ANZ
Austria
Brazil
America Latina
France
Germany
Italy
North America
South Africa
Nordics
United Kingdom
Paper Packaging Helps Minimise Environmental Impacts
Paper Packaging Helps Minimise Environmental Impacts
Well-designed, efficiently produced, appropriately used and responsibly disposed-of packaging provides multiple benefits. It is essential to prevent product damage and can help extend a product’s life. It helps improve efficiency in the supply chain and provides safe and convenient access to goods. Packaging communicates vital information to the customer whilst providing a great ‘unboxing experience’ to those receiving gifts or luxury items. However, poor material choices are damaging to both brands and the planet.
The impact on the environment caused by discarded man-made materials has reached critical levels.
Packaging is responsible for a high proportion of waste which, when carelessly disposed of, ends up in the wrong place. Packaging generates more plastic waste than the next four biggest industrial sectors combined.
As consumers become more environmentally conscious and hold businesses and their packaging standards to account, the hope is that companies will be incentivised to produce and package more responsibly.[1]
There is now a greater need than ever for packaging to be sustainable throughout its life cycle. Packaging should incorporate eco-design at its inception, use responsibly sourced raw materials, and be manufactured using efficient processes that are driven by renewable energy.
Packaging should be re-used or recycled wherever possible, then sent to the most appropriate end-of-life solution, such as incineration for energy generation or composting.
Individuals, businesses, governments, public bodies and non-governmental organisations all need to work together to find innovative solutions to meet the ever-increasing need for sustainable packaging products.
Paper packaging is part of the solution. Paper packaging is made from wood fibre, a renewable resource that originates from sustainably managed forests.
In the paper manufacturing process, bioenergy’s share of total industry energy use has increased to 62.5%, making the paper and board industry the largest industrial producer and user of renewable energy in Europe.[2]
Paper packaging is the most recycled of all packaging materials. Packaging uses more recycled paper than any other end product and, when combined with virgin paper, ensures a continuous, regenerative ‘paper cycle’.
Sustainably sourced paper packaging is also well aligned with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainability Goals.
We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.
View Our Other Myths & Facts
