Too much time today is spent discussing which policy and practice will best serve the environment and reduce the issues surrounding packaging waste. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) and the Circular Economy (CE) are all touted by various groups as being best. When you look at all of the factors (see diagram) that must be considered when designing a package, there are pressures that pull the package in various directions.
EPR programs need to be developed to support the lowest overall environmental footprint associated with the package. SMM must respect that we are never going to run out of packaging, but we are going to run out of non-biogenic carbon for the production of packaging so efforts should be put forth to identify how the materials can be captured and recycled. CE needs to respect that using less packaging, but enough such that other factors, such as much more environmentally damaging food waste, may be better than simply promoting keeping molecules in the circle. The fact is that each has its place and that the trio should be considered together.
Crow's Nest Environmental has studied all three elements and understands how packaging fits within the three realms. Building EPR programs that respect carbon, rather than just measuring tonnes diverted is the future. Our work is leading in the promotion of looking at packaging and its impacts in a holistic manner.
Crow's Nest Environmental is currently acting as strategic advisor to Loblaw and the Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council on packaging and EPR/SMM/CE related initiatives.
Crow's Nest Environmental is the only Canadian member of the Plastic Waste Coalition of Action (PWCoA) expert panel on packaging design in the development of the Golden Rules facilitated by the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF).
EPR programs need to be developed to support the lowest overall environmental footprint associated with the package. SMM must respect that we are never going to run out of packaging, but we are going to run out of non-biogenic carbon for the production of packaging so efforts should be put forth to identify how the materials can be captured and recycled. CE needs to respect that using less packaging, but enough such that other factors, such as much more environmentally damaging food waste, may be better than simply promoting keeping molecules in the circle. The fact is that each has its place and that the trio should be considered together.
Crow's Nest Environmental has studied all three elements and understands how packaging fits within the three realms. Building EPR programs that respect carbon, rather than just measuring tonnes diverted is the future. Our work is leading in the promotion of looking at packaging and its impacts in a holistic manner.
Crow's Nest Environmental is currently acting as strategic advisor to Loblaw and the Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council on packaging and EPR/SMM/CE related initiatives.
Crow's Nest Environmental is the only Canadian member of the Plastic Waste Coalition of Action (PWCoA) expert panel on packaging design in the development of the Golden Rules facilitated by the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF).