Chapter 5: Packaging
Materials
Glass: Strong and durable, fully recyclable, and high energy demands
Plastic: Versatile, light, sourcing fossil fuel depletion and pollution, high energy, efficient transport, recyclable with costs
Steel and Aluminum: Strong, mining impacts, high energy and water demands, recyclable without loss
Paper, card, and cartonboard: strong, mining impacts, high energy and water demands, harmful chemicals required, recyclable with loss
Mixed materials: versatile, light, and generally not recyclable
Renewable materials
Include bioplastics and biopolymers
Comes mostly from paper
Causes deforestation, GHG emissions, soil erosion, and water-cycle interruption and pollution
A lot of water pollution
Nonrenewable materials
Typically mined from the ground
Converts land to mining sights
Mining could release toxic material to the environment
Chemical effects that occur during normal operation from minor leaks and result in contamination with harmful effects
Recycled materials
Almost all glass packaging contains 35% recycled material
Steel also contains that 35% recycled material
Plastics are often recycled, but are taken more seriously because they could have a pre or post consumer sickness
Additives
Inks, glues, and colors added to packaging
Most are chemical-based and create air quality problems
Could contain toxic metals that need to be limited
Adhesives pose a challenge to recycling materials
Social hotspot
Potential to compromise labor standards and community development
Labor: Child labor, discrimination, remuneration, safety performance
Community: compliance with laws, indigenous people's rights, benefits from the resource
Responsible packaging
Beneficial, safe, and healthy
Meet market criteria for performance and cost
Maximize use of renewable or recycled materials
Use clean production technologies and best practices
Physically designed to optimize materials and energy
Materials and Sourcing
Recycled paper pulping requires less toxic chemicals and about 40% less energy compared to virgin pulping
Limitations with recycled material with food regulations
Kellogg launched HDPE program and bag can be used after cereal is gone
Kellogg's bag is 78% less responsible for GHG emissions
Johanna Food's FSC-labeled beverage cartons contains 75% pulp wood
Recyclable Packaging
Use fewer packaging materials
Use single materials
Design for ease of separation
Clearly communicate
Reduce waste and easy recycling
avoid logos and icons that can seem confusing
PepsiCo's Sustainable Packaging Program
Company removed 350 billion pounds of packaging products
Half the plastic from the water bottle was removed
employ new technology for thinner walls and an additional savings with a label that is 10% smaller
New recycling system recycled more than 196 million containers since 2010
Right now PepsiCo uses 10% recycled material for bottles
Sustainable Packaging Coalition
Helps shape and improve packaging
Also involved in recycling
Uses software toll for rapid packaging design evaluations
Adding How2Recycle to labels
Summary
Packaging is very critical in food supply and other materials. Packaging has progressed significantly since the first time we used packages. The materials we are using are best suited for whatever is packaged and our packages are becoming more sustainable and green. The longer the life cycle the better off we are for packages. It is a great opportunity to close the resource loop with used packages as a feedstock for new materials and products.