Notes
- Over-packaged products incur a hefty toll on the environment as product packaging is usually discarded quickly, ending up in landfills
- While product packaging may seem trivial, it actually has immense impact across the supply chain
- The emphasis on sustainable development and living elicits improvements in every aspect of product development, including packaging
- As discussed in July 2008 issue of HKI, eco-design can be fully applied to packaging; asking questions on what materials are used, how the packaging is manufactured, how it is used and how it is disposed address all the relevant concerns
- Extravagant packaging has become so prevalent in developed countries that unwrapping three layers of plastic and paper to eat a piece of chocolate is a regular practice, not warranting any further thought
- Reducing the amount of packaging, which reduces C02 emission as less power and fuel are used for production and transportation, is conceptually critical in taking the first step towards a sustainable circular economy
- Committing fully towards green consumerism requires comprehensive government support
- Japan which is considered as one of the "greenest" consumer societies on Earth, Japan, stiff penalties, surcharges and taxes coerce producers and consumers to pay careful attention to the amount of packaging produced and disposed
- Brand owners, manufacturers, retailers and consumers, industry associations and NGOs are actively involved to go beyond minimum legal requirements
- Laws therefore are critical in setting up the right framework in which green consumerism can take place, however particular laws are not effective if they stand alone
- For manufacturers and brand owners, besides complying with legal requirements, they have to cater to consumers' demands
- The current economic climate should elicit rethinking of the conventional; product packaging is no exception
- Packaging layers are typically distinguished into primary, secondary and tertiary, where the primary layer directly houses and protects the product, secondary and tertiary layers are the intermediate and exterior layers such as paper and cardboard/plastic sleeves and boxes
- Ultimately, the emphasis should be placed on creative and simplified use of materials
- Cost savings are passed along the supply chain to the downstream and provide savings for consumers, who are inevitably concerned with price
- A glimpse of future developments for green packaging is highlighted by the soon-to-be-released. Comparative Packaging Assessment (COMPASS) software by the US-based Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
- COMPASS is an online application that allows packaging professionals to assess environmental impacts of their packaging designs using a life cycle approach
Summary
There is an issue occurring with the problem of Excessive Product Packaging as it is becoming a nuisance on the environment. These over-packaged products have become a serious issue for supply chains as they have to go through great lengths in order to make these items like how it has become prevalent in developed countries that unwrapping three layers of plastic and paper to eat a piece of chocolate is a regular practice, not warranting any further thought. Reducing the amount of packaging would make a big difference for the environment as it would be able to reduce CO2 emission as less power and fuel are used for production and transportation, is conceptually critical in taking the first step towards a sustainable circular economy. For this to actually by play out, this would require a lot of work to be done to be seen realistically with the government having to support them as well. The plan to make this mission would convince businesses to meet consumer demands in order to satisfy them and eventually would help convert everyone of this matter. Packaging layers are typically distinguished into primary, secondary and tertiary, where the primary layer directly houses and protects the product, secondary and tertiary layers are the intermediate and exterior layers such as paper and cardboard/plastic sleeves and boxes. Many things are being created in order to improve the situation of packaging such as COMPASS which is an online application that allows packaging professionals to assess environmental impacts of their packaging designs using a life cycle approach.
Opinion
In my opinion I was never aware that this was actually an issue at all to be honest but now seeing what can happen, I am now glad that I know about this. I find this is as a problem that can continue to get worse and worse if nothing is done about it and will soon build up. I see that over-packaging is a problem and is a waste of materials as less can be used when creating these products which would leave less materials when disposed of and it may not sound like much when looking at a product but it does indeed pile up. I think that the idea of COMPASS will help the cause and seem to be the ones who are truly motivated by this cause and allowing awareness would help the environment's situation as it does create much difference. I was never aware that packaging contains layers within it but knowing now, it seems that we do need a lot of help for change such as government support because this is a very big job to do.