Sustainable Packaging: Get ready for Future Packaging Regulations

The PPWR will require businesses to reduce packaging waste, increase recyclability, and adopt sustainable packaging practices. Meanwhile, the CSRD adds reporting obligations, making transparency on environmental impact mandatory. But the change isn't driven by legislation alone—retailers are also setting sustainability standards and demanding more eco-friendly packaging from suppliers. Sustainable packaging isn’t just about compliance; it’s about staying competitive in an evolving market.

Setting Up a Packaging Administration: What You Need

A solid packaging administration system ensures that your packaging is compliant, efficient, and sustainable. This system should track:

• Material use and sourcing: Are materials renewable or recycled?

• Packaging volume: Can packaging be reduced without compromising product protection?

• End-of-life options: Is the packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable?

• Environmental impact: CO2 footprint and resource use across the packaging lifecycle.

• Supplier data: Ensure packaging suppliers meet sustainability standards.

By establishing a packaging administration, you gain control over your packaging supply chain, making it easier to comply with legislation, reduce waste, and communicate sustainability to retailers and consumers.

Designing Sustainable Packaging: Do’s and Don’ts

Do's:

• Use renewable or recycled materials where possible.

• Optimize design to reduce material use while maintaining functionality.

• Consider the full life cycle of the packaging—make sure it is recyclable or reusable.

• Focus on reducing harmful environmental impacts, like plastic pollution.

Don'ts:

• Overcomplicate packaging with unnecessary layers or materials.

• Use non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle materials without clear justification.

• Ignore consumer convenience—recyclable packaging should be easy for customers to dispose of responsibly.

• Neglect product safety in the pursuit of sustainabilit

The R-Ladder Model: Key to Sustainable Packaging

The R-Ladder model helps businesses rethink their approach to packaging sustainability. This model highlights actions you can take to reduce environmental impact, focusing on:

• Refuse: Avoid unnecessary packaging materials altogether.

• Rethink: Innovate and redesign packaging to use fewer resources or alternative materials.

• Reduce: Minimize the volume of packaging used without compromising quality or safety.

• Recycle: Ensure packaging is designed for recyclability, contributing to the circular economy.

By following this hierarchy, your business can make significant strides toward sustainability, aligning with both legal obligations and market expectations.

By undergoing a packaging sustainability assessment, you can future-proof your packaging, meet new legislative requirements, and keep your business aligned with consumer and retailer demands for greener solutions. Let us help you prepare for this new era of sustainable packaging.

Where to start? Read more on our white paper; 5 Steps for a Future Proof Packaging Assessment