efficient society, according to a recent "green paper" recently released by EUROPEN, the European Organization for Packaging and the Environment.

In a dialog between stakeholders on packaging's role in society, EUROPEN sought opinions on the goals the packaging value chain should seek to achieve. Representatives of environmental NGOs, the European Commission, The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, retailers and retailer trade associations and EUROPEN's corporate members were among stakeholders involved in shaping and endorsing the contents of the paper.

Participants recognized the essential contribution to sustainable production and consumption that packaging makes by helping reduce product waste and protect resources while acknowledging that packaging does consume resource at all steps of the supply chain.

The document examines core questions about the place that packaging plays in the drive towards sustainable production and consumption and offers insightful perspectives to the varied questions that must be asked to obtain an "optimum packaging design" for a product, with the lowest possible environmental impact.

This study presents and discusses challenges and variables that all packaging decision-makers face when determining what type, amount and design of packaging to use to protect, preserve and market their particular product. What is clear is that none of these factors can be considered in isolation. Choices in one part of the value chain will inevitably affect another.

For example, packaging design may depend on certain materials, which may well impact supply or end-of-life decisions. Improving transportability may have implications on reusability, or impact consumer acceptability.

In other words, a myriad of interlocking questions have to be answered in each case when attempting to identify the best packaging for the application.

In the process of developing the paper, participants considered seven key questions surrounding the subject of material selection, packaging design, consumer choice, transport, end-of-life, communication along the value chain and innovative business models. The paper addresses the role of packaging in ensuring health and safety of food products and in preventing food waste and product loss.

Julian Carroll, EUROPEN's managing director, says: "The green paper, which brought together the opinions of broad sectors of society, not just industry, will serve EUROPEN and hopefully other stakeholders as a reference point in further discussions about packaging and sustainability." He adds that the group hopes the study will help the industry explain packaging's role to consumers, policy makers and key opinion formers.

To obtain a copy of the report, please visit www.europen.be.

Standards under development for biodegradation additives

The Plastics Environmental Council (PEC) is sponsoring a research study to produce the first standard specification for the landfill biodegradation of petroleum- and natural gas-derived plastics that have been treated with additives that enhance biodegradation.

The PEC is undertaking the development of the biodegradation standard specification to build confidence in the efficacy of plastics additives with regulators, consumers and businesses. According to the council, plastic additives that speed up the breakdown of plastic in landfills, without affecting their performance during use, are critically important to helping reduce the volume of plastic waste in landfills.

Despite the fact that readily consumer-separated items such as soda and milk bottles are collected and recycled at increasing rates, the majority of plastics simply cannot be recycled for a variety of reasons, including contamination, collection and logistics costs and second end-use limitations. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 13 million tons of plastic containers and packaging ended up in landfills in 2008. The PEC's effort to develop a landfill biodegradation specification standard is intended to address this issue. The PEC expects a landfill biodegradability certification seal to be available in approximately 18 months. 

PEC member companies include Wincup, Ecologic, Bio-Tec Environmental, ECM Biofilms, Pure Plastics, C-Line Products, Inc., Ecolab and FP Intl.

Sustainbility in Packaging Conference focuses on driving innovation in supply chain

Registration is open for Sustainability in Packaging 2012 to be held March 12-14, 2012, in Orlando, FL.

Now in its sixth year, the event will focus on Driving Innovation through the Supply Chain. It is organized by Pira International, Packaging Digest and Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News.

At the conference and exhibition, key players will discuss how ideas can be moved from packaging companies to brands to retailers and how to communicate the sustainability of the packaging on to the consumer.

Programs like the Global Packaging Project and the numerous other tools available provide a variety of data that is sometimes hard to quantify. Attendees will hear how to choose the correct tools for their companies and receive clarity as to what these tools can achieve.

Plus, you'll hear from major brands how they partner together to turn projects into reality.

Last year's conference drew nearly 300 packaging professionals to learn from more than 50 leading companies about all aspects of sustainability. For details and to register, visit www.sustainability-in-packaging.com.

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