Sustainability
Sustainability is a major focus of activity for the Packaging Council of Australia (PCA).
The Board of the PCA - comprising the leaders of Australia's packaging industry - released a statement in May 2007 entitled "Towards Sustainable Packaging ".
Climate change, greenhouse gases, water and energy usage are all issues provoking concern about the sustainability of our lifestyles. Sustainability has quickly become a "mainstream" issue. While packaging is not the major focus of the debate, it is inevitably being affected by it.
David Perchard put it well when, in a recent paper he prepared for the PCA, he noted that:
"Prompted largely by a growing realisation that climate change (whatever the causes) is a reality, there has been a sudden growth of interest in sustainability. Our sources of oil and gas are looking increasingly unstable, and this moved resource conservation up the agenda - what happens if (or when) we can no longer obtain enough oil to meet our needs? The conjunction of these concerns has led to a public acceptance that lifestyle issues have to be addressed - which brings us back to the role of packaging in society and whether it needs to be curbed."
The PCA Statement is direct and challenging. It does not amount to "business as usual" and nor is it "window dressing." It reflects the Board's view that such an approach will only inflict damage on the industry and companies in the packaging supply chain. The industry has a solid record of environmental achievement and needs to build on it. The initiatives outlined will, inevitably, take us well beyond the scope of the Covenant. The task ahead is to put "flesh on the bones" of the Statement and deliver real outcomes.
A comprehensive program of actions is being undertaken to implement the Strategy. The major elements are as follows:
(1) Report on "The State of Sustainable Packaging in Australia"
The aim of this Report released in July 2008, was to benchmark the performance of Australian packaging on sustainability, to document the progress made towards sustainable packaging and to compare our performance with international practice.
Read Report .
(2) Australian Packaging – Real Examples of Change and Innovation
Now in its fourth edition, to be released late February/ early March 2010, this booklet continues to feature specific examples of packaging changes and innovations.
The fourth edition will showcase products and their packaging that have been designed, developed and produced either to reduce their environmental impact or which incorporate significant innovation aspects.
The environmental aspects focus on the reduced use of resources to make the packaging, reducing waste, improving recycling, taking steps to eliminate litter and/or cutting greenhouse emissions.
The entries focusing on innovation are products that increase consumer acceptability, enhance ease of use and demonstrate a significant benefit in the marketplace.
View Previous Editions
The Board of the PCA - comprising the leaders of Australia's packaging industry - released a statement in May 2007 entitled "
Climate change, greenhouse gases, water and energy usage are all issues provoking concern about the sustainability of our lifestyles. Sustainability has quickly become a "mainstream" issue. While packaging is not the major focus of the debate, it is inevitably being affected by it.
David Perchard put it well when, in a recent paper he prepared for the PCA, he noted that:
"Prompted largely by a growing realisation that climate change (whatever the causes) is a reality, there has been a sudden growth of interest in sustainability. Our sources of oil and gas are looking increasingly unstable, and this moved resource conservation up the agenda - what happens if (or when) we can no longer obtain enough oil to meet our needs? The conjunction of these concerns has led to a public acceptance that lifestyle issues have to be addressed - which brings us back to the role of packaging in society and whether it needs to be curbed."
The PCA Statement is direct and challenging. It does not amount to "business as usual" and nor is it "window dressing." It reflects the Board's view that such an approach will only inflict damage on the industry and companies in the packaging supply chain. The industry has a solid record of environmental achievement and needs to build on it. The initiatives outlined will, inevitably, take us well beyond the scope of the Covenant. The task ahead is to put "flesh on the bones" of the Statement and deliver real outcomes.
A comprehensive program of actions is being undertaken to implement the Strategy. The major elements are as follows:
(1) Report on "The State of Sustainable Packaging in Australia"
The aim of this Report released in July 2008, was to benchmark the performance of Australian packaging on sustainability, to document the progress made towards sustainable packaging and to compare our performance with international practice.
(2) Australian Packaging – Real Examples of Change and Innovation
Now in its fourth edition, to be released late February/ early March 2010, this booklet continues to feature specific examples of packaging changes and innovations.
The fourth edition will showcase products and their packaging that have been designed, developed and produced either to reduce their environmental impact or which incorporate significant innovation aspects.
The environmental aspects focus on the reduced use of resources to make the packaging, reducing waste, improving recycling, taking steps to eliminate litter and/or cutting greenhouse emissions.
The entries focusing on innovation are products that increase consumer acceptability, enhance ease of use and demonstrate a significant benefit in the marketplace.
View Previous Editions
