2023 Sustainable Living Media Planet Supplement

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS
How single-use packaging will actually unlock the circular economy
Science has spoken. There is no ‘one size fits all’ for all packaging requirements. Reuse is not always better just
because it ‘feels’ better.
WRITTEN BY
Winfried Muehling
Marketing &
Communications
Director, Pro Carton
Paid for by
Pro Carton and BPIF
In January 2021, the European Paper Packaging
Alliance (EPPA) appointed Ramboll to conduct a
comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study
between a paperboard single-use dishes system and
equivalent multiple-use dishes in Quick Service
Restaurants (QSRs). The study’s overarching conclusion
was that, contrary to common perceptions, single-use
packaging and tableware have lower environmental
impacts than reusable packaging.
Single-use versus reusable packaging
The following year, another Ramboll-conducted LCAs
study, commissioned by FEFCO, found that the
single-use corrugated board system, compared with
reusable plastic packaging, is more beneficial in 10
out of 15 environmental impact categories, further
dispelling the myths of the reuse vs single-use debate.
We must enforce objectivity for example with
independent LCA studies to realistically simulate the
end-of-life impact of different packaging solutions
in different usage occasions. Not to forget consistent
reality checks including consumer experience and
preference.
Sustainability of fibre-based packaging
On 2nd March, Pro Carton revealed authoritative,
new research proving that the European carton and
cartonboard industry has succeeded in reducing
its carbon footprint by 24% since 2018. The newly
measured European industry average for the carbon
footprint of cartons measured 249 kgCO2e
cradle-to-grave and 148 kgCO2e cradle-to-gate per
tonne of carton.
The staggering double-digit reduction in CO2 was
achieved by improving resource efficiency during
the production process. It has also been bolstered
by significant investments in energy efficiency and
renewable energy sources at European cartonboard
mills and converting operations since 2018.
What’s more, the raw materials that arrive at the mills
derive from sustainably managed forests. More than
90% of the wood fibres used in the European paper and
board industry originate from EU woodland, of which
more than 78% are sourced from sustainably managed
and certified forests. Europe’s forests are growing by
an area equivalent to 1,500 football pitches every day,
which is attributed to sustainable forest management.
Fibre-based packaging — a single-use packaging
medium — is leading the way when it comes to closing
the loop on the packaging circular economy. We are
confident that key stakeholders, from consumers and
brand owners to industry bodies and legislators, will
continue to acknowledge fibre-based packaging as the
present and future of sustainable packaging. We are
proud to be circularity leaders, and we are proud to be
single-use.
WRITTEN BY
Jon Clark
General Manager,
BPIF Cartons
Find out more at
procarton.com
Sustainability certification is the first step on a business’s path to net zero
Businesses increasingly understand that sustainability certification can drive brand value and put them on the
path to net zero.
INTERVIEW WITH
Jonathan Withey
Director of
Transformation and
ESG, Planet Mark
WRITTEN BY
Tony Greenway
Paid for by
Planet Mark
Some companies may have thought of third-party
sustainability certification as a tick box exercise:
something they needed to pay lip service to society.
Those days are long gone, says Jonathan Withey,
Director of ESG and Transformation at Planet Mark, an
organisation that quantifies and independently verifies
a firm’s carbon and social value.
Domino effect of sustainability
Now, every forward-thinking company
understands the moral and commercial
imperative of sustainability certification
because it demonstrates a commitment
to driving change, supports bids and
tenders and communicates a culture
of sustainable practice to internal and
external stakeholders.
“The business case for sustainability certification has
never been greater,” explains Withey. “First, companies
want to do it because they know it’s the right thing to
do. Second, there’s pressure coming from bigger players.
Smaller companies that work with large corporates
are being told: ‘You need to measure and reduce your
carbon footprint so that we can hit our carbon reduction
targets.’ Third, where there’s carbon, there’s cost — so
if a business is measuring and reducing its carbon
Businesses should
find a certification
organisation best fit
for their needs.
footprint, it’s also saving itself money.”
Insights and solutions for decarbonisation
There’s a fourth driver that is hugely important:
legislation. By 2050, every UK business must be net zero
by law, so companies must actively work to reduce their
carbon footprint. Certification is the first step on that
path.
Businesses should find a certification
organisation best fit for their needs
and can provide insights and solutions
for decarbonisation. They should be
prepared to identify and gather data
and evidence (found in invoices, fleet
monitoring systems, travel expense
reports, etc.) so that the certification
organisation can discover where
environmental impacts are occurring and how they can
be reduced.
“It can be a daunting task for any company that is
being certified for the first time,” admits Withey. “But
a good certification firm will be able to guide them
through the process and, when they are out the other
side, present them with a comprehensive, engaging and
valuable report that gives them a holistic view of their
social and environmental impact.”
To find out more
about how Planet
Mark can help your
business on its
decarbonisation
journey, get in touch.
Find out more
planetmark.com
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