Paper or Plastic — Best Practices
Packaging That Works
Modern packaging’s essential services - product protection, transportation, convenience, safety, hygiene, nutrition, spoilage prevention, information, branding, merchandizing, theft-proofing, and regulatory compliance - are widely acknowledged. These services should not be underestimated. If a package fails to safely and adequately deliver its product, even more resources can be squandered. One thing remains clear, however. The overpackaged world we increasingly rely upon comes at an ever-escalating cost. Profound reforms will require bold goals and an acceptance of short-term investments in research and education. With a balance between action and observation, and a commitment to “try, monitor, adjust, and try again," change can become a dynamic and energizing force.
An environmentally preferable package ...
- Is designed from a whole-systems perspective, including its material sourcing, manufacture, distribution, and ultimate disposal
- Is information-intensive as opposed to material- and energy- intensive
- Contains no ancient forest fibers; if virgin wood fibers are used, preferably they come from a known source or have been certified by an independent, third-party sustainable forestry organization
- Avoids hazardous chlorine compounds, heavy metals, and other persistent toxins
- Can be reprocessed within local and regional resource loops whenever possible
- Uses as few material types as possible and breaks down into easily reusable or separable materials (designed for disassembly)
- Contains as much post-consumer recycled or agricultural waste materials as possible when appropriate
- Has been optimized through some form of life cycle analysis to minimize resource extraction, energy and water consumption, and manufacturing and transportation impacts
- Considers how a redesigned or reformulated product can affect the amount of packaging needed
- Is only as large as it needs to be
- Is as light as possible without compromising product safety
- Is responsibly produced throughout its entire packaging chain
- Is safe for all species and habitats
- Can be refilled, reconstituted, eaten (even by bugs), upcycled as a value-added product (such as a building material) or have some other meaningful extended life
- Is derived from renewable biological and natural systems as much as possible
- Complies with the highest current international standards for packaging and Extended Producer Responsibility
- Attempts to close the gap between the life span of its materials and the shelf-life of the product it packages
- Is packaged according to its particular delivery system both to and from use
- Identifies all materials and components
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