How can businesses improve packaging to heklp consumers live Presentations Brochure (PDF 2.12 MB)

RWM 2009How can businesses improve packaging to help consumers live more sustainable lifestyles?Jane BickerstaffeDirector INCPEN17 September 2009INCPEN – the Industry Council for Packaging & the EnvironmentResearch organisation set up in 1974 to study environmental and social impact of packagingDraws together an influential group of companies that operate throughout the supply chain, with a common interest in packaging, the environment and sustainable development MembersMajor international and British companies from every stage of the supply chainContents• Packaging in the supply chain• Packaging reduction• Increasing recovery and recycling of used packaging• Packaging’s role in reducing product damage and wastage• 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 designPackaging and Product lifecycle...minimumuse of material...minimumuse of energy...lessenvironmentalimpactRaw material suppliers & packaging converters want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...low cost...lessenvironmentalimpact...brand imageManufacturers want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...full loadsDistributors want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...easystorage...strongpacksWholesalers & Depots want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...less environmental impact...compact display...attractiveproductsRetailers want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...wholesome food...undamaged goods...easy to open...recyclableConsumers want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...efficient collection...separated waste...minimumuse of staff & vehiclesWaste Collection Authorities want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...clean inputmaterials...saleable outputmaterials...guaranteedmarketsMaterial recycling facility operators want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...clean material...good profitsReprocessors want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...supportive community...shorterplanningprocess...localbuyersfor heatEnergy from waste recovery operators want... Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chain...less waste...planning permissionfor sites...no NIMBYsWaste Disposal Authorities want...Sustainability & the packaging and product supply chainWaste Disposal AuthoritiesEnergy from waste recovery operatorsReprocessorsMaterial recycling facility operatorsWaste Collection AuthoritiesConsumers RetailersWholesalers & DepotsDistributorsManufacturersRaw material suppliers & packaging convertersThe Packaging Sustainability ChainPackaging reduction Glass pint milk bottle 1 litre plastic detergent bottleWeight gramsWeight grams5383972452301861940 1950 1960 1990 200012067501970 1990 2000Packaging reduction Cardboard box 400g metal food canWeight gramsWeight grams2452302101970 1990 2000906957551950 1970 1980 1990 2000Packaging reduction Glass beer bottle 275 ml Metal drinks can 330ml tinplateWeight grams450325176Weight grams60383429221970 1990 2000 19701950 1980 1990 2000Weight of packaging compared with number of packaged itemsUK primary and secondary packaging43 paper/boardWeight%Number of packaged items%25 paper/board4 mixed materials5 mixed materials20 plastics53 plastics19 glass10 glass14 metals7 metalsSource: Dr Jan Kooijman, Towards Greener Households, INCPENMore waste generated by the easier-to-recycle packs waste for disposal after 80% recycledPackaging for 73 product categories grouped by approx frequency of purchasePackaging for all product categories perceived to be excessive =2.034% of total sales packagingwidth of bars showsweight of packagingPackaging 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 recycledIncreasing recovery and recycling• Collection is available for over 85% of all used household packaging– Glass, metals, cardboard, plastic bottles– Increase participation rates– Increase quality of recyclate• Increase energy recovery for remaining 15%• PRAG – Packaging Resources Action Group– Manufacturers and retailers working with local government, the waste management sector and reprocessorsIndustry opportunities to help consumers live more sustainable lifestyles:Creating packaging/product systems that make a positive contribution to sustainabilitySustainable 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 materialsNo material has a monopoly of environmental virtuesHow 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 excessive packaging• Explain why packaging is needed10987654321GJ / YearEnergy use in the food chain (per person per year)Food supply (farm / sea as prepared food leaving the factory)Primary packagingSecondary & transport packagingFactory to shop transportRetailing Consumer shoppingConsumer cooling / freezingConsumer cooking49% 7% 3% 3% 3% 5% 16% 14%Packaging protects far more resources than it usesPackaging 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 downIdentical bunches stored for 7 days Packaging prevents far morewaste than it generates• Unwrapped – After 3 days unsaleable• Wrapped in 1.5 grams packaging– Lasts 14 days – and longer at homePackaging prevents far morewaste than it generates• Packed in modified atmosphere bags in-store waste reduced from 3% to 1%Packaging in perspective:3% of average household energy useProduction of household goods 34Central/water heating 24Personal transport 15Household appliance use 6Storing and cooking food 5Education and leisure 4Packaging (primary and secondary) for all goods and foods 3Transporting and retail 2Food Production 8UK household’s total environmental impactPercent, measured by energySummary• Companies will continue to:– Improve packaging so it continues to make a positive contribution to helping consumers live more sustainably– Achieve maximum resource efficiency through product/process design and manufacture– Respond to perceptions by explaining why it is used and how it helps consumersMore information: incpen.org jbickerstaffe@incpen.orgwww.incpen.org