The Global Protocol on Packaging Sustainability

1. The Global Protocol on Packaging Sustainability Julian Carroll Managing Director EUROPEN European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

2. Sustainability is an essential element of business strategy • But… • Varying perspectives and levels of understanding of sustainability • Use of different metrics to measure sustainability • Packaging protects, preserves, promotes the product. • But… • Consumers perceive over-packaging as a key concern • NGOs and Government view packaging as a key focus area when targeting potential gains to sustainability and a positive impact on the environment Packaging is critical to this strategy Consistent measures of sustainability reduce complexity, costs & enable better results • Better co-ordinated industry action to address the issues around packaging takes out unnecessary costs, inefficient responses and potential consumer confusion • Consumers want consistency of information • Industry needs a common business language and commonly used metrics to address packaging sustainability • Reasons for the project European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

3. Role of Packaging Common definitions and principles Packaging sustainability indicators and metrics Common language to measure the sustainability of packaging …enabling • Better internal decision making • Better trading partner dialogue on packaging improvements • Deliverables Guidance on how to improvesustainability of packaging, covering… Common understanding of packaging’s contribution to sustainability Common understanding of whatsustainabilitymeans for packaging The Global Packaging Project isbased on the EUROPEN/ECR Europe guide «Packaging in the Sustainability Agenda – a guide for corporatedecision-makers» and the indicators and metricsframework of the US Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC). European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

4. Common industry sustainability language, measures and protocols • Academic/ Consultant Support • Quantis • GreenBlue • Innventia • University of Arkansas • University of Minnesota • University of Manchester • Rochester Institute of Technology European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

5. Framework: The Holistic View The Role of Packaging The Principles ofSustainability How Packaging Can Contribute to Improving Sustainability European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

6. The optimal package has the right balance between under- and over-packaging. Negative environmental impact Optimum Pack Design Minimum environmental impact Underpackaging Overpackaging Increasing packaging material use Minimum material Finding balance Diagram courtesy of Innventia AB European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

7. The GPPS Framework • Establishes the principles on which the GPPS is based • Explains the role of packaging • Gives background information • Provides a common language for discussing sustainability European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

8. Protocol Presents the selected metrics and how to use them Includes descriptions, definitions, and examples Gives links and references to relevant existing metrics, methods, and databases European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

9. The approach • Develop a basket of commonly used metrics to facilitate business discussionsthroughout the value chain about the sustainability of packaging systems • Use pre-existing internationally recognisedmetrics where these exist • IncludeEnvironmental, Social and Economic metrics • Build on existing work European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

10. European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

11. Benefits Clear definition of sustainability • Unified approach from industry to sustainability metrics • Cost reduction • Reduced sustainability impacts • Improved consumer perception • Improved decision making • Demonstrate industry-wide leadership for: • Others to emulate • Applying the model to achieve other common goals Holistic approach to Packaging Globally applicable definition of common packaging sustainability indicators and metrics European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

12. GPPS Potential Applications • To inform internal decision making • To allow communication between business partners • To facilitate communication with other stakeholders • To provide overall packaging systems evaluations European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

13. Enabling Different Levels of Business Decisions Examples of Analysis Level 1 Simple analysis, single indicator eg pack weight Level 2 Optimization analysis for a functional unit using multiple indicators Level 3 Comparative analysis of one or more packaging formats/material for same functional unit Level 4 Full system design and analysis to compare packaging formats/material with information on product European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

14. GPPS Communication Role • Can be for Internal or external Communication • For use in marketing or corporate reporting • External communication will require higher level of accuracy, documentation and transparency of data • Observe existing international guidelines for comparative assertions intended for public disclosure eg ISO LCA Standard, ISO Labels and Declaration Standard, FTC Guidelines • GPPS does not replace existing standards European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

15. Where to get it • The GPPS packagehttp://globalpackaging.mycgforum.com/ European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011

16. European Food SCP Round Table Plenary, Brussels 8 December 2011