SPC Spring Meeting March 21, 2013 A partnership to deliver the most current design guidance for packaging sustainability Adam Gendell, SPC Marina Pietrosel, ÉEQ
Agenda Background of our collaborative project A brief introduction to Èco Entreprises Quebec Goals of the project Guidance for designing a more sustainable package system Q&A
[background] Packaging Design for Sustainability Background, today and into the future 2006 SPC develops the Design Guidelines for Sustainable Packaging 2010 ÉEQ develops the Voluntary Code for the Optimization of Containers, Packaging, and Printed Matter 2011 The Consumer Goods Forum develops the Global Protocol on Packaging Sustainability 3
[background] Packaging Design for Sustainability Background, today and into the future 2011 CCME establishes a joint industry-government working group to develop a Canada-wide approach to optimize packaging, building on the foundation of completed initiatives 2012 Industry committed to facilitate the development and implementation of a Packaging Design Guide and lead it through PAC NEXT initiative May 2013 Industry commitment to launch Packaging Design for Sustainability 4
Packaging Design for Sustainability [approach] PAC agrees to undertake the development of the packaging design guide under the umbrella of PAC-Next project co-chaired by Marina Pietrosel from Éco Entreprises Québec and Adam Gendell from the SPC. We share the same vision, values and passion about sustainable design and innovation in industry practices. 5
About ÉEQ Private non-profit organization Certified by RECYC-QUÉBEC, a government agency in 2005; RECYC- QUÉBEC Represents over 3,000 companies and organizations that market containers, packaging and printed matter in Quebec (province) Éco Entreprises Québec Quebec s Municipalities Collect financial contribution from companies to finance their share of net costs relating to efficient and effective municipal curbside recycling services in a sustainable development perspective Companies and organizations People Curbside collection
About ÉEQ Strategic objectives Optimize the curbside recycling system Reduction at the Source: Less Packaging, Better Packaging + Eliminate over-packaging Encourage companies to increase recyclability of their containers, packaging and printed matter Optimization of Containers, Packaging and Printed Matter
About ÉEQ The Voluntary Code
About ÉEQ The Voluntary Code - Foundation
Packaging Design for Sustainability [approach] Committee members: More than 40 companies from different sectors of activity Retailers, manufacturers, associations, organizations, municipal representatives, sorting centers, consultants, etc. Packaging Design for Sustainability is based on: Voluntary Code for the Optimization of Containers, Packaging and Printed Matter (ÉEQ) & Design Guidelines for Sustainable Packaging (SPC) & Global Protocol for Packaging Sustainability (CGF) 10
Vision Deliver guidance that packaging decisionmakers in Canada and the U.S. will use to inform design decisions that result in more sustainable packaging.
One stop shop A holistic overview of the design for sustainability philosophy Practical design strategies that enable actions to improve the sustainability of the package-product system Common framework GPPS-aligned guidance on using life cycle thinking to evaluate the sustainability of the package-product system Fostering innovation Objectives Illustrating ideas with case studies showing creative improvements Showing examples of best practices in package design
Functions Product profile One stop shop Technical Regulatory Need Idea Project User Functional Unit Basic Packaging idea Qualitative Quantitative Design criteria Communication Performance Environmental footprint/ performance Legal requirements Cost Communication Marketing Packaging Design Process Retail Consumer User Contain Protect Functions Performance criteria Preserve Improve logistic Facilitate handling Aesthetic Semiotic Security Ergonomic Transport + logistic Promote Inform Manufacturing Procurement
Common framework Manufacturer Conditioner Distributor Research group What is the role of Government each stakeholder Supplier involved in adopting a IFO sustainable design process? Retailer NGO How can we improve Association communications Producer between them? Consumer Consultant Municipality Academia Recycler Sorting center
Fostering innovation Fostering innovation Illustrating ideas with case studies showing creative improvements Showing examples of best practices in package design
[the project] Through an engaged stakeholder process, it was determined that The design guidance will be given in an interactive website US and dual-language Canadian websites, each with country-specific information Version 1 to be released May 14 th, 2013 Plans to make continuous updates and improvements based on user feedback
[the guidance] Guidance for redesigning packaging that will result in a more sustainable package-product system The basic idea: 1. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design 2. Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs 3. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of the new design and compare against the existing design 4. Show the packaging community what you did!
[the guidance] Guidance for redesigning packaging that will result in a more sustainable package-product system The basic idea: 1. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design 2. Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs 3. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of the new design and compare against the existing design 4. Show the packaging community what you did!
Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design Use a holistic approach to assess benefits Product protection is most important But every other benefit is also important! Take inventory of each aspect of package performance Use a holistic approach to assess unwanted impacts Costs, community impacts, environmental impacts No consensus on relative importance Using LCA tools can help you benchmark some impacts Identify and prioritize areas for improvement Align with your company s sustainability strategy Don t have one? Time to make one! [the guidance]
[the guidance] Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design The entire package-product system should be assessed The goal of the whole system is centered around the product Each part of the package system makes its own contribution: to the overall goal in delivery of the product to the unwanted impacts of the system
Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design Generate appropriate functional units [the guidance] Impacts must be assessed against the desired functions of the packaging system centered around the product What is the goal of the entire packaging system? What is the individual goal of each component?
Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design Take a life cycle approach [the guidance] Where are impacts incurred? Should certain life cycle phases be prioritized for improvements?
Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design Find the life cycle indicators for the impacts you wish to reduce (e.g. freshwater consumption) Determine which metrics make the most sense for your packaging system (e.g. cubic meters per functional unit) Assess the availability and quality of data for your metrics [the guidance]
[the guidance] Guidance for redesigning packaging that will result in a more sustainable package-product system The basic idea: 1. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design 2. Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs 3. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of the new design and compare against the existing design 4. Show the packaging community what you did!
Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs Four design strategies to help improve the attributes of your packaging system 1. Design using responsibly sourced materials 2. Design for efficient material usage 3. Design for transportation 4. Design for recovery Each strategy can improve certain attributes [the guidance] Each attribute can improve certain life cycle impacts
[the guidance] Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs 1. Design using responsibly sourced materials Understand how recycled content can help Understand how certified fiber can help Understand how material health can be addressed Understand what to look for in a supplier
Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs 2. Design for efficient material usage [the guidance] Understand how weight reductions can help Understand the potential trade-offs Understand the life cycle phases that will be affected
Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs 3. Design for transportation [the guidance] Understand how weight reductions can help Understand how increased cube efficiency can help Understand opportunities to rethink the transport system
Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs 4. Design for recovery [the guidance] Understand when reuse makes sense for packaging Understand how to ask questions of recyclability Understand when it makes sense to pursue composting and energy recovery
[the guidance] Each design strategy will include The packaging attributes from the GPPS that are appropriate for the strategy Examples of how the strategy is used in action Links to further reading and resources Charts, graphics, and interactive widgets!
[the guidance] Guidance for redesigning packaging that will result in a more sustainable package-product system The basic idea: 1. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design 2. Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs 3. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of the new design and compare against the existing design 4. Show the packaging community what you did!
Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of the new design and compare to the existing design Which packaging attributes are improved? Have they led to reduced life cycle impacts? Has the functional unit been maintained? Are there changes in the packaging benefits? [the guidance]
Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of the new design and compare to the existing design Have the design decisions resulted in burden shifting? From one life cycle phase to another? From one package system component to another? What could be done differently? [the guidance]
[the guidance] Guidance for redesigning packaging that will result in a more sustainable package-product system The basic idea: 1. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of an existing design 2. Use design strategies and learn from case studies to inform the creation of new designs 3. Assess the benefits and unwanted impacts of the new design and compare against the existing design 4. Show the packaging community what you did!
[the guidance] Show the packaging community what you did! Showcase your company s commitment to improving packaging sustainability by sharing a case study Show off the before-and-after designs Allow others to learn from your creativity Width Depth Length Depth Width Length
[the website] The website will also include Information on the business case for designing more sustainable packaging A look at the evolution of sustainable design philosophies Information about the project and the organizations that collaborated in its development
Packaging Design for Sustainability This is all coming to you May 13 th, 2013 in Montréal May 14 th, 2014 in Toronto
Packaging Design for Sustainability Thank you! Adam Gendell, SPC Marina Pietrosel, ÉEQ