Guide advises how to design eco-friendly packaging for online shoppers

INCPEN Packaging and the internet

But this presents challenges. We've probably all been irritated to receive a small item in a box which could have held many more or worse an item that is broken or damaged.

To coincide with Climate Week 2012, INCPEN (the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment) is publishing a guide—Packaging and the Internet: A guide to packaging goods for multi-channel delivery systems—to provide advice on designing packaging that will make these new delivery systems as resource-efficient as possible.

It has been developed with local authority Trading Standards Officers to give guidance to manufacturers and retailers on choosing appropriate packaging.

Jane Bickerstaffe, director of INCPEN says, "Companies have to rise to the challenge of identifying packaging that is appropriate for delivering goods via a number of different distribution systems to retail outlets as well as directly to consumers at home."

Packaging's most important role is protection of goods from farm or factory to the user. It reduces environmental impact by ensuring that the resources invested in each product, its ingredients and its supply chain aren't wasted through product damage. On average at least ten times more resources are invested in products than packaging. 

Packaging also carries information, helps to market the product and enables the handling, storage and use of goods.

Not all of these traditional roles are relevant to home-delivered goods but there are other roles that are needed such as responding to courier-specific requirements and including individual addresses.

The Trading Standards Institute's director of policy and operations Andy Foster says, "The Trading Standards Institute welcomes INCPEN's new packaging guidance—endorsed by industry and regulators alike it will help businesses fulfil their vital role in achieving sustainable development.

"Packaging optimization is far from being a mere regulatory compliance issue but one that can stimulate genuine cost savings for businesses, enhance packaging performance and increase brand reputation.

"As ever, TSI and our trading standards professionals will be working at the forefront with our unique mix of legal and technical knowledge and experience to help businesses achieve the best outcomes for themselves and consumers."

The guide has been welcomed by the U.K. Government. In their joint foreword, Grant Shapps (Minister of State for Housing & Local Government, DCLG), Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Defra) and Mark Prisk (Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, BIS) commend the excellent progress in the reduction of excessive packaging to date and challenge retailers and producers "to take on board the good advice in this guidance booklet."

They also welcome that a number of local authorities, manufacturers and retailers have worked together to produce the guide. "We want to encourage more joint working to ensure waste packaging is minimized; especially as more and more consumers switch to buying online or mail ordering items."

Source: INCPEN

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