Packaging

	CPSC Board Chair, Rob D'Arcy, explains how EPR will reduce ocean litter. Sausalito, 9/09

Organizations like CPSC are working to change the way we think about waste, and that means everything from the products to the packaging they come in.

We typically don't think much about the way a product is packaged. After all, it's the product we're after. If you buy a bottle of soda pop, you want the soda, not the bottle.

According to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), of the 66 million tons of solid waste generated by Californians each year, approximately one third is packaging! For many products, packaging is certainly important. It helps contain and preserve the product and even protect it during the transport process. Even so, excessive packaging needs to go and be replaced with more lightweight, reusable packaging systems. Aside from being wasteful, packaging often ends up as litter harming our environment and oceans.

The Great Unwrap Race —Amazon
A lighthearted video on packaging waste.

The Bay vs. the Bag —Save the Bay

True Costs of Drinking Bottled Water —PMA

Santa Monica beach On left: after storm drains were flushed by a major rain. On right: a normal day in Santa Monica.

News & Events

• How Cisco's Packaging Diet Saves $24 Million a Year —Greenbiz.com 3/10/10

• Earthbound Farms and Naked Juice to Use 100% Recycled Plastic —USA Today 7/8/09

• It’s Time For America to Consider Extended Producer Responsibility —Julian Carroll in Packaging Strategies Newsletter, 6/30/09

• UK Firm Runs In-Store Market Research to Cut Packaging —Environmental Leader 4/2/09

• New CA Bill Aims to Boost Incentives for Responsible Packaging —Packaging Digest 3/2/09

• Increased Demand for Reusable Packaging Anticipated —Waste News Digital Edition 1/27/09
  

• Peninsula Packaging: Finding Ways to Keep Waste Local | Hear the audio —NPR Marketplace, 1/6/09
  Featuring Ed Byrne from Peninsula Packaging in Tulare County regarding their stewardship efforts to recycle more California plastic packaging.
  

• New York Congressman Addresses Excessive Packaging —sustainableisgood.com
  

• Glass Markets Stay Strong, Despite Weakened Economy —NY Times 12/24/08

• Glass Markets Stay Strong —Glass Packaging Institute Press Release 12/8/08
  

• LUSH Cosmetics are taking a more radical approach than others —Packaging Digest 8/27/08

	The white cardboard box held glass dishes ordered by the customer - everything else was packaging. This eco-savvy customer asked the manufacturer to use less packaging. Read the customer's letter.

What You Can Do To Help

Ask manufacturers to reduce their packaging.

• Sample letter to manufacturers

Packaging is wasteful and most consumers are fed up! Let manufacturers know that you want to see packaging reduced for the products they sell. Your voice can make a difference. Computer giant Dell recently responded to comments made on their blog page, resulting in major savings in the amount of waste packaging they produce and monetary savings for the company, too!

• Tired of too much packaging? Ask the manufacturer to take it back. One woman's experience: see photo at right and her letter to Anchor Hocking.
  —8/18/09

• 11 Year Old Urges Nintendo to Reduce Packaging —My Desert Sun.com 8/3/09

• Dell Reduces Packaging in Response to Customer Blog Requests
  —BusinessWeek, 12/16/08
  

Reuse your packaging.

Look for packaging that is made from recycled content.

For example, the logo at right tells you that packaging is made of recycled glass.

Policy & Legislation

California

For information on current legislation affecting packaging, see 2010 State Legislation.

OPC Report on Ocean Litter

California's Ocean Protection Council (OPC) has released a final report on reducing ocean litter. The comprehensive report sets EPR as the number one priority for reducing ocean litter caused by plastic packaging.

• Resolution supporting an extended producer responsibility program 4/23/09

Elsewhere

Vermont

Vermont is considering repealing its existing bottle bill and replacing it with an EPR program for all packaging. The report, titled EPR For Packaging In Vermont, was completed 3/26/10 and outlines the limitations of the existing bottle bill and recommends repealing it for a broader EPR policy to address all packaging and increase collection rates.

National

The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) is a collaboration between supply chain partners who promote the value of reusable transport packaging systems across all industries as the preferred packaging solution.

• RPA adopted a policy statement on Product Stewardship Policy and Framework Principles 1/27/10.
• A press release and column for industry magazines was put out March 5, 2010 on the policy statement.
• RPA also signed the CPSC Pledge of Support and became an official Partner!

International

Canada

• Canada proposes federal EPR packaging rule
  
  • Canada-Wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility
    —Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment 2009
  • Canada-Wide Strategy for Sustainable Packaging
    —Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment 2009
  • See International Actions for more information.
• Extended Producer Responsibility Product Evaluation Tool

Europe

• Summary of European Plastic Bag Fees —Peter Sundt, EPRO Senior Advisor, 5/13/09
• EU Report on the Packaging Directive in Europe
  • EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive
• EU Waste Framework Directive
• European Sustainable Consumption and Production Plan

England

UK Recycles Two-Thirds of All Packaging Waste

Germany

Germany's Packaging Ordinance is a comprehensive approach to supply chain management of packaging waste. The Ordinance addresses all aspects and stages of packaging. Highlights include:

• Addresses consumer product and secondary packaging, transport packaging
• Producers have to provide free collection of packaging within a reasonable distance from the consumer
• Producers must take back transport and secondary packaging ON THE SPOT when they make deliveries to retailers.
• Sets high, but achievable collection rates for packaging
• Consumers can remove secondary packaging at the point of sale and the retailer must accept that material for recycling free-of-charge
• Places a deposit on one-way beverage containers, to incentivize the use of refillables
• Very comprehensive in terms of types of packaging included in Ordinance

Summary of Germany's Packaging Ordinance —Baker & MacKenzie Law Firm, Environment Newsletter, 6/08

Resources

• 2009 Report on Toxics and Heavy Metals in Packaging —Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse, 6/30/09

• Charles Moore Video: Plastics in the Ocean

• European Union Packaging Brochure

• FostPlus (21 MB)
  Based in Belgium, FostPlus is a stewardship organization working for product manufacturers to organize the collection of all product packaging. They have the highest collection rates in Europe and achieved 84% collection for recycling of all packaging put on the market.

• Korea: EPR Management of Packaging Waste 2006

• Marine Debris Fact Sheet

• NAPCOR Video on PET Recycling

• Pro Europe: Pro Europe, short for the Packaging Recovery Organisation Europe, was founded in 1995, and is the umbrella organization for European packaging and packaging waste recovery and recycling schemes, which mainly use the "Green Dot" trademark as a financing symbol. In its primary role, PRO EUROPE is the general licensor of the "Green Dot" trademark. It also acts as the authoritative voice and common policy platform representing the interests of all packaging recovery and recycling organizations founded and run by or on behalf of packaging producers.

  • Newsletter —Pro Europe, 5/10

• Synthetic Seas: Plastics in the Ocean —Algalita Marine Research Foundation

• The Rapioli™ Reusable Packaging Story: Rapioli is a packaging product made entirely from PET plastic beverage containers. The innovative use of this recyclable product makes it a great cradle-to-cradle story. According to product designer Ken Eskenazi "the Rapioli won an innovation award from the EPA and a development grant from the California Dept. of Conservation because its use has the potential to divert tons of cardboard and plastic from landfills. Businesses that ship products back and forth within their supply chain can benefit from this product."
  

BEFORE - typical disposable packaging	AFTER - Rapioli reusable packaging

• UK Grocery Chain Reduces Packaging

• White Paper on International Packaging Regulations —State of Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality 7/05

Links

• Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative (WMI)
  The WMI in 2009 reaffirmed its highest priority was reducing trash in the watershed and encouraged local agency involvement in the California Product Stewardship Council and support of EPR for packaging and items that become litter in the watershed.

• California Ocean Protection Council

• National Assoc of PET Container Resources (NAPCOR)

• Glass Packaging Institute

• Sustainable Packaging Coalition
  The Sustainable Packaging Coalition is an industry working group inspired by cradle to cradle principles and dedicated to transforming packaging into a system that encourages economic prosperity and a sustainable flow of materials.
  

• Should you pay for your garbage? "Store packaging accounts for a lot of consumer waste..." — Parade Magazine, 8/24/08

• Reusable Packaging Association

• Use Reusables
  Durable and reusable transport packaging, such as reusable pallets and bins, reduce waste, energy, and GHG emissions and contribute to more efficient and responsible supply chains. This project of StopWaste.Org offers case studies, implementation assistance, and training opportunities to organizations interested in making the switch
  

• Product Policy Institute