The Global Protocol on Packaging
Sustainability
Julian Carroll
Managing Director
EUROPEN
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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Reasons for the project
Sustainability is an essential
element of business strategy
Packaging is critical to this
strategy
Consistent measures of
sustainability reduce complexity,
costs & enable better results
• But…
• Varying perspectives and levels of understanding of sustainability
• Use of different metrics to measure sustainability
•
•
•
•
Packaging protects, preserves, promotes the product.
But…
Consumers perceive over-packaging as a key concern
NGOs and Government view packaging as a key focus area when
targeting potential gains to sustainability and a positive impact
on the environment
• Better co-ordinated industry action to address the issues around
packaging takes out unnecessary costs, inefficient responses and
potential consumer confusion
• Consumers want consistency of information
• Industry needs a common business language and commonly
used metrics to address packaging sustainability
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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Deliverables
Guidance on how to improve sustainability of packaging, covering…
Role of Packaging
Common definitions and
principles
Packaging sustainability
indicators and metrics
…enabling
Common understanding of packaging’s contribution
to sustainability
Common understanding of what sustainability
means for packaging
Common language to measure the sustainability of
packaging
• Better internal decision making
• Better trading partner dialogue on packaging improvements
The Global Packaging Project is based on the EUROPEN/ECR Europe guide «Packaging in the Sustainability
Agenda – a guide for corporate decision-makers» and the indicators and metrics framework of the US
Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC).
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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Common industry sustainability language, measures
and protocols
Academic/
Consultant
Support
Retailers
•Quantis
•GreenBlue
•Innventia
•University of
Arkansas
•University of
Minnesota
•University of
Manchester
•Rochester
Institute of
Technology
Manufacturers
Associations
Packaging
manufacturers
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European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
Framework: The Holistic View
The Role of
Packaging
The Principles of
Sustainability
How Packaging Can Contribute
to Improving Sustainability
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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Finding balance
Negative
environmental
impact
Minimum
environmental
impact
Optimum Pack
Design
Underpackaging Overpackaging
Minimum material
Increasing
packaging
material use
• The optimal package has the right balance between under- and
over-packaging.
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
Diagram courtesy of Innventia AB
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The GPPS Framework
 Establishes the principles on
which the GPPS is based
 Explains the role of
packaging
 Gives background
information
 Provides a common
language for discussing
sustainability
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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Protocol
1. Presents the selected
metrics and how to use
them
2. Includes descriptions,
definitions, and examples
3. Gives links and
references to relevant
existing metrics, methods,
and databases
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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The approach
 Develop a basket of commonly used metrics to
facilitate business discussions throughout the value
chain about the sustainability of packaging systems
 Use pre-existing internationally recognised metrics
where these exist
 Include Environmental, Social and Economic
metrics
 Build on existing work
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
Benefits
Clear definition of sustainability
 Unified approach from industry to
sustainability metrics
 Cost reduction
Holistic approach to Packaging
 Reduced sustainability impacts
 Improved consumer perception
 Improved decision making
Globally applicable definition of
common packaging sustainability
indicators and metrics
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
 Demonstrate industry-wide leadership for:
 Others to emulate
 Applying the model to achieve other
common goals
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GPPS Potential Applications
 To inform internal decision making
 To allow communication between business
partners
 To facilitate communication with other
stakeholders
 To provide overall packaging systems evaluations
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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Enabling Different Levels of Business Decisions
Examples of Analysis
Level 1 Simple analysis, single indicator eg pack weight
Level 2 Optimization analysis for a functional unit using
multiple indicators
Level 3 Comparative analysis of one or more packaging
formats/material for same functional unit
Level 4 Full system design and analysis to compare packaging
formats/material with information on product
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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GPPS Communication Role
 Can be for Internal or external Communication
 For use in marketing or corporate reporting
 External communication will require higher level of
accuracy, documentation and transparency of data
 Observe existing international guidelines for comparative
assertions intended for public disclosure eg ISO LCA
Standard, ISO Labels and Declaration Standard, FTC
Guidelines
 GPPS does not replace existing standards
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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Where to get it
The GPPS package
http://globalpackaging.mycgforum.com/
European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011
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