What is Sustainable Packaging?Sustainable packaging refers to packaging materials and designs that have a reduced environmental impact and promote sustainability throughout the entire life cycle of the package. There are more than 300 definitions of sustainable packaging floating around. At PTR we focus on commercially viable packaging innovations to achieve a more sustainable world.
Sustainable packaging is:
How are more sustainable packaging and food waste connected? Sustainable packaging blends the value chain, food, and packaging science to achieve a more sustainable food system. Brands, Retailers, and Packaging companies are committing to preventing food waste with sustainable packaging. This is because food justice, hunger, and GHG are dealt with when food waste is prevented. Brands, retailers, governments (EPA, FDA, USDA, just in the USA), UNSDGs, and advocacy groups are now in alignment. Packaging is THE leading solution to prevent consumer-derived food waste. Thus, businesses that use packaging to prevent food waste can connect with consumers and the remainder of the Value Chain who also want a world with less food and packaging waste. Complex, yes but achievable! |
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Featured Sustainable Packaging Case Study |
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Frequently asked questions related to sustainable packaging
What is considered sustainable packaging?
Sustainable packaging refers to packaging materials and designs that have a reduced environmental impact and promote sustainability throughout the entire life cycle of the package. When food manufacturer's switch to packaging sustainably, they often using packaging designs that involve reducing packaging. Sustainability friendly packaging alternatives vary widely. A few commercially viable examples of sustainable packaging work we've done for client are:
How to save money by using more sustainable packaging?
Often sustainable packaging innovations involve reducing packaging, which reduces overall costs.
Where should I focus on if I want to have more sustainable packaging?
A first step in a sustainable packaging initiative is to look at the source of the materials. More than 90% of the environmental impact of packaging is in manufacturing and sourcing. So, looking at sourcing is the most important way to optimize your sustainable packaging and reach corporate sustainability initiatives.
What are the benefits of sustainable packaging?
Sustainable packaging helps to reduce waste, conserve natural resources, decrease energy consumption, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. It can also help companies meet sustainability goals and improve their brand image.
Where does food waste happen? Where does packaging waste happen?
We've created a visual to represent where waste is happening and the relative portions of waste in each stage of the value chain.
Sustainable packaging refers to packaging materials and designs that have a reduced environmental impact and promote sustainability throughout the entire life cycle of the package. When food manufacturer's switch to packaging sustainably, they often using packaging designs that involve reducing packaging. Sustainability friendly packaging alternatives vary widely. A few commercially viable examples of sustainable packaging work we've done for client are:
- Identified, sourced, and developed 156 solutions that provided a 10-212% reduction in climate change
- Discerned 5 different package sourcing implications by varying scopes on LCAs in the fresh produce industry
- Conducted value chain analysis that identified 287 product, process, and package solutions with 1.1 billion pounds in reduced food waste for 6 Minnesota crops
How to save money by using more sustainable packaging?
Often sustainable packaging innovations involve reducing packaging, which reduces overall costs.
Where should I focus on if I want to have more sustainable packaging?
A first step in a sustainable packaging initiative is to look at the source of the materials. More than 90% of the environmental impact of packaging is in manufacturing and sourcing. So, looking at sourcing is the most important way to optimize your sustainable packaging and reach corporate sustainability initiatives.
What are the benefits of sustainable packaging?
Sustainable packaging helps to reduce waste, conserve natural resources, decrease energy consumption, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. It can also help companies meet sustainability goals and improve their brand image.
Where does food waste happen? Where does packaging waste happen?
We've created a visual to represent where waste is happening and the relative portions of waste in each stage of the value chain.
- Food Ingredient Sourcing (Agriculture) - Food waste and packaging waste occurs from farm to food manufacturers
- Packaging Material Sourcing (Fossil, Metal, Glass & BioMass) - Packaging materials are produced consuming resources
- Food Processing (Slicing, Cooking, Dehydration, Processes): Food Waste occurs onsite at food manufacturers
- Packaging Material Converting (Cartons, Cans, Bottles, Closures, Pouches, Films): Raw Packaging materials are converted into packaging formats
- Filling Packaging with Food (Food manufacturing): Food waste and packaging waste occurs
- Food Distribution: Food waste and packaging waste occurs due to packaging poorly designed for distribution
- Packaged Food Retailers & Food Service: Food waste and packaging waste occurs when packaging does not protect food for the intended shelf life at Retail
- Packed Food Consumers: Food Waste occurs during food preparation by Consumers
- Post Consumer Packaging: Packaging waste is disposed of via recycling, landfill, WTE incineration, litter, etc
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Articles, presentations and more on topics including Innovative Materials, Recyclable, Recycled Content, Bioderived, Compostable, Packaging LCAs, Consumer Views, Trends, and Testing of Packaging, Leadership in Driving Research, Value Chain Solutions, Circular economy, Collection and Sorting, Source Reduction, Returnable/Reusable, Consumer Views, Trends, and Testing of Packaging and Legislation and Regulation.
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We frequently work with food industry clients on sustainable packaging including:
Produce Companies |
PTR projects include direct from farm packaging , support of produce packaging including fruit packaging and vegetable packaging
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Frozen Food Companies |
Our project work includes frozen bakery packaging, frozen fruit packaging, frozen vegetable packaging and frozen meat packaging.
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Bakery |
Packaging for fresh breads, pastry packaging, cake packaging, desert packaging and more!
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