Packaging materials are an essential part of our lifestyle & perform several important functions, for example, protecting products on their journey from the manufacture & distribution process to the end user, marketing a product brand and providing information to consumers. The choice of materials is influenced by many factors including the move some retailers are making towards shelf-ready packaging in order to reduce handling costs. Too much packaging means unnecessary use of materials, higher carbon emissions and extra cost.



In order to effectively reduce the quantities of packaging materials used by industry there are 3 main ways to achieve this;

• Substituting lighter materials

• Re-using packaging materials

• Increasing percentage of recycled content

Lighter Materials

Employing modern, lighter materials in place of traditional ones is a key factor in the reduction of packaging materials & hence a reduction in energy consumption. These days most new substitute materials & grades are as effective as their older equivalents yet as strong & robust with little or no loss in performance. As these new materials are lighter, utilising them often brings a financial saving which makes the whole process more commercially viable. Significant, large scale, global reduction of packaging material can only be properly achieved if industry & commerce can demonstrate real benefits in terms of efficiency & cost reduction.

Re-using packaging materials

Reusing reduces the amount of material requiring disposal, preserves raw materials and saves the energy used in the manufacture and transport of virgin containers such as bottles & cans. A significant amount of products are delivered in containers that could be re-used many times. Numerous studies have been carried out into the relative benefits of reusable versus one-way packaging. Results do vary, but in the majority of environments reuse does appear to be an environmentally preferable option although it does to a large extent rely on the assistance of retailers and consumers. One positive method of obtaining support for re-using containers would be to encourage customers to recycle in exchange for cash or other products. Another effective method is the use of plastic sleeves on bottles to prevent damage & help to increase the number of return trips they can make.

Recycling

There are technical limits to how far packaging materials can be reduced and reuse is not always appropriate for the market. In these circumstances, it is particularly important that the recycled content of a packaging material is maximised. In many parts of the world most waste ends up in landfill sites and litter can also be a real problem particularly in the developing countries. It is vital that efforts to facilitate the recycling of waste are maintained by providing an end-market for recycled material and encouraging appropriate disposal. Furthermore, working with local authorities, national government, local communities & volunteers to collect & recycle packaging waste is paramount.

Through experience major packaging companies have found the following methods successful in achieving effective waste reduction & substantial cost savings. Basically the principle of “if you cannot do both, select the option that results in the least amount of waste going into landfill” applies.

Eliminate

The basic principle of waste prevention is that by preventing the waste material from being produced in the first place, there will be less waste to manage at the end. If possible, eliminate the package altogether, provided product integrity will not be compromised.

Reduce the amount of packaging materials used. For those products that must be packaged, consider methods of reducing the amount of material used in the packaging. Minimal packaging can be accomplished through:

Product packaging design changes (e.g., concentrates, different material).

Modifications to the package design (e.g., structure of the package).

New or different types of packaging.

Single material packaging (e.g., one package component).

Development and use of consumable packaging where appropriate. (Consumable packages are those which are eliminated in the process of using the product so that no packaging material remains; an example would be the use of water soluble packets for a product that is to be mixed with water.)

Design packages that are refillable or reusable.

Refillable packages may be refilled by either the consumer, retailer, or product producer from bulk or

Much larger containers. To be considered refillable packaging must be refilled or reused for its original

purpose rather than reused for a secondary purpose such as storing surplus material or other limited applications.

Maximise the use of reusable packaging materials, including reusable transport packaging.

Recyclable Packaging and Recycled Content

Packaging should be designed to be compatible with universally available recycling systems. Labels, seals, tapes & closures etc should also be compatible with common recycled material processing systems.

A material should be considered recyclable only if there is a commercially viable and widely available system for collecting, processing, & marketing the material.

Use the maximum possible quantity of post consumer, recycled material in the packaging.

A package that is designed to be both recycled and constructed from recycled material is preferable.

Wherever possible, recycled content should consist of post consumer, recycled, waste material, i.e. material which has already served its intended use and has been discarded by a business or consumer.