In this guide, we outline some of the potential pros and cons of sustainable packaging
This guide compliments our separate guide on what sustainable packaging is, along with examples of uses, materials, and more.
Summary – Pros & Cons Of Sustainable Packaging
A list of some of the potential pros and cons might include, but aren’t limited to:
Pros
May Contribute To More Sustainable Environmental Outcomes
May Contribute To More Sustainable Management Of Resources
May Help Protect Human Health, &/Or Increase Safety
May Contribute To Benefits &/Or Better Outcomes For Businesses
Cons
Packaging May Only Make Up/Impact A Small Portion Of The Overall Sustainability Footprint Of A Product
Some Types Of Packaging May Not Meet Practical, Functional Or Performance Based Requirements
Some Types Of Packaging May Compromise Health, Safety & Hygiene In Some Ways
Some Types Of Packaging Aren’t As Feasible Economically As Others
There’s No Substitute Or Alternative For Some Types Of Packaging
Some Question That The Waste Management Of Some Types Of ‘Sustainable Packaging’ Is More Sustainable Than That The ‘Non Sustainable Packaging’ Alternative
Some Types Of Sustainable Packaging Simply Move The Packaging Footprint To A Different Stage Of The Supply Chain
Some Sustainable Packaging Claims May Be Misleading Or Inaccurate
Might Be Difficult To Legislate, Regulate Or Standardise Sustainable Packaging Across All Types Of Packaging, & Packaging Uses
The Research, Development & Introduction To The Market Of New Types Of Packaging Can Have Challenges
Implementation Of Sustainable Packaging As A % Of All Packaging Might Currently Be Low
*Note
This list is a generalised list only.
Obviously whether packaging is sustainable or not depends on the variables/factors and indicators being measured that are specific to a product, type of packaging, packaging use, and so on.
What Is Sustainable Packaging, & What Are Some Examples?
Potential Pros Of Sustainable Packaging
May Contribute To More Sustainable Environmental Outcomes
Sustainable packaging can have a more sustainable environmental outcome, depending on how the packaging is intended to be more sustainable.
A few examples are:
– Sustainable packaging that emits less greenhouse gases during it’s material sourcing or production may have a lower carbon footprint
– Sustainable packaging that doesn’t use as many harmful chemicals in material sourcing or production, or has a way of managing waste during these processes, may result in less environmental pollution, and also release less toxic or harmful waste into the environment (so there’s less toxicity for wildlife too)
– The packaging may be biodegradable, compostable or able to organically decompose in different environments, as opposed to being littered or dumped in landfill as waste. This might be better for waste pollution and the management of waste
May Contribute To More Sustainable Management Of Resources
More sustainable management of resources can be direct or indirect.
– Direct
It can be direct when, in the process of sourcing, producing, or managing the packaging as waste (or when it gets to the end of it’s lifecycle), either less resources are used, resources are used more efficiently, or renewable and/or abundant resources are used over non renewable and/or scarce resources (like petroleum and natural gas based materials). There may also be the use of natural materials over synthetic materials.
An example of this could be that less packaging is required overall (in square area, mass, etc) to contain the same amount of product, and therefore less resources are required to make the packaging.
Another example is when zero packaging is required at a zero waste retailer.
When packaging reaches the end of it’s lifecycle, if there is less packaging waste generated, or the packaging can be re-cycled, re-used or have resources recovered from it, it may also contribute to more sustainable management of resources.
– Indirect
It can be indirect when changes to packaging result in more sustainable resource management elsewhere.
An example of this could be a package that is made to be lighter, and as a result, during transportation, transport vehicles can use fuel more efficiently, or don’t use as much total fuel.
May Help Protect Human Health, &/Or Increase Safety
A change in the materials or chemicals used in the packaging might better help protect human health, or improve safety for humans.
It could be for humans in society in general, or workers who help produce the packaging.
As one example, packaging may be able to be made without a potentially hazardous chemical that workers are exposed to during production of the packaging material.
As another example, packaging material other than plastic may be able to be used for some uses, and this may minimise the risk that that plastic eventually becomes waste that breaks down into micro plastics, that humans eventually ingest or consume (in water, food, the environment, and so on)
May Contribute To Benefits &/Or Better Outcomes For Businesses
Implementing sustainable practices across any area of business, such as using sustainable packaging, can lead to benefits and/or better outcomes for the companies, brands and organisations that implement them.
One example of a benefit is that companies may build better brand equity, brand reputation and brand loyalty amongst consumers and customers.
A few examples of better outcomes for businesses may include:
– Attracting new customers
– Increasing sales
– Attracting investment from sustainability minded investors
– Decreasing costs, and increasing profits (if there are cost savings or productivity increases with using newer sustainable packaging)
According to greenbusinessbureau.com, one example of this might be biodegradable air peanuts over Styrofoam for loose fill packaging, with biodegradable air peanuts being less expensive
It also worth noting that going into the future, some governments may mandate certain sustainable business practices, and more sustainable packaging in some industries, or for some uses, may be one possible mandate.
Companies that look into this and prepare for this possibility now, may save themselves time, resources and having to rush to meet this new potential requirement in the future.
Potential Cons Of Sustainable Packaging
Packaging May Only Make Up/Impact A Small Portion Of The Overall Sustainability Footprint Of A Product
When looking at the overall sustainability impact of each individual stage of the lifecycle of a product, the type of packaging used may only make a up a small part of the overall sustainability footprint.
Certain production activities and processes, and the consumption/usage stage of some products, may have a much larger overall sustainability footprint than the type of packaging used for example.
One example might be a for the standard combustion engine vehicle.
Production of the vehicle, and the burning of fossil fuels while the car is in use, may have a much larger sustainability footprint than the packaging used to transport car parts to manufacturers.
It obviously depends on the product and industry,
One exception to what is written above might be for some types of waste pollution – the packaging used may contribute significantly to waste pollution for some products and in some industries.
Some Types Of Packaging May Not Meet Practical, Functional Or Performance Based Requirements
Packaging ultimately has to serve a use or a range of uses.
To do that, the packaging used has to practical to use, be functional in the ways it needs to be used, and meet certain performance criteria, which is usually related to the properties and traits of that packaging.
Sustainable packaging may not meet practical, functional or performance based requirements if it doesn’t meet one of, or a combination of the following criteria:
– It isn’t durable
– It isn’t tear resistant, or resistant to contact and abrasions
– It isn’t waterproof
– It isn’t resistant to certain temperatures and climates
A few examples of sustainable packaging that may not be as practical or functional, or perform as well as a traditional packaging material like plastic for example, might be:
– Absorbent packaging materials like some types of cloth or some types of paper are used in instances where waterproof packaging is required
– A recycled packaging material like paper is used in instances where tear resistant packaging is required
Additionally, new packaging that is still being researched or developed may lack ideal traits and properties.
wikipedia.org gives an example of this:
‘… dairy based films made of proteins like casein and whey that are found in milk … [are] in research/development, and current research indicates the water barrier quality needs to be improved … [and] currently, petroleum based plastic films might offer better water barrier qualities …’
Some Types Of Packaging May Compromise Health, Safety & Hygiene In Some Ways
This point relates to the above point, but it’s important enough to be identified individually.
Some types of packaging serve the very important use of maintaining health, safety and hygiene standards.
For example, some types of plastic packaging may prevent the contamination of some types of food in food stores and at food markets, or may may prevent contamination of medical devices, instruments and items in hospitals and at other health care locations.
Some types of sustainable packaging may not have the properties and traits to do the same.
Some Types Of Packaging Aren’t As Feasible Economically As Others
When looking at the cost to source, produce, use or manage the packaging when it reaches the end of it’s lifecycle, some types of sustainable packaging may not be as economical or cost effective in some ways as regular packaging.
One example of this could be a specific type of sustainable plastic when compared to packaging like plastic.
Especially when oil prices are lower, plastic can be very cheap to produce.
Additionally, lightweight forms of plastic may save costs on the amount of fuel burned in transportation, and because of it’s flexibility and malleability, may allow packed items to be packed more efficiently.
There’s No Substitute Or Alternative For Some Types Of Packaging
There’s no suitable substitute or alternative packaging for some types of packaging, or some situations where packaging is required.
A few examples of this are:
– In the instance where packaging is required to preserve freshness of certain foods, certain airtight and watertight types of packaging are the only types of packaging that can be used
– For some uses, packaging is essential, and zero packaging/zero waste approaches can’t be implemented
Some Question That The Waste Management Of Some Types Of ‘Sustainable Packaging’ Is More Sustainable Than That The ‘Non Sustainable Packaging’ Alternative
For example, sometimes the claimed sustainability benefit of some types of packaging is that it can be recycled compared to being sent to landfill.
Recycling isn’t always more environmentally friendly or sustainable than some other waste management options for some waste materials, and recycling in general has it’s own set of potential drawbacks to consider.
For example, the recycling of some materials may use more energy, more water, and have a higher carbon footprint than some alternative waste management options.
This same principle may apply to packaging that is itself made of partially or fully recycled materials.
In some ways, it may be more eco friendly to make some materials from virgin materials rather than recycled materials.
Recycled materials may also sometimes have their integrity or structure weakened compared to virgin materials, and this may make them less suitable for specific uses.
There’s also the economic feasibility side of recycling to consider – recycling isn’t always profitable or economically feasible for some materials.
Some Types Of Sustainable Packaging Simply Move The Packaging Footprint To A Different Stage Of The Supply Chain
What we mean by this is that when changes to packaging are made at one stage of the supply chain, the entire supply chain or product lifecycle has to be examined to make sure that the original packaging footprint has actually been reduced or completely removed, and hasn’t just been moved to another stage along the chain or cycle.
One example of this might be a ‘zero waste’ store that encourages customers to bring their own packaging.
Questions should be asked in this instance about how the products they are selling are transported and delivered to the store, and also about the packaging the customers are using in place of the packaging the store would have provided if they weren’t zero waste.
For example, if a customer is bringing a glass container to a zero waste store to buy their food or a type liquid, what was the original footprint of that glass container, and when the glass container is cleaned over it’s lifetime, what’s the sustainability footprint of cleaning it?
The footprint will be higher for example if the person is using washing liquids, and electricity and water.
There’s also the practicality of using a glass container for example over a plastic bag or container – is the glass at risk of breaking?
Some Sustainable Packaging Claims May Be Misleading Or Inaccurate
Greenwashing by companies can mislead the consumer.
This may happen if a company communicates that their sustainable packaging has a greater positive impact on sustainability than it actually does in reality.
They might do this for example by selectively presenting information or data to communicate a specific narrative about a specific type of sustainable packaging.
Beyond misleading, companies may unintentionally use a flawed or limited study or piece of research to form the basis of their claims about a specific type of sustainable packaging, and in this case, their claims might be inaccurate.
One example of a misleading belief or assumption held by consumers might apply to bio based ‘sustainable packaging’.
Some consumers may assume that because packaging is bio-based, that it’s either biodegradable or able to naturally decompose.
However, wikipedia.org indicates that this isn’t always the case: ‘A polymer that is bio-based and used to make plastic materials is not necessarily compostable or bio-degradable. Natural biopolymers can be often biodegraded in the natural environment while only a few bio-based monomer bio-based plastics can be.’
Might Be Difficult To Legislate, Regulate Or Standardise Sustainable Packaging Across All Types Of Packaging, & Packaging Uses
One of the challenges of enforcing or increasing the use of sustainable packaging would be that every type of packaging has it’s own capabilities to consider, and each use for packaging has it’s own individualised requirements in terms of what type of packaging is required to meet performance, health, safety, hygiene, and other standards.
It might be very challenging to develop one piece of legislation, or one set of regulations or standards that would effectively mandate the use of sustainable packaging in reality.
The Research, Development & Introduction To The Market Of New Types Of Packaging Can Have Challenges
Before packaging can be used in the marketplace, it first needs to be researched, developed, and approved.
This process can carry financial risk, but can also have reasonably long lead times.
There’s also other challenges like trying to develop packaging that is functional and meets practical requirements, whilst also meeting legal requirements on safety and compliance.
Implementation Of Sustainable Packaging As A % Of All Packaging Might Currently Be Low
For some types of packaging material, the implementation/use rate of more sustainable packaging types might only be very small.
This might currently be the case with some bio based alternative packaging.
From wikipedia.org:
‘Bio-based plastics [can sometimes be used in place of petroleum based plastics …] yet they only account for 1% of plastics produced annually as of 2020’
Currently, amongst all industries, the packaging industry is one of the major users of all plastic produced.
Sources
1. Various ‘Better Meets Reality’ Resources
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_packaging
3. https://greenbusinessbureau.com/blog/8-eco-friendly-packaging-alternatives-for-your-businesss-shipping-needs/
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