Background
Sustainable packaging decision making is an increasingly complex process. This is due in large part to the growing number of available sustainable packaging options, combined with the array of packaging environmental and effectiveness considerations.
The purpose of the interactive packaging assessment tool is to help users navigate this complex process. By helping a user consider the various sustainable packaging options, and accounting for the array of packaging environmental and effectiveness considerations, the interactive assessment tools aims to provide a packaging “heat map” – a summary of how well current and potential packaging solutions meet the required considerations.
The Packaging Decision Making Framework
As outlined in more detail in this Guide, the packaging decision making framework combines the sustainable packaging option categories as defined by the EMF, with the key packaging environmental and effectiveness considerations, as outlined below.
Sustainable Packaging Option Categories
- Elimination and Reduction
- Reuse and Refill
- Recycled Content
- Recyclability and Actual Recycling
- Substitution
Packaging Environmental and Effectiveness Considerations
- Consumer Choice, Availability, Accessibility & Convenience
- Ensuring Compliance with Food Safety Regulations
- Minimizing Food Waste
- Cost & Return on Investment
- Labelling, Branding and Marketing
- Minimizing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Other Environmental Impacts
- Minimizing Packaging Waste
- Minimizing Packaging Pollution
Packaging Assessment Workflow – A 6 Step Process
The interactive packaging assessment tool is based on a six-step process guiding the user from taking stock of their current context, to developing a sustainable packaging strategy or roadmap.
Step 1
Take stock of your current packaging context
Compile documents and notes that help define the context for your packaging decision making. This includes corporate sustainability goals, commitments (e.g., CPP), instructions from key customers who have related goals, relevant regulation (current, coming), etc.
Step 2
Define the scope of assessment
Based on the current packaging context, identify your “hot-spots” – the incumbent packaging for which you need or wish to assess and consider sustainable alternatives. This can range from a select packaging form, a group of similar packaging, or a general class of packaging.
e.g., Users can range from small firms with low SKU count, to large firms with high SKU count. Consequently, the incumbent packaging could comprise:
- a select packaging form (e.g., a 0.5L PET clam shell)
- a grouping of similar packaging (e.g., all rigid PET packaging), or
- a general class of packaging (e.g., all flexible packaging)
Step 3
Establish a baseline
Evaluate the incumbent packaging identified in Step 2 by responding to the core challenge questions provided in the assessment guide. Provide supporting comments or outstanding questions as needed to document your assessment.
Use the recommended reference material, as needed, in developing your responses.
Step 4
Identify alternative sustainable solutions to assess
Select sustainable packaging options and/or specific solutions you wish to assess against your incumbent packaging assessed in Step 3.
Step 5
Assess and compare the alternative solutions
Evaluate the alternative packaging options and/or solutions by responding to the core challenge questions provided in the assessment guide. Provide supporting comments or outstanding questions as needed to document your assessment.
Use recommended reference material, as needed, in developing your responses.
Step 6
Develop your packaging sustainability action plan or roadmap
Use the resulting scores and comments from the heat map to develop work plan to fully assess alternatives based on your preliminary assessment.
Core Challenge Questions – Framing the Assessment of Sustainable Packaging
Central to the assessment of both incumbent packaging and any sustainable packaging alternatives is a set of core challenge questions defined for each of the packaging environmental and effectiveness considerations. There are currently 11 core challenge questions which span the set of considerations:
- Consumer Choice, Availability, Accessibility & Convenience
- Does the packaging maximize product choice and availability?
- Does the packaging provide consumer accessibility and convenience?
- Ensuring Compliance with Food Safety Regulations
- Does the package meet safety, quality and food-contact compliance standards?
- Minimizing Food Waste
- How effective and functional is my packaging in reducing food waste in relation to financial and environmental considerations?
- Cost & Return on Investment
- Is the packaging cost effective?
- Labelling, Branding and Marketing
- Is the packaging compliant with Canadian labelling regulations and related standards?
- Does the packaging support your companies branding and marketing requirements?
- Minimizing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Other Environmental Impacts
- Do you have information about your packaging’s greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts?
- Minimizing Packaging Waste
- Is the packaging considered recyclable in Canada?
- Does the packaging comply with one or more of the CGF’s Golden Design Rules?
- Minimizing Packaging Pollution
- Does the packaging minimize or even prevent littering in the environment?