Sustainable Packing Lecturer Jorma J Imppola Summer School

Sustainable Packing Lecturer: Jorma J. Imppola Summer School 2015 Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences Seinäjoki Finland 1

Lecture Content Background The packing requirements and recycling possibilities Existing recycling infrastructure Internal package External package Sustainable package Garbage patches 2

Background The package is the only thing preventing damage during the whole transportation. It is also mostly in the hands of the sending company itself. If the company is not fully aware of the correct way of packing because of the peculiarity etc. of the product, information can be obtained from packing companies, literature, insurance companies, packing consultants etc. It is not rational to use over measured or especially under measured transportation package. From the forwarders point of view, the package is never too strong. 3

Background One of the criteria to receive insurance compensation in the case of an accident is that the goods are properly packed, protected and equipped to tolerate normal transportation stresses. Serious consideration must be paid by the sender to the selection of the transportation package in order to find feasible package for both domestic and international transportation. The same package seldom suits all kinds of different transportation forms and stresses. 4

The packing requirements and recycling possibilities The packing requirements include the limitations or presuppositions for the use of recycled materials or recyclable packages. Also the trade, the properties of the products and the consumers create their own requirements for the package. The recycling possibilities of the package after the first use effect the choice of the package type. When choosing the package system the effects of the whole life cycle of the package should be considered. 5

Existing recycling infrastructure When comparing the different alternatives, the existing infrastructure, which makes the recycling possible, must be considered. The recycling markings on the package are misleading if there is no recycling system for the material. A waste disposal system IS NOT a recycling system. 6

Internal package The transportation package can be divided into an outer and inner package. The functions of the inner package are: To act as a buffer for example in machinery and equipment packages, To absorb into itself the leakage of the product. (If the goods may leak during the transportation the inner package has to be able to absorb it), To be as a wrapping or consumer package. (A plastic bag prevents external humidity or dust penetrating into the product but at the same time it preserves the product's own moisture), Usually the internal package, which is also the consumer package, cannot be set on the shop shelf after damage despite the product itself possibly being intact, To create a controlled "climate" around the product. 7

External package The main function of the external package is to protect the material from transportation stresses. If the product is likely to be stolen, revealing information about the sender or receiver must not be marked on the transportation package. Instead abbreviations or codes must be used. If the external package reveals something about the nature of the contents, the outsiders may be interested in the goods. 8

External package The aspects affecting the selection of the external package are: The measurement must be chosen according to suitable standard. Machines must be bolted to the base. The package must tolerate pushing and pulling on the floor. Long objects must be reinforced to endure the twisting of lifting. The packages of the soft material must endure the pressure of the lifting and supporting equipment and the weight of the material loaded on top. The package and the product must be suitable for each other so that the package does not damage the product. The availability, recyclability and destructibility of the package must be taken into consideration. 9

External package It is advised that the sender pack the goods so that they can be handled with machines and they are measured according to the measures of selected transportation vehicle. Materials must not exceed the pallet dimensions but should not be too small for the pallet. The condition of the pallets must be inspected thoroughly before use, so nails or exceedingly moist wood do not threat the condition of the goods during the transportation. 10

External package The pallet must be measured according to the roughest phase of the transportation chain. Swifter material handling, fewer damages and lower handling costs at terminals and harbours can easily save the costs incurred because of suitable packing. The sender knows best the properties and special requirements of the goods, so if the sender has outsourced the packing all the relevant information must be given to the packing company. 11

Sustainable package Sustainable packaging is an approach toward product packaging that considers the full environmental impact of the production and disposal of the packaging material. A sustainable package will generate less waste than conventional packaging. It will also be manufactured from materials that use the least amount of nonrecyclable material. For example, rather than use newly made plastic wrappers, it may use recycled paper. And it will be manufactured using processes that use the least amount of energy possible. 12

Sustainable package 7 R: s Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Renew(able), Recycle(able), Revenue, Read These are the original 7 R's of Sustainable Packaging defined by Wal-Mart when it introduced its Packaging Scorecard at Pack Expo 2006. The list was later shortened to: Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Renew, Recycle The mega-retailer has since shortened the list even more to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but also added a new term, Rethink, to encourage companies to always remember to consider smarter sustainable options. 13

Sustainable package While sustainable packaging isn't a difficult concept to understand, it is still quite a complex concept: Is it replacing a rigid container with a pouch? Is it removing a carton and letting a toothpaste tube stand on its own on a shelf? Is it creating one bulk pack instead of multiple single-serve items? Is it using PET instead of PVC because PET can be easily recycled? Is it changing from a round to a square container to be more cube efficient? Is it faster set-up times on the packaging line to minimise the amount of product and packaging waste? Yes, it's all of this - and more. 14

Sustainable package Sustainable packaging is no longer focused on just recycling. Just as packaging is not the only eco target, it is still a priority for many. Right or wrong, packaging is frequently scrutinised and used as the measure of a company's overall sustainability, even though it may contribute only a small percentage to the total eco impact compared to other things, such as transportation, and water and energy use. 15

Sustainable package Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle. Meets market criteria for performance and cost. Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy. Optimises the use of renewable or recycled source materials. Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices. Is made from materials healthy throughout the life cycle. Is physically designed to optimise materials and energy. Is effectively recovered and utilised in biological and/or industrial closed loop cycles. 16

Epic failure: Garbage patches While "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is a term often used by the media, it does not paint an accurate picture of the marine debris problem in the North Pacific ocean. Marine debris concentrates in various regions of the North Pacific, not just in one area. The exact size, content, and location of the "garbage patches" are difficult to accurately predict. Garbage patches have been found at Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and even in the Mediterranean Sea. 17

The Pacific Garbage Patch 18

The Pacific Garbage Patch The name "Pacific Garbage Patch" has led many to believe that this area is a large and continuous patch of easily visible marine debris items such as bottles and other litter — akin to a literal island of trash that should be visible by satellite or aerial photography. This is not the case. While higher concentrations of litter items can be found in this area, much of the debris is actually small pieces of floating plastic that are not immediately evident to the naked eye. Ocean debris is continuously mixed by wind and wave action and widely dispersed both over huge surface areas and throughout the top portion of the water column. 19

The Pacific Garbage Patch It is possible to sail through "garbage patch" areas in the Pacific and see very little or no debris on the water's surface. It is also difficult to estimate the size of these "patches, " because the borders and content constantly change with ocean currents and winds. Regardless of the exact size, mass, and location of the "garbage patch, " manmade debris does not belong in our oceans and waterways and must be addressed. 20

The Atlantic Garbage Patch 21

Thanks for your attention 22