About

Principles

Materials

Media

Glossary

A list to guide your project towards packaging that does less harm. Compiled with input from leading voices in material science, circular policy, recycling and product development.

Our vision for a more sustainable consumer goods industry is best achieved as a community, and we hope sharing our knowledge will help evaluate the status quo. That’s why this site will always be a work in progress, and we welcome your input and feedback

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Responsible, sustainable packaging design is transparent about methods, processes, and insights. Making the planet a little bit better is a collaborative and continuous effort. 

Sharing and transparency

Responsible packaging is completely necessary and fit for purpose. Single use is exchanged with reuse models where relevant

https://wrap.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/no-plastic-packaging-sell-fresh-uncut-produce-loose-says-wrap-report

A reason for existing

Responsible packaging design strives to create a downstream market for recycled materials. This is achieved thorugh using high value recycled mono-materials and design for circularity.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1583933814386&uri=COM:2020:98:FIN

https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/rethinking-the-future-of-plastics

Close the circularity gap

Responsible packaging is beneficial and safe for people and planet to produce, use and recycle. It is harmless when it ends up astray (make sure that it won’t).

https://wwwkravse.cdn.triggerfish.cloud/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/pack_guide_jan2020.pdf

https://www.c2ccertified.org/resources/detail/cradle-to-cradle-certified-restricted-substances-list-rsl

https://www.circulardesignguide.com/post/material-selection

https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono100F.pdf

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X15002985

https://blog.csiro.au/deadly-ocean-plastic/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/news-plastic-six-pack-rings-alternatives-history

Health & Safety

Responsible packaging is designed to be effectively collected and recovered as useable resources in high demand, in the facilities closest to the area of sale and consumption.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35358534/

https://www.icis.com/explore/services/recycling-supply-tracker-mechanical/

https://www.grontpunkt.no/nyhet/problemet-med-biologisk-nedbrytbar-plast/

Optimized for Local Closed Loops

Responsible packaging is unique to specific supply chains. It takes advantage of low-hanging fruits and sustainable opportunities within the systems it exists in.

Supply chain conscious

Responsible packaging design strives to make us less dependent on virgin fossil materials (plastic). It exchanges non-renewable virgin materials for recyclable fossil free materials where it can contain, preserve and protect the product effectively.

https://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/the-link-between-fossil-fuels-single-use-plastics-and-climate-change

Fossil independency

Responsbile packaging moves you without excess. It not only uses less material and is made with renewable energy and materials, but is designed to optimize the use of resources and energy across the entire supply chain. It eliminates white space, is pallet optimized being effective and safe distribution and shipping. 

https://www.billerudkorsnas.com/managed-packaging/knowledge-center/articles/transport-packaging-optimization-best-practices

Resource efficiency

Responsible packaging uses honest materials which recycling is easy and self explanatory, with clear symbols and guidance. It motivates consumers towards sorting by being easy to clean and compress.