Truly Green Packaging

1. Truly Green Packaging Jane Bickerstaffe Director INCPEN FDIN 30 April 2009

2. INCPEN – the Industry Council for Packaging & the Environment • Research organisation set up in 1974 to study environmental and social impact of packaging • Draws together an influential group of companies that operate throughout the supply chain, with a common interest in packaging, the environment and sustainable development

3. Members Major international and British companies from every stage of the supply chain

4. Greener packaging Consumer’s trust in your packaging Long term vision A responsible packaging strategy

5. “Sustainable packaging”? • Is it: • made from renewable or non-renewable resources? • recyclable? • biodegradable or inert? • reusable? • made from recycled material? • ANY or SOME of these ... • because packaging can only be judged in the context of the product it protects, the supply chain, and consumers’ needs

6. Sustainable product and packaging systems: • optimise material, water and energy use • minimise waste (from products and used packaging) • maximise recovery of value from waste - as material, energy, compost … whether they are made from paper, glass, metals, plastics or a mixture of materials No material has a monopoly of environmental virtues!

7. Environment: • Save more resources than used Packaging • Social: • Meet consumers expectations in all aspects of • Product protection • Safety • Handling • Information • Economy: • Save costs in distribution and merchandising of goods Packaging in a sustainable society

8. Packaging and Product lifecycle • Packaging is part of the system for delivering products from point of production to point of consumption • Each part of the lifecycle has different expectations and demands on packaging all of which influence its design

9. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Raw material suppliers & packaging converters want... ...minimum use of material ...minimum use of energy ...less environmental impact

10. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Manufacturers want... ...low cost ...less environmental impact ...brand image

11. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Distributors want... ...full loads

12. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Wholesalers & Depots want... ...easy storage ...strong packs

13. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Retailers want... ...less environmental impact ...compact display ...attractive products

14. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Consumers want... ...wholesome food ...undamaged goods ...easy to open ...recyclable

15. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Waste Collection Authorities want... ...efficient collection ...separated waste ...minimum use of staff & vehicles

16. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Material recycling facility operators want... ...clean input materials ...saleable output materials ...guaranteed markets

17. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Reprocessors want... ...clean material ...good profits

18. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Energy from waste recovery operators want... ...supportive community ...shorter planning process ...local buyers for heat

19. Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain Waste Disposal Authorities want... ...less waste ...planning permission for sites ...no NIMBYs

20. The Packaging Sustainability Chain Raw material suppliers & packaging converters Wholesalers & Depots Manufacturers Distributors Consumers Waste Collection Authorities Retailers Material recycling facility operators Energy from waste recovery operators Waste Disposal Authorities Reprocessors

21. The Packaging sustainability chain Consumers, and politicians, see only two links in the chain – retailers and municipal waste authorities Limited view on packaging No knowledge of product damage ‘There’s too much packaging’ ‘Why can’t it all be recyclable?’ ‘Packaging is “bad”; environmental taxes are “good”’ Tempting to politicians to tax, restrict, ban, impose “extended producer responsibility” on packaging

22. Need to know the whole system Municipalities want “ all packaging designed to be recyclable” but this often conflicts with distributors wanting “lightweight and shape for full loads” Retailers’ demands on suppliers have: Stimulated measurement and identified opportunities for improvement , but ... Have tended to take single issues eg “minimised packaging”, “recycled content”, “biopolymers” - without thought of impacts in other parts of supply chain, on consumers and wastes management Not necessary to do lifecycle analysis or carbon footprint but essential to consider impacts at all stages

23. Consumers’ views

24. People think there are “good” and “bad” materials Paper – “good”, from trees, natural Glass - “good”, been around a long time Metals – “not sure” Plastics – “bad”, don’t biodegrade Biodegradable plastics – “better”, won’t stay around for ever “All packaging should be recyclable and compostable”. … overall “too much packaging” whatever it is made from! … and the industry even gets blamed for labels on packaging …

25. Labels on packaging Hair Dryer: Do not use while sleeping Bread pudding: Product will be hot after heating Children's cough medicine: Do not drive or operate machinery Korean kitchen knife: Keep out of children Japanese food processor: Not to be used for the other use One of the first stick deodorants: Twist and push up bottom

26. Perceptions are related to specific products Q: Which of the types of products on this list, if any, do you feel are over-packaged? % Mentioning Easter eggs Electronics equipment Pre-packed fruit and vegetables Ready meals Pre-packed sandwiches / lunch meals Cosmetics Pre-packed meat and fish Breakfast cereals Chocolate Drinks in bottles and cans Household cleaning products Food in tins / cans Bread Wine Don't know / none of these Base: 1,010 British adults aged 16+, f-2-f, in-home, 10-16 October 2008

27. Packaging for 73 product categories grouped by approx frequency of purchase width of bars shows weight of packaging Packaging for all product categories perceived to be excessive = 2.034% of total sales packaging

28. Used household packaging currently collected for recycling Recycling collection systems already exist for 86% of household used packaging: - • paper/board • glass • steel, aluminium cans • plastic bottles • liquid food cartons ... now need to increase the capture rate and quality Collection systems are not widely available for 14%: - • plastics film • plastic tubs, pouches • mixed materials (often food contaminated) … but they can be used as a fuel

29. Explaining the environmental impact of flexibles to consumers • No type of material or packaging has a monopoly of environmental virtues • heavier packs are often worth recycling • thin, lightweight packs are often not worth collecting for recycling from households but they minimise environmental impact by allowing more goods (and less packaging) to be packed in fewer lorries • and energy can be recovered after use

30. Weight of packaging compared with number of packaged itemsUK primary and secondary packaging Weight % Number of packaged items % 20 plastics 25 paper/board 43 paper/board 53 plastics 14 metals 5 mixed materials 10 glass 19 glass 4 mixed materials 7 metals Source: Dr Jan Kooijman, Towards Greener Households, INCPEN

31. Packaging in waste • Packaging is less than 3% of all solid waste • Used household packaging is 18% of household waste • 60% of all packaging is recovered and recycled each year • Businesses have paid £1.5 billion in the last 10 years to double the amount recovered and recycled

32. Improve overall resource-efficiency, not just one impact Less packaging but more climate change impact!

33. La Saladière

34. Industry opportunities to help consumers live more sustainable lifestyles: Improve packaging/product systems

35. How the supply chain can help consumers Deliver products in good condition, appropriate portion sizes, instructions for use (precise rice:water ratio, boil only amount of water needed), easy to open etc… Help consumers reduce their own environmental impact eg reduce food wastage, provide tablets of laundry detergent to help avoid over-dosing Design containers so they can be emptied completely Design so it’s possible to recover value (as energy or materials) from all used packaging in modern integrated waste management systems Get rid of all excessive packaging Explain why packaging is needed

36. Industry opportunities to help consumers live more sustainable lifestyles: Explain role of packaging in society

37. Packaging protects far more resources than it uses Energy use in the food chain (per person per year) GJ / Year 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Food supply (farm / sea as prepared food leaving the factory) Primary packaging Secondary & transport packaging Factory to shop transport Retailing Consumer shopping Consumer cooling / freezing Consumer cooking 49% 7% 3% 3% 3% 5% 16% 14%

38. Meat Energy Footprint107 MJ per person per week Packaging plays a crucial role in preventing wastage of the huge amount of energy invested in producing meat

39. Potatoes Energy Footprint 22.2 MJper person per week Cooking energy can be reduced by using a microwave or keeping a lid on the pan while boiling.

40. Packaging prevents far morewaste than it generates • Packed in modified atmosphere bags in-store waste reduced from 3% to 1%

41. Packaging prevents far morewaste than it generates • Modified atmosphere bag absorbs ethylene so extends shelf life by 2/3 days • Prevents over-ripening of nearby fruit and vegetables • Prevents shoppers breaking bunches • Prevents shoppers moving labels from organic and Fair Trade • Keeps costs down Identical bunches stored for 7 days

42. Production of household goods 34 Central/water heating 24 Personal transport 15 Food Production 8 Household appliance use 6 Storing and cooking food 5 Packaging in perspective: 3% of average household energy use Education and leisure 4 Packaging (primary and secondary) for all goods and foods 3 Transporting and retail 2 UK household’s total environmental impact Percent, measured by energy

43. A Responsible Packaging Strategy • Improve packaging so it continues to make a positive contribution to helping consumers live more sustainably • Design primary, secondary, transport as an integrated system • Communicate with all parts of the supply chain and the reprocessing chain to design for overall efficient use of resources • Tell consumers why you use packaging and what it does • Explain that whether packaging is recyclable, or “biodegradable” is of secondary importance compared to its role in protecting the product

44. www.incpen.org