The holistic sustainability view of packaging

About life cycle assessments, product life cycles & closed raw material cycles

When people talk about packaging today, the topic of sustainability is not far behind. And in our opinion, quite rightly so. Because hardly any other industry has such a high responsibility towards the environment as the packaging industry. But where do we start when we talk about sustainable packaging? After all, the ideas on the subject are so far apart that ultimately the views on sustainable packaging are also completely different.

However, if we look at the topic in its context, one thing quickly becomes clear: sustainable packaging goes far beyond the materials processed and can only be declared as such if we subject it to a holistic sustainability assessment. So let's take a look together at life cycle assessments, product life cycles & closed raw material cycles!

Content

1. Customer enquiries
2. Life cycle assessments
3. Circular economy
4. Cradle to Cradle - Principle
5. Packaging examples
6. Conclusion

If we look at our customer enquiries of the last few weeks, for example, it quickly becomes clear how different the opinions are on the subject of sustainable packaging. For example, we received enquiries about:

• Jewellery packaging made from recycled marine plastic
• Cardboard boxes made from recycled paper and vegetable-based inks
• Liftoff boxes without PP lamination, Made in Germany, with cardboard inlay
• Sustainable cosmetics packaging with inserts made of cardboard instead of plastic
• Cardboard packaging made from 100% recycled material and soy-based ink
• Cardboard boxes with a coating of palm leaves

So while awareness of sustainable packaging is increasing, we find that from many brands' perspective it is not perceived as a holistic concept. The view of sustainable packaging solutions, on the other hand, is often strongly limited to the choice of processed materials. The use of alternative materials and raw materials is thus becoming increasingly important, even if these are not necessarily synonymous with sustainable packaging. So what factors play a role in the production of environmentally friendly packaging besides the materials chosen? First and foremost, life cycle assessments provide comprehensive information on this.

In addition to the question of whether some of the supposedly sustainable materials can even be classified as such when these aspects are taken into account, one thing becomes clear on the basis of these examined environmental impacts: for the correct assessment of the sustainability of a packaging, criteria such as logistics, transport and a possible material cycle must also be taken into account. This holistic view of sustainable packaging is a very complex topic - and the perceptions of the end consumer can deviate greatly from the actual facts of a life cycle assessment.

If we evaluate packaging on the basis of all the factors mentioned above, one thing quickly becomes clear: institutionalised materials in particular, which have been functioning in a closed-loop economy for years, actually perform well in these life cycle assessments. But how do we achieve a functioning material cycle for the materials used and what is the ultimate goal here?

Packaging can be the most important contribution to sustainability for manufacturing companies. For the optimisation of packaging or the new development of it, this means moving from a linear structure of all resources used to a functioning material cycle. The aim is to preserve the value of materials and products for as long as possible:

• Avoidance of waste
• Elimination of toxic chemicals
• Use of renewable energies

First and foremost, the idea of the circular economy is to move away from an originally linear economy in which raw materials are only used to produce goods that are later disposed of. The goal of the circular economy, on the other hand, is to make the life cycle of products and raw materials as long as possible by recycling, reusing or refurbishing them, thereby reducing the generation of waste to a minimum. Resources and materials thus remain in the economy longer and are used productively for a long time in order to continue generating added value. But what does this mean in concrete terms in relation to packaging?

Packaging in the circular economy

Especially in packaging production, there are 3 essential starting points with regard to the circular economy: On the one hand, the production of packaging should be decoupled from fossil raw materials and renewable raw materials should be preferred. Furthermore, packaging should be designed in such a way that its recycling is optimised. Here, for example, the renunciation of the use of composite materials should be mentioned. Subsequently, the avoidance of exit points into natural systems should be avoided in order to ensure efficient material recycling. And where can these points lead us?

The Cradle to Cradle principle describes perfect cycles that are more or less modelled on nature. As the name already says (from the cradle to the cradle), no waste is produced. This is because the principle is based on clear thinking in cycles and is therefore not only oriented towards the first use of products, but also towards the use of raw materials after they have been used. Precious resources are therefore not wasted, but reused. Organic packaging components can therefore end up on the compost to be reintroduced into the cycle of nature. However, everyday objects can also be designed in such a way that they can be recycled through chemical or mechanical processes. The result of the Cradle to Cradle vision is seen as a perfect cycle: A world entirely without the creation of waste.

Even though we are certainly still a big step away from the vision of a world completely free of packaging waste, there are also solutions in the area of packaging today that function in good systems and therefore demonstrate truly sustainable properties. However, what is increasingly noticeable when taking a closer look at many packages - and certainly also goes hand in hand with the trend towards sustainability - is that many packages declared as sustainable are, strictly speaking, not sustainable at all. Only a rudimentary holistic view provides information about the environmental compatibility of a packaging. In addition to the materials, we should try to ask ourselves questions about packaging, such as where it was produced or whether the materials used are part of a circular economy. If you yourself are thinking about making your product packaging more sustainable, the use of recycled or renewable raw materials, for example, offers initial opportunities. We would also be happy to advise you on the way to a sustainable packaging solution!