What Is Sustainable Packaging Environmental Sciences Essay

What Is sustainable Packaging milieual Sciences EssayIn this section I am numbering at authoritative views and definitions of the diligence on sustainable forwarding. An article from the sustainable Packaging Alliance claims that in that location is no irradiate understanding internation whollyy, about what constitutes sustainable furtherance. Policy initiatives drop t finised to focus on resource and run with reduction and cycle, for casing the current European Packaging Directive. (Sustainable Packaging Alliance, 2002) This is backed up by the national Trade Com electric charge who justifies this with the fact that sustainable case is a evenhandedly new factor for the environmental considerations for package. (surroundal Marketing Claims, 2011) There be a few approaches here that atomic number 18 worth considering to define sustainable forwarding.Sustainable encase is defined by The World delegation on Environment and Development as Developments that meet the packs of the present without compromising the efficiency of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) What they atomic number 18 meaning by this is sustainable packaging substructure wholly be sustainable if at the last stage of the human body rhythm method when the packaging has fulfilled its primordial function the user scum bag reprocess the packaging for a blink of an eyeary function which this in turn pull up stakes decrease the environmental and ecological sign.Jedlicka (2009) believes that you just terminatet tunnel stack yourself down to the final product you control to have a find at the squargon boy picture of supply chains from simple design functions, to marketing and solely the way through to the conclusion of its vitality round of golf then back to its rebirth.The European Commission talks about how sustainable packaging will require more(prenominal) analysis and documentation to escort a t the actual package design, the materials that are utilise and the whole picture of the packagings demeanor cal leftoverar method of birth control. (Environmental Marketing Claims, 2011) Bolyston (2009) has a different view and he belives that sustainable packaging dep depotant on the heart of sustainable push button used in each stage of the packagings carriage wheel around. The term life roll convey the product goes through a series of stages that mold and assume the product. The life rhythm method of birth control would consider both of the factors from the raw materials to how its manufactured, leading onto how its distributed which fin onlyy guides it to the use and disposal of it. Throughout wholly of these stages there would be diverse transport methods used to move the product onto its next stage. To summarize every(prenominal) of these steps and stages is called the life cycle of the product.It is essential to image at the life cycle of packaging in orde r to ascertain areas and opportunities in which the packagings sustainability apprise be improved. Figure 8 is a plat of the packagings life cycle from The Sustainable Packaging Coalition this diagram aims to provide guidelines and principles for the development of sustainable packaging. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition claim that they have readiness themselves the mission to advocate and communicate a irrefutable robust environmental selection for sustainable packaging through functional packaging materials and systems that closureorse frugal and environmental supply chains.The Sustainable Packaging Coalition characterizes sustainable packaging as followsIs sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable brawnIs physically designed to hone materials and readinessMeets market criteria for performance and costMaximizes the use of renewable or recycled source materialsIs beneficial, safe and healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and or industrial disagreeable loop cyclesIs made from materials healthy in all probable termination of life scenariosAre manufactured using clean production technologies and outflank practices.(Sustainable Packaging Coalition, 2010)Figure 8. Diagram of packaging product life cyclesThe diagram above shows the process and steps involved for packaging. It starts at the raw materials and goes to the end user. Each step in this cycle requires a form of energy but according to Boylston there are ways to cut this and recoil the amounts used. Sustainability relies on lots of different factors involved at each of these stages these factors need to be identified in order to compensate them with the correct measures. For example if we note at stewardship, this is vital for alleviateing to safeguard the environment and defend the employees that are extracting the materials. The less distance the materials fuck travel in the life cyc le the better, be establish this will mean it has taken less petrol on transportation. If we look at another aspect of using renewable energy at each stage this will add to function the packaging more sustainable. Reusability and recycling systems or compostability of packaging preserve additionally conjure up sustainability. (Boylston, 2009)Figure 9. Diagram of packagings upstream and downstream impacts.If we take a look at the packaging product life cycle in a linear view we stinkpot additionally distinguish between upstream impacts from the extraction of the raw materials until the packaging is passed across to the consumer which is the downstream impacts, these are considered to be the impacts that occur through using the packaging and the steps leading to the end of its life. An example of this is the amounts of energy required for the recycling process at the end of the packagings life. The different recycling methods used are composting, littering, and other possibilities are waste-to-energy plants which means energy can be enkindled again from the waste product.A life cycle assessment is commonly used as a creature to analyse the life cycle of packaging. The aim of a life cycle assessment is to equation the full assign out of social and environmental damages, which can be identified to products or services, so least troublesome one, can be selected. There are lots of different types of life cycle assessments k forthwith with different scopes. The scope varies from cradle to gate to cradle to cradle approaches and furthermore there are types such as the LCA process that addresses the environmental inputs and outputs compared to other approaches that address the economic inputs and outputs.Now that I have describe the packaging life cycle, we furthermore need to mention that companies such as 3M or Wal-Mart are currently developing their own definition or guide lines that drive sustainable packaging within their supply chain. Wal-Mart claims, i ts primary target is to be packaging neutral by 2025, this means that all packaging recovered or recycled at their stores will be pair to the amount of packaging used by the products in the shelves. Wal-Mart has introduced a set of guiding principles called the Seven Rs to help them achieve their target. These Principles are Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Renew(able), Recycle(able), Revenue and Read. coition to this Wal-Mart have introduced a packaging scorecard, this is a measurement tool that allows suppliers to esteem themselves relative to other suppliers, based on specific metrics. The metrics in the scorecard evolved from a angle of dip of favorable attributes announced earlier this year, cognize as the 7 Rs of Packaging. (Wal-Mart, Scorecardmodeling.com, 2009)3M uses Packaging criteria in collaboration with the Environmental vindication Agency, this is much the same as Wal-Mart. 3M have set minimizing packaging waste as there top aim and they are have straight off realised tha t the most waste is coming from unused raw materials, this is not just bad for the environment but is not in truth economical. 3M began by attempting to eliminate as much waste as possible through pollution prevention, and then the remaining waste was reused, recycled, converted to energy, or incinerated to reach new energy.Regardless of the packaging life cycle assessment, there are related analytical methodologies such as ecological footprint, which is calculated by comparing the biological resources available in a given theatrical role to resource demands of a population. The network of users of the Global Footprint Network has positive standards. The standards are available on footprintnetwork.org in order to help to address calculation nuances, including conversions, measure of land/sea parcels, addressing nuclear power, varying info sources, import/export data and biodiversity among others. (Global Footprint Network, 2012) Another well-known footprint is the carbon footpri nt, which represents a subset of the ecological footprint and of the more comprehensive life cycle assessment.Laws and Regulations that effect packaging?Regulations are there to give companies a target or a direction to head towards. There is leading 94/62/EC set by European Commission Environment that is aimed to harmonize packaging waste, on the one hand try to stop or prevent the damage of packaging to the environment and on the other hand they dont want to restrict or distort the rivalry within the community.It also contains provisions on the prevention of packaging waste, on the re-use of packaging and on the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. (European Parliament and Council Directive, 2010) These regulations or directives have focused on waste reduction and resources but they have failed to look at the social impacts of packaging.Boylston points out that we have a big problem to overcome before we more towards more sustainable packaging and that is with todays com panies growing in sizing there is an inclination towards specializing, this only breaks up the different departments and isolates them. So the different department end up very incoherent with each other so they lose the connectivity between all the sectors. An example of this would be the packaging designer working next to the pictural designer, this is so they can communicate and work as a team.MaterialsSustainable packaging relies upon the correct material choices. I will be conducting an investigating to look at the quantities of packaging waste along with the variety of materials that end up as waste. In addition to this I will open and do further research on paper and tractiles.Looking at the solid waste report from 2010 from the European Environmental Agency it is clear to me that out of 250 million tons of waste 30% is from containers and packagings and this is before recycling. The second pie chart indicates that paper and moldables biggest supplies to waste.Figure 10F igure 11The recycling and composting of packaging prevented 85.1 million tons of material away from being accustomed of 2010, up from 15 million tons in 1980. This prevented the release of more or less 186 million metric tons of carbon dioxide alike into the air this is the equivalent to taking 36 million cars off the road for a whole year (European Environmental Agency, 2013)PaperThe consumption of paper on a global scale is more than 350 million tons per year, that is a vast 1 million tons per day and if it takes roughly 17 trees to make one ton of paper. So its not unpredictable that the paper diligence are accountable for about 40% of commercial harvesting of wood, and now trying to terrorize the last few rainforests which contain and provide a habitat for the endangered species. Jedlicka states, The paper industry is the intravenous feedingth largest greenhouse screw up contributor among manufacturers and a huge consumer of energy. Furthermore the paper production is ass ociated with venomous bleaching procedures. (Jedlicka, 2009)The public assistances far outrun the bad points of paper. Paper is a very versatile material this is why it is used for packaging. The added benefits for using paper as packaging is its lightweight and easily printed on and yet it can do all this and still be durable and are easily recycled. There are more alternatives for what paper can be made from it doesnt have to be wood it can be made of hemp, kenaf straw, switch throne and it can be made from a variety or pulped fibers from plants.As bloylston describes about the massive quantities of paper that out there in the world, all of which require a high level of post-consumer waste (PWC) paper hackneyed choices should entail the biggest priority. Paper can be recycled up to seven times. (Bolyston, 2009) cardinal tonne of recycled paper will ease seventeen trees, seven railway yard gallons of water, three cubic metres of landfill space, two barrels of oil and four gi bibyte one hundred kilowatts of electricity. The recycled paper uses sixty portion less energy to produce then ordinary paper the energy saved would be enough to run the average home for six months. (Statistics from Recycle bank.com, 2013)In order for there to be more paper packaging, the designers have to stand out this. The Environmental Protection Agency has made some recommendations which will help to make packaging more sustainable, these recommendations are to use less material, eliminating toxicant constituents and making it more readily recyclable (Environmental Protection Agency, 2013) bendablePlastic packaging plays a huge role in today society, you can see this when walking around supermarkets and the selves are full of plastic containers. The word plastic is the common name given to the synthetic organic polymers. As defined plastics are usually made from high polymer mass they can contain other materials to make it cheaper or to improve its performance.There are two main types of plastic, thermosetting and thermoplastics. Thermosetting plastics can only be heated up and shaped once because once they go refrigerated they stay solid. Unlike Thermoplastics, which soften and melt when around enough heat, these can be shaped multiple times when heat is applied.Jedlika says that plastics have some benefits such as it is lightweight, durable, provides a gas and moisture barrier and can sometimes retain its recycling value. (Jedlika, 2009) The reason plastics are so commonplace is because its versatile and easy to manufacture with it is also is unaffected by water. A down side to plastic is the additives used can make the plastic toxic and materials flow is for downcycling instead of true recycling.The recycling rate of plastic has stabilized at around 25%, but this isnt an adequate amount compared to the amount that is newly produced. One ton of recycled plastic will save about five thousand seven hundred and seventy four Kilowatt-hours of energy, six hundred and eighty five gallons of oil and about 30 pounds of air pollutants. (Statistics from Recycling Bank, 2013)There is a new alternative to petrol-based plastics, which is more environmentally friendly plastic called bioplastics. These plastics are biodegradable and are created from renewable sources such as potatoes or beets and corn. Boylston argues, nevertheless, bioplastics also need the facilities for collection and mustiness not derive from needed food for thought sources (Boylston, 2009)There is a huge quantity of materials that could be used for packaging. There is so much discipline about new packaging materials and the different technologies available that there are dedicated websites and forums full of up to date information and regulations.To wrap up this section I have come to the conclusion that sustainable packaging is not just about the materials its made from but you have to look at the bigger picture just as Jedlika states If a designer just picks a random material out of his or her list of magic green materials and doesnt actually know why the material is environmentally friendly, or even how it is applied correctly, then the replaced material can cause impacts far worse. (Jedlika, 2009)Case studies and Primary researchI have selected to do my case studies on these companies because they show how different sized sectors either lend or counteract sustainable packaging. The aim of this section is not to compare to determine a 100% sustainable packaging but to look how their melodic line delivers profitable value, the environmental improvements and customer satisfaction.Firstly, Waitrose supermarkets are a food retailer in England they have been part of The John Lewis Partnership since 1937, the early Waitrose supermarket opened in 1955. Waitrose is one of Englands leading supermarket retailers employing over 37,000 people. Waitrose has a measure of 280 branches throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Locations range from hig h streets to the edge of towns the stores vary in size too. The company is dedicated to offering quality, value and customer service. In price of packaging Waitrose has aimed to reduce food packaging by fifty percent by 2016/17, based on like for like usage since 2005. (John Lewis partnership.co.uk, 2012)Secondly, poverty-stricken is a drinks company based in England and was founded in 1999. The companies main business is from making fruit smoothies, a selection of fruit juices and vegetable pots, all of these products are all sold in a wide range of supermarkets and tearooms nationally. Considering the company started at a music festival, they have grown well over the years and are now expanding into the European market. They have set their targets high when trying to be sustainable they have achieved this by infusing sustainability into the packaging from the beginning. The company also likes to act ethically in all areas of the company. (Innocent drinks, 2012) shoemakers lastW ithin the argument of this dissertation I have tried to produce an evenhanded discourse on the implications of sustainable packaging with both positive and negative views.The research has indicated that there is enough evidence for sustainable packaging to be used in companies furthermore it will also benefit the environment and society.The research question I set out to solvent was is sustainable packaging viable given the current economic and semipolitical climate.