Defining Sustainable Packaging

This paper is the result of some initial research undertaken through the Sustainable Packaging Alliance.

A stakeholder survey was undertaken between August and October 2003 to explore the meaning of sustainability for the packaging supply chain and some of its stakeholders.

One of the criticisms of the National Packaging Covenant (NPC) is that it lacks clear targets or goals. The stated objectives of the NPC include shared responsibility for the 'effective life cycle management of packaging' and 'ensuring that management of packaging and paper throughout its life cycle … produces real and sustainable benefits.'

Terms such as 'effective life cycle management' and 'sustainable benefits' have not been defined. While manufacturers, government agencies and community organisations are striving for sustainability or sustainable development, no-one has defined what this means for packaging systems. Terms such as 'sustainable packaging' and 'product stewardship' are often used, but there is no consensus on their meaning.

The purpose of this survey is to document different points of view on these issues in order to make a positive contribution to the debate about community goals for more sustainable packaging systems.

This project is aiming to define sustainable packaging by engaging stakeholders in a discussion about the impacts and benefits of packaging, sustainability goals and levels of responsibility within the product chain. This ‘discussion’ is taking the form of a written survey to gather initial responses, circulation of a summary paper and requests for further comment or feedback. The initial survey was sent to individuals that are closely involved in the environmental management of packaging in some form, whether from a government organisation, packaging manufacturer, food and beverage manufacturer, retailer, industry association, non-government environment organisation or an individual consumer / activist. The results of the survey were then discussed at the ISWA workshop in November 2003.

Additional feedback is now sought on some of the key questions arising from the survey and the workshop. These are summarized in the attached paper.

'Defining Sustainable Packaging' is available here for download as a PDF file