The
Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) has just released the first update of its six-year-old definition of “sustainable packaging.” The
updated definition may seem like it only made a few wording changes, but the emphasis has been put on the entire life cycle of the packaging material, not just where it ends up—the landfill, recycling, etc. As
GreenBiz explains:
The original wording focused material selection only on the impacts of packaging being tossed in a landfill, being recycled, being composted or being reused or disposed of in other ways. The new wording expands the scope to include impacts related to raw material extraction, processing and use.
Thus, “sustainable packaging”...
Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle;
Meets market criteria for both performance and cost;
Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy;
Optimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials;
Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices;
Is made from materials healthy in all probable end of life scenarios;
Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy;
Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial closed loop cycles.
About Richard Romano
Richard Romano is Managing Editor of WhatTheyThink. He curates the Wide Format section on WhatTheyThink.com. He has been writing about the graphic communications industry for more than 25 years. He is the author or coauthor of more than half a dozen books on printing technology and business. His most recent book is “Beyond Paper: An Interactive Guide to Wide-Format and Specialty Printing.
