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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:
  • RATIONALE: It actually (factually) is more sustainable and does not reduce product shelf life
  • DEFENSIBLE: Can be explained to retailers, consumers, and post-consumer handlers in a relevant manner
  • ACHIEVABLE: It is viable in 1,3,or 5 years 
  • LINKED: It aligns with retailers, consumers, and post-consumer handler needs

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 who also want a world with less food and packaging waste.

Complex, yes but achievable! 
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Dr. Claire Sand
Food Packaging Expert
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PTR helps clients achieve more sustainable packaging. Identifying  the right packaging science and the value chain initiatives is the focus of our work everyday.
Reach out to discuss your sustainability project >

Featured Sustainable Packaging Case Study

Related Content & Insights

View our public Case Studies >
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Read our Sustainability Insights >
Select articles include:
  • ARTICLE: Nanotechnology's Favorable Future in Food Packaging 
  • ARTICLE: Gordon Robertson: Rational Thoughts on Sustainable Packaging 
  • PRESENTATION: AntiViral Packaging Open Discussion
  • ARTICLE: Packaging and Sustainability: Achieving More Sustainable Confectionery Packaging 
  • ​​ARTICLE: Sustainability's Fourth Wave 
  • ARTICLE: Flexible Packaging at a Critical Crossroads in Sustainability 
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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:
  1. Identified, sourced, and developed 156 solutions that provided a 10-212% reduction in climate change
  2. Discerned 5 different package sourcing implications by varying scopes on LCAs in the fresh produce industry
  3. 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
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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?
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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
  • Packaging Material Sourcing (Fossil, Metal, Glass & BioMass) - Packaging waste occurs
  • Food Processing (Slicing, Cooking, Dehydration, Processes): Food Waste occurs
  • Packaging Material Converting (Cartons, Cans, Bottles, Closures, Pouches, Films): Packaging waste occurs
  • Filling Packaging with Food (Food manufacturing): Food waste and packaging waste occurs
  • Food Distribution: Food waste and packaging waste occurs
  • Packaged Food Retailers & Food Service: Food waste and packaging waste occurs
  • Packed Food Consumers: Food Waste occurs
  • Post Consumer Packaging: Packaging waste occurs
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Read our Sustainability Insights >
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.

We frequently work with food industry clients on sustainable packaging including:


Farms & Produce Companies

PTR projects include direct from farm packaging , support of produce packaging including fruit packaging and vegetable packaging 

Frozen Food Companies

Our project work includes frozen bakery packaging, frozen fruit packaging, frozen vegetable packaging and frozen meat packaging.

Bakery

Packaging for fresh breads, pastry packaging, cake packaging, desert packaging and more!

​We believe that building relationships builds the packaging industry and our future. If we can't help, we will connect you with someone who can!

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