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タイトルTit le

Concept ident ificat ion and implementat ion ofsustainable packaging systems

著者Author(s) Huo, Lijiang / Saito, Katsuhiko

掲載誌・巻号・ページCitat ion 日本包装学会誌,16(4):269-281

刊行日Issue date 2007

資源タイプResource Type Journal Art icle / 学術雑誌論文

版区分Resource Version publisher

権利Rights

DOI

URL http://www.lib.kobe-u.ac.jp/handle_kernel/90001146

Create Date: 2018-05-26

]. Pack. Sci. Tech. Vol. 16 No. 4 (2007)

Concept Identification and Implementation of

Sustainable Packaging Systems

Lijiang HUO* and Katsuhiko SAITO**

Sustainability associated to packaging products and systems is not a new concept but is

gaining momentum. The perception of its core message remained ambiguous for

implementation of sustainability in the packaging domain, pressure is also increasing to

improve the performance of the packaging systems through the implementation of current

concepts and tools for realizing sustainability. A more integrated and definite approach is

essential to meet future society and industry challenges within the context of packaging

sustainability. This paper characterizes the conceptual framework of sustainable packaging

systems, including functions. principles. definition and benefits of the systems. It also

introduces multi-criteria and tools for implementing sustainability of packaging systems at

present. To be able to advance the development of sustainable packaging in practice. the gaps

between the conception and the practice which still remain are discussed and suggestions for

implementing sustainability in the packaging sector are made.

Keywords: Sustainable packaging systems: multi-criteria: evaluation tool

1. Introduction

The term "sustainable development It has received increasing attention in international

debates since it became established as a new global paradigm after 'Our Common Future' ,

the World Commission on Environment and Development, commonly known as the

Brundtland Commission had been published in 1987. This report identified a series of social

and ecological challenges for industries that required a global response, such as 'more

efficient industries and industrial operations in terms of resource use, less pollution and waste

based on the use of renewable rather than non-renewable resources, and minimizing

irreversible adverse impacts on human health and the environment' 1). Sustainable

development as a widely used phrase and idea, subsequently has many different meanings

and therefore provokes many different responses. However, the perception of its core

01< Associate professor Lijiang HUO: School of Textile and Light Industry, Dalian Polytechnic University, China Dalian 116034.Liaoning Province. China Tel: +86 (0)411 86324879; Fax: +86 (0)411 86323438 Email: [email protected]

**Professor (Dr. ) Katsuhiko SAITO : Graduate School of Maritime Sciences. Kobe University. Japan 5-1-1. Fukae.Higashinada. Kobe. 6580022. Japan Tel: (078)431-6341; Fax: (078)431-6364 Email: [email protected]

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Concept Identification and Implementation of Sustainable Packaging Systems

message remained ambiguous for implementing sustainability in industrial sectors.

People have strived to develop knowledge and experiences of sustainable development

In packaging industries and their industrial operations. Policy initiatives, as for example

European Packaging Directive which represents the trend of globe policy making in

packaging to some extent, have tended to focus on packaging waste reduction and recycling

since European Commission first introduced measures on the management of packaging

waste in the early 1980s, such as from Directive 85/339/EEC to Directive 94/62/EC, which

contained provisions on the prevention of packaging waste, on the re-use of packaging and on

the recovery and recycling of packaging waste 2) 3). But later on Directive 2004/12/EC further

presented that environmentally sound and viable recycling processes, an evaluation of the

different recycling methods should be made with a view to drawing up definitions for these

methods: and recycling targets for each specific waste material should take account of life

cycle assessments and cost-benefit analysis, which have indicated clear differences both in the

costs and in the benefits of recycling the various packaging materials 4). It is apparent that

the Commission of European Union is shifting focus about the recent reconsideration of the

Packaging Directive to evaluating and improving the environmental performance of

packaging products and systems throughout the entire lifecycle with concerning economical

and societal factors.

The researchers have also explored sustainable strategies and indicators for guiding

daily practice of the industrial operations and products at different levels. Azapagic presented

that standardized indicators of sustainable development should be as follows: 5) comparison of

similar products made by different companies: comparison of different processes producing

the same product: benchmarking of units within corporations; rating of a company against

other companies in the sector or sub-sector and: assessing the progress toward sustainable

development of a sector or sub-sector. Datschefski developed a set of basic principles for

sustainability of product: 6) cyclic: the product should either be made from organic materials

and be recyclable or compostable or it should be made from minerals that are continuously

cycled in a closed loop: solar: the product should use solar energy or other forms of renewable

energy that are cyclic and safe, both during use and manufacture: safe: the product should be

non-toxic in use and disposaL and its manufacture should not involve toxic releases or the

disruption of ecosystems: efficient: the product, in manufacture and in use, should require 90%

less materials, energy and water compared to products providing equivalent utility

manufactured in 1990 and: social: the product,s manufacture and use should not impinge on

basic human rights or natural justice. The authors have proposed a sustainability performance

measurement framework that embodies three principles -separation of resource and value

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measures, explicit representation of the triple bottom line. and consideration of the full life

cycle. While operational definitions of sustainability provide general guidance, the actual

evaluation of sustainability for specific product or service has proven challenging 7) 8).

At the same time, companies have a lot of latitude about what environmentaL health.

and safety data are and the various sustainable development frameworks emphasize slightly

different aspects of sustainability. 5 Any appropriate principles or strategies must be able to

allow for the context of the specific product or system, as packaging and related supply chain.

The existing efforts have been made on sustainable packaging tends to be divided into the

categories: promoting the functions of packaging, environmental benefits and achievements in

recycling; 9) 10) or promoting eco-design and eco-efficiency aJ design stage and production; 11) 12)

But sustainable development should encompass not only economy and ecological environment

but ethics or social issues as well. The gaps between the conception which has to be

translated and the practice still remain.

There is increasing recognition that packaging systems and products need definite

guidelines and indicators in daily work to meet sustainability requirements. A comparatively

clear conceptual framework of sustainable packaging systems and tangible tools for

evaluating sustainability of packaging systems are badly needed nowadays. The challenge is

to approach packaging sustainability from a more holistic point of view into the practical

dimensions of the real world to make it operationaL

2. Characterization of sustainable packaging systems

2.1 Functions of sustainable packaging systems

The functions that packaging must perform are manifold and complex. The fundamental

functions of packaging systems lay on protecting, containing, preserving and communicating

the products. Packaging systems can be recognized and judged at different levels as primary,

secondary or tertiary packaging. The performance of packaging system functionality is thus

affected by the performance of each level and by the interactions between these levels.

Packaging systems are also governed by legislative and marketing demands 13). In addition,

packaging is playing more important roles in the phase of the distribution process as beginning

of modern logistics. Innovations in packaging container or system design and packaging

technological approaches to incorporate into integrated logistics is receiving more attention 14).

Moreover, modern packaging has gained its advanced functions through technological

development in response to our social system that creates changes in our lifestyle 15).

There is no doubt that the packaging systems add values to the products, which combines

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economic, environmental and social considerations, by fulfilling the above-mentioned functions

throughout related product supply chains. The challenge is to seek for the positive link

between economic growth and environmental and societal benefits. In other words. "triple

bottom line" impacts of packaging systems. i.e. their economic, social and environmental

impacts need to be considered simultaneously for so-called sustainable packaging systems.

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) of USA also described a vision for sustainable

packaging. where all packaging is sourced responsibly, designed to be effective and safe

throughout its life cycle. meets market criteria for performance and cost is made entirely

using renewable energy and once used. is recycled efficiently to provide a valuable resource

for subsequent generations 16). The description stressed responsible functions of packaging

systems as sustainability example.

2.2 Principles of sustainable packaging systems

The packaging systems can be improved towards sustainability by providing principles

with operational practice, in order to identify opportunities and to pursue the development of

sustainable packaging materials and packaging systems.

The 'triple bottom lines' have been adopted as sustainability principles in packaging,

see Fig. 1. But companies are being faced with the problem of how to apply the sustainability

principles to their business with limited experience of the interrelationships between the

three dimensions of economic, social and environmental 17).

The SPC presented packaging life cycle as diagram in Fig. 2161 and also provided

'cradle to cradle' principles about material flows through William McDonough and Michael

Social

Performance

Socio-

Socio Sustainability

Environmental

Economic Efficiency

Economic

Performance

Fig. 1 Integrating three dimensions of economic, social and environmental into Sustainability

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Brand Owner siProduct Mfrs

POST CONSUMER FLOWS

Ma.ter~al•..... '..... .....Mfrs . '0-_-

It~f/';" *~ ,:-:~ -'--

.:i

Resource lExtraction }lI

Exports

CompostHlg Inculer./WTE Landfjll

Distrlbutlon/

..... ~OtlSlng

Llttet/Open BWTlInq

Fig. 2 Packaging life cycle (Source: SPC 2005)

Braungart sustainability mode with all packaging as sustainable target vision. which is shown

in Fig. 3 11\).

The Sustainable Packaging Alliance (SPA) of Australia adopted the following principles

of effective. efficient, cyclic, and safe for packaging systems that will support sustainable

development: Ill)

It adds real value to society by effectively containing and protecting products as

they move through the supply chain and by supporting informed and responsible

consumption.

Packaging systems are designed to use materials and energy as efficiently as

possible throughout the packaged product life cycle including its interactions with

associated support systems.

• Packaging materials are cycled continuously through natural or industrial systems.

• Packaging components do not pose any health or environmental risks to humans or

ecosystems. When in doubt the precautionary principle applies.

The SPA's principles indicate the responsibilities and performance of would-be

sustainable packaging at four levels which are society. packaging system, packaging material

and packaging component, see Fig. 4. 19)

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_......--.. c-_·

/'//----~ ..-

fl

t

Was'e.o ... , EnllfQY

titter&. ~

Op.eM Bur~jng

.........._-.....

---- ----.~

'.-- Bio!iphere

......_. Reuse

"'chan~calRecycling

Chem~alRecycling

( N~-r~w.bl.i and

1

r.Mntv(&1 RlUCKJfCeEJ«ra~ton

ManagedComposUng -

.-"";

lA ~~ ;:~~ !~er~

.!

i iOle

Cb ';li: «I!.s

Fig. 3 A cradle to cradle vision for the recovery of material value (Source: SPC 2005)

2.3 Definition of sustainable packaging systems

Internationally, both SPC and SPA play more active and important role in development

of sustainable packaging systems. They have described definition of sustainable packaging

systems based on comprehensive way.

The SPC characterized the sustainable packaging by the following multi-criteria which

blend broad sustainability objectives with business considerations and strategies that address

the environmental concerns related to the life cycle of packaging 18).

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Society

Effective - adds economic and social value

Packaging System

Efficient - minimum use of materials and energy

Packaging Material

Cyclic - recyclable or compostable

Packaging Component

Safe - non-toxic to humans and ecosystems

Source: (lames et ai, 2005)

Fig. 4 The four levels and principles of SPA's sustainable packaging definition

• Is beneficial. safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle;

• Meets market criteria for performance and cost:

• Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy:

• Maximizes 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 cradle to cradle

cycles.

The SPA identified the definition of sustainable packaging in more detail, which is

summarized by table 1 19).

3. Implementation of sustainable packaging systems

3.1 Sustainability methods for industries and products

Brady et al listed methods and management systems to support sustainable

development in industry: 20) Cleaner Production Guides, Corporate Environmental Reporting,

Design for Environment. Design for Disassembly, Eco-compass, Eco-auditing, Eco-efficiency,

Eco-industrial Parks, Eco-profiling, Environmental Auditing, Environmental Management

Systems, Environmental Performance Measures, Life-Cycle Assessment, Life-Cycle Costing,

Life-Cycle Managemen1, Life-Cycle Value Assessmen1, Pollution Preven tion, Prodllct

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Table 1 SPA's sustainable packaging definition

Packaging "ill support sustainable df,-elopmtnt if the follo"ing priuciples al'~

mf't

Princip/~ Le"els at"~l',ich th~

principle ;,sfl1!Plied

Eff~cti\'"e Ii adds real \'alue to ~ociety by effecti\·~ly contailuug and Soci~fV

protectIng product~ as they tllOye through the supplyCh:Ull and bY~UppOttlng illfonll~d and respon~lble

con~lullption.Efficient Packaging s.ysreln~ are de~lgned to use 11l3t€'rials and Packaging

energy a~ efficiently tlr, po~slble throughour the product S\·~telll

life cy'cle TIlls should include Inate-nal and en€'rgy

~fficlency in luteractions '\'ith a~sociated ~upp011 ~ystenl~

such a.; storaQl:' tl'anSpoIt and handling(',"clie P~l('kaging tnateriah are cycled continuously through Packaging

natural or (111du~trial) technical systeln~, luilUmizl.l1g Illtlterialluaterial degl'adatlon and 01 the use of npgradll1gaddlti\·~~.

Safe Packaging conlponents do not p05e any n~k~ to hUluan PackaginghE-31th or e-cosY'Jtenl~. \Vhell in doubt thE' precautionary C01l1pOlleHt

pnnC'lple apphes

Source: (Jalues et aL 200~)

Stewardship, Social Justice Indicators, Responsible Care, Standards - ISO 14000 and various

national environmental standards, Supply Chain Management, System Conditions of The

Natural Step ..... Companies have applied life-cycle management and eco-efficiency tools to

strategically and practically manage product issues while creating business benefits by

reducing costs and opening up business opportunities 20) 21). The global trend toward products

and materials that consume less energy, less materials, and release fewer pollutants was

intensifying rapidly at turn of the century as implementing sustainability. As for packaging

which is one kind of industries and products has used these methods for reference in the

sustainability journey.

In addition, Eco-design Indicators. Material Selector, Integrated Product Policy, Product

Sustainability Assessment, Sustainability Performance Indicators etc methods have also been

developed in European countries, United States and Australia. The methods aim to help

companies to navigate towards sustainable development by offering a framework to assess

the sustainable development aspects of individual packaging/product designs, identification of

opportunities and risks associated with existing and new packaging developments, use of

innovation to improve environmental and social performance and work towards sustainability.

These sustainability methods are finally gaining momentum.

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3.2 Tools for selecting sustainable packaging systems

With the identification of the principles and definition of sustainable packaging systems

and the characterization of the functions the sustainable packaging systems must to be

perform, the evaluation tools for sustainable packaging systems become necessary to be used

in practice. Some evaluation tools for design and innovation towards sustainable packaging

have been or being established and tested in road.

PRe Consultants, Netherlands initiated Eco-design too1,l)) which is a LeA weighing

method specially developed for product design. It used a damage function approach to

present the relation between the impact and the damage to human or to the ecosystem. The

resulting Eco-indicator99 are user-friendly units. The tool works with eco-indicators, these are

single scores that express the seriousness of the environmental load of a process or material.

The higher the score, the more serious the impact.

Both the SPC and the SPA have developed packaging material selector,17) 22) which

feature information on material characteristics, packaging applications and recycling and

other environmental considerations of common packaging materials.

The SPA has also developed Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool © (PIQET)2il in

Australia wants to be an on-line industry wide accepted tool to provide quick and credible

indicators of environmental performance to support decision making towards defining and

implementing organisation's and market environment' s packaging performance and

environmental requirements. Example applications of the evaluation tool include materials

selection, packaging re-design or packaging innovation, and procurement specifications for

inbound packaged goods, as diagram in Fig. 5.19)

Packaging scorecard23) 24) has been used to support a more holistic approach to the

contribution of packaging to efficiency and value creation in product supply chain and case

studies demonstration. Strengths and weaknesses of a packaging system are identified in a

systematic way with the approach. Product suppliers in the case studies clearly indicated that

they got a better overview and understanding of the packaging system performance

throughout the supply chain.

Dutch model for evaluating packaging covered considerations with cost of packaging

materials: product protection on safety, shelf-life, fragility, etc.; packaging production,

packaging operations such as filling, sealing; logistics performance in warehousing, transport

and storage; product presentation and marketing; consumer convenience: product information,

safety and hygiene in distribution and consumer use; and regulatory and environmental

compliance.

A LeA-based evaluation model for selecting pulp moulded packaging was investigated.2.,}) 26)

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Defining Defining

Packaging Packaging

Regulatory

environment

Sustainab ility

~~ , , , , .. , _, .. , .

Strategy

• .............. " '.' , ..Packaging

functionality

;'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-:-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'_._._.,Y I

PIQET(0 I

I

Environmental

checklist

Material

LeA data

eg recycling rates

Selection for

Packaging system

~~

Procurement specifications

I

I

IIIII'__ . __ ._._. __ ._._,_,_._,_._._._._._._, ._._._._. __ ._._.J

Source: (SPA 2005)

Fig. 5 PIQET© in Concept

It included considerations for environmentaL economic and technological factors and was

demonstrated by case studies. The LeA system not only provides basic data to the factories

but also supports the development of laws or regulations concerned. Analytic hierarchy

process with quantitative and qualitative evaluation method was used in order to reflect the

actual situation effectively.

These evaluation tools or models commonly follow multi-criteria evaluation which

concerns packaging strategy, packaging functionality, product performance, life cycle impact

data, material consumption, distribution and transport scenarios, production capabilities and

efficiencies, and post-use waste management. The origins of the evaluation tools seem to

embody all aspects which should be concerned for sustainability in packaging, but some

components of the tools still need to be further communicated with stakeholders at

operational level so that completing and refining the elements and structures within the tools.

Among others, packaging material selectors are comparatively practical at present, which can

provide generic guidance across materials for decision making in packaging systems and

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information on typical technical and environmental characteristics for main packaging

materials.

4. Conclusion and suggestions

In broad terms, the concept of sustainable packaging systems is an attempt to combine

growing concerns about a range of environmental issues with socio-economic issues in the

packaging domain. It is evident that the sustainable outcomes can only result when definite

sustainability principles and criteria are integrated into a strategic planning framework in

practice. To be able to advance the development of sustainable packaging, stakeholders need

essential identification of the sustainable packaging systems and tangible approaches to meet

future society and industry challenges within the context of packaging sustainability.

A more comprehensive and clear characterization of the sustainable packaging systems

has been explored. Basically, sustainability principles for packaging should inform all decision

making and will ensure that a holistic approach is applied across the packaging systems.

Before any proposal (plan, policy or project) of a packaging system is approved it should be

evaluated against a set of sustainability criteria in the context of packaging sector. Only

proposals that move the systems towards their stated strategic directions within a

sustainability framework should be adopted. The principles should raise awareness of

sustainable development as a concept and its importance at an individual packaging level by

identifying issues and concerns. Furthermore, the sustainable packaging systems should be

effective, efficient, cyclic, and safe while performing their foundational functions and advanced

functions at different level including society, packaging system, packaging material and

packaging component. At the same time, the multi-criteria and evaluation tools for selecting

sustainable packaging systems have been or being established and tested in road. The multi

criteria cover concerns throughout packaging life cycle. The evaluation tools involve all

aspects which should be concerned for sustainability in packaging. Some of the tools are

promising and ambitious to be tangible approaches to assess sustainable packaging systems

in practice in the near future.

However, the gaps between the thinking and the practice still remain. Most of the

methods and tools are just in concept and the conceptual framework need to be translated in

a simple way, i. e. reducing complexity to key elements. For the development of the actual

methods on approaching sustainability in packaging systems, on the one hand. the academic

findings need to be diffused widely and tested in actual operation in depth. It is necessary to

make stakeholders having more broad point of view on what sustainable packaging systems

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are and how to do for them. On the other hand, researchers should pay more attention to

integrating the sustainable packaging principles, criteria and indictors into packaging design

techniques and user-friendly tools for selecting packaging systems and packaging materials in

practice, rather than only concern the concepts themselves. Some components of the tools

need to be further communicated with stakeholders at operational level so that completing

and refining the elements and structures within the tools, as for example successfully

addressing the multi-criteria for identification of a packaging system depends upon continuous

discussion between academicians and companies. In addition, a holistic approach to forming

sustainable packaging systems should not only identifies improvements but also suggests

helpful solutions.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Japan Society For The Promotion Of Science for

financing this project of RONPAKU program. We also thank referees very much for their

invaluable comments and direction on the paper.

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(JJj{m~1t 20071f: 4 fj 6 B)

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