Earth Day Topic - Is plastic packaging bad? ... What is more sustainable?

Happy Earth Day (4/22)!

On this day I thought I would share my point of view about Packaging Sustainability. In my many years in consulting brands and cross-functional partners, this is a topic that comes up quite often since the word "sustainability" is so subjective.  Packaging sustainability is the process of making decisions that minimize our environmental impact on our planet.  We (i.e. packaging vendors, brands, retailers) should look at all aspects of our business and find ways to improve our sustainability footprint. I believe in striving for a Zero Waste & Zero Carbon future. This should be the charter for all brands since it is ambitious and provides us with a target over time. We could accomplish this by designing out waste and seeking low-carbon alternatives without compromising the performance of our formulas (e.g. cosmetics, supplements, food, etc.).

To the far left is a schematic of a linear economy. We manufacture, consume, and then dispose of.  This model encourages the development of single-use packaging with a terminal outcome of waste. Think about your plastic thermoform tray that is holding your Post Mate order of Chicken Masala. After eating your meal, you may at best toss that plastic tray into the recycling bin.

Let's shift our focus to the Circular Economy, represented on the right side of the diagram. This model is gaining traction for good reason. It's all about reducing waste and maximizing resource utilization. Picture the outer ring as your traditional supply chain, but with a twist. Waste materials are reincarnated into new packaging, creating a sustainable loop. The key distinction lies in our approach to raw materials. We have two paths, one leads to virgin materials sourced from natural resources like crude oil, trees, and natural gas - the green workstream. Alternatively, we can choose reclaimed materials, aka trash - the light blue workstream. Our aim? To ensure these materials enjoy a second life. For instance, utilizing Trayak's Compass LCA software, I conducted an analysis demonstrating that transitioning to 100% post-consumer recycled plastic from virgin plastic could yield a substantial 27% reduction in CO2 emissions.

Let's debunk the myth: "Is plastic bad?" The resounding answer is a firm NO! Plastic, when sourced from reclaimed materials, offers a sustainable alternative. Surprisingly, its CO2 impact can be significantly lower, sometimes half compared to glass or aluminum of the same size. Our concern should lie not with the material itself, but with its design. Was it designed for single use? Since the 1950s, the rise of single-use packaging has ingrained a throwaway culture (e.g. plastic water bottles). We should design our packaging to be used many times over like your favorite coffee mug. When you're done drinking your cup of Joe, you don't throw it in the waste bin. No, you wash it and give it a second life. This is where brands need to begin shifting their thinking about innovation. Choosing packaging that can be used many times over before the terminal outcome of waste. In some cases, a refill solution may make sense. When the package can no longer be used, it should be in a material that has a high probability of getting reclaimed.

At the end of the day, this Circular economy fits within a goal of a ZERO WASTE and a ZERO CARBON FUTURE.  If the product is designed from the beginning to live within this Circular model, brands will inherently begin reducing their carbon impact and minimizing the amount of material that may end up in a landfill. Not to put all the responsibility on brands, we as consumers need to do a better job of segregating our waste between the composting bin, recycling bin, and waste bin. In 2021, only 5% of post-consumer plastic waste in the USA was recycled. We can all contribute to a more sustainable future. It's all about making informed decisions to drive meaningful environmental impact over time.

If you need help building out your sustainability strategy, reach out, and let's get started!