Packaging material life cycles

1. PowerPoint six Packaging material life cycles

2. Packaging material life cycle Stage 1 Designing The process that describes how packaging materials are created, manufactured, used and disposed of, recycled or re-used. Each stage has potential economic, social and environmental costs and benefits. Stage 8 Disposing Stage 2 Extracting Stage 7 Using Stage 3 Manufacturing Stage 6 Retailing Stage 4 Filling Stage 5 Distributing

3. Stage 1: Designing The designer creates a plan for packaging that meets the functional requirements like cost and durability, as well as sustainable design principles or criteria. • What are the • economic • human, and • environmental • costs and benefits at this stage? Why is this the most critical stage in sustainable packaging?

4. Stage 2: Extracting The raw materials are harvested from renewable sources like forests, or mined from the earth, in the case of metals or oil-based plastics. • What are the • economic • human, and • environmental • costs and benefits at this stage?

5. Stage 3: Manufacturing Machinery, energy and water are typically involved in the processes that turn raw materials like wood, aluminium and oil into packaging materials like paper, tin and plastic; and then turn these materials into boxes, bottles, bags and other forms of packaging. • What are the • economic • human, and • environmental • costs and benefits at this stage?

6. Stage 4: Filling Both machines and human labour are involved in placing products in primary packaging, placing primary packages in secondary packaging and stacking and securing secondary packaging on transit pallets. • What are the • economic • human, and • environmental • costs and benefits at this stage?

7. Stage 5: Distributing When the products are packaged, they are moved into warehouses for storage and/or transported to the customer for use or retail. Some products require controlled storage environments, like refrigeration. • What are the • economic • human, and • environmental • costs and benefits at this stage?

8. Stage 6: Retailing Most packaged products are sold through retailers. Products may have special storage and display requirements, like refrigeration, and may have a limited shelf life. • What are the • economic • human, and • environmental • costs and benefits at this stage?

9. Stage 7: Using Once purchased by a consumer, packaging may provide short- or long-term storage for the product. It may feature directions for product use and package recycling. • What are the • economic • human, and • environmental • costs and benefits at this stage?

10. Stage 8: Disposing When the packaging is no longer needed, it can be re-used, recycled, sent to landfill or incinerated for energy recovery. • What are the • economic • human, and • environmental • costs and benefits at this stage?