The most sustainable packaging is not what you think

Summary

Joseline Eret challenges perceptions about packaging, emphasizing its critical role in sustainability. She argues that packaging is essential for preserving and transporting goods, and that plastic is often unfairly blamed for environmental issues. Eret advocates for a balanced approach to packaging, focusing on the right materials and reducing waste, particularly invisible waste in e-commerce. She stresses the importance of considering air, water, and food resources when making packaging choices and highlights the need for both circular and 'filling' economies to minimize environmental impact. The ultimate goal is to make informed, sustainable packaging decisions for a better future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Packaging is often viewed as wasteful, but it plays a crucial role in preserving and transporting products, which is often overlooked in sustainability discussions.
• 🌍 The choice of packaging material has a major impact on environmental factors like air pollution, water usage, and land preservation, all of which are vital for human survival.
• 💡 The debate between single-use versus reusable packaging is more complex than it appears. Single-use plastics sometimes have significant advantages, like saving lives in medical and food safety contexts.
• 🔄 The circular economy alone isn't enough to solve packaging waste problems. A 'filling economy' that reduces invisible waste—such as excess packaging space—is essential.
• ♻️ Mismanaged waste, rather than the material itself, is the primary issue when it comes to packaging and sustainability.
• 🔬 The science of lifecycle analysis (LCA) helps in evaluating the environmental impact of packaging, but it is complex, assumptions-based, and may not always provide accurate guidance in a changing climate.
• ⏳ The 'rule of three' for human survival (3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 months without food) should guide decisions about packaging materials that minimize negative impacts on air, water, and food resources.
• 🏷️ Packaging is a key component in e-commerce, where its complexity increases due to the need for performance in transport and the importance of a positive consumer experience.
• 🛑 Some bans on plastic, like those in France, may have unintended social consequences, such as making it harder for low-income people to access affordable food packaging.
• 🌱 Choosing the right packaging material is not just about sustainability—it is also about protecting food, minimizing waste, and considering factors like water and land use in packaging production.

Q & A

Why do people perceive packaging as wasteful and unnecessary?

People often perceive packaging as wasteful because of the increasing amount of waste it generates, especially when improperly managed. The misconception arises from the incorrect use of materials and the environmental damage caused by single-use packaging, leading to public bans and a negative view of packaging.

What is the main challenge for packaging in the next few years?

The main challenge for packaging in the coming years is to avoid visible waste from over-packaged products and invisible waste from excess space in packaging. At the same time, the packaging industry must reduce costs and enhance consumer experience.

Why is the circular economy not enough to solve packaging waste problems?

The circular economy alone is not sufficient because it primarily focuses on recycling and reusing materials. To truly reduce waste, we need a 'filling economy,' which aims to minimize invisible waste such as unnecessary empty spaces in packaging, reducing material usage and carbon emissions.

How does packaging contribute to preserving resources?

Packaging plays a crucial role in preserving resources by protecting food, reducing spoilage, and preventing waste. Choosing the right packaging material helps preserve air quality, water sources, and land for food production, all of which are critical as global resources become increasingly limited.

What role does packaging play in food preservation?

Packaging helps preserve food by protecting it from contamination and decay, extending shelf life, and maintaining safety during transportation. Proper packaging is essential for reducing food waste, which can sometimes cost more than packaging waste itself.

What impact has the war on plastic had on packaging materials?

The war on plastic has led to significant challenges for the packaging industry, with a shift away from plastic towards alternative materials. While this has led to positive changes like using recyclable and compostable materials, it has also sparked issues with bans, taxes on non-recycled plastics, and social implications, particularly for lower-income consumers.

What is the relationship between packaging and e-commerce?

In e-commerce, packaging is more complex because it needs to protect products during transit, enhance the consumer experience, and ensure the product reaches the customer in good condition. Additionally, packaging must be carefully managed to avoid excess waste, as poor packaging can lead to customer dissatisfaction and negative social media posts.

How can invisible waste in packaging be minimized?

Invisible waste in packaging can be minimized by reducing the size of the packaging material to fit the product more precisely, thereby lowering the amount of raw material used, reducing carbon emissions, and avoiding unnecessary transportation costs. Smaller packaging also helps decrease the environmental impact by lowering micro-particle emissions.

Why is water use an important consideration in packaging decisions?

Water use is a critical factor in packaging decisions because it is a finite resource that is under increasing pressure in many parts of the world. Reusable packaging may require water for cleaning, which could exacerbate water scarcity issues. Therefore, packaging choices must consider minimizing water usage.

What does the 'rule of the street' refer to in the context of packaging sustainability?

The 'rule of the street' refers to the basic human needs of air, water, and food. In packaging, this principle suggests that packaging decisions should prioritize reducing air pollution, water usage, and land competition for food production, in line with the three crucial needs for human survival.