Moving to Sustainable Packaging: A Few Pointers¹⁹

Design packaging keeping in mind recycled content of raw material and recyclability of end packaging. Design for reuse. Support the growth of local recycling infrastructure and continue to include chemical recycling as an option.

Don’t substitute packaging material without evaluating the environmental impact across the entire value chain. For instance, replacing fuel-based plastics with bio-plastics may shift the burden on agricultural production that may already be strained in certain land areas. Even shifting to paper, which is the first alternative to plastic, has in some cases led to a higher environmental impact.

Work to reduce packaging material but within the limits allowed by its purpose. A wasted product resulting from sub-par packaging material has a far greater environmental impact than that of avoided packaging material.

Shift to mono material alternatives only when the product itself is not compromised and there are qualitative and quantitative advantages in shifting from laminates and composite packaging.

Look for opportunities to reinvent packaging and innovate.