How low can we go?
Mathew Prosser, Commercial Director for DS Smith Recycling shares, 'Packaging has gained itself a bad reputation amongst consumers, but in many ways this is an unfair assessment. Packaging is necessary to get goods to store in the condition that customers expect them. The retail supply chain moves millions of products each year and therefore packaging needs to be robust to withstand the multitude of movements they go through to reach our homes.'
Despite the negativity, the UK’s approach to packaging is actually one of the best. We use less packaging per person than all other major Western European countries. Meanwhile, waste caused by product damage is less than three per cent whereas in less well developed parts of the world this figure can be as high as 50 per cent. Furthermore, the corrugated cardboard that accounts for around 30 per cent of packaging is also extremely sustainable, containing on average 75 per cent recycled paper, with around 84 per cent of corrugated packaging is recycled after use.
Retailers and manufacturers have made some important achievements in reducing excess packaging. For example, the packaging used for Easter eggs has been reduced by at least 25 per cent in recent years. In the supply chain, new designs of corrugated packaging have enabled sturdier boxes which can go direct from manufacturer to shelf and changes to box dimensions have allowed more items to be carried at one time, making a significant reduction to carbon emissions and vehicle movements.
Rather than maligning packaging, the industry, retailers and consumers should be focusing on the important role that packaging plays in the supply chain and the significant achievements that have been made in meeting consumer demands for eliminating excess packaging. Indeed, greater focus should be placed on the amount of produce that doesn’t even make it into the supply chain because it doesn’t meet retailer specification and customer expectation. Bring back wonky, odd coloured fruit and veg!!
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E2B Pulse is the UK carbon reduction network.
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