QUANTIFYING THE VALUE OF SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

The sustainability movement is a significant motivator for brands to consider redesign of their packaging. Often, the objective is to transition to a laminate that can serve a second a life through recycling or compost. However, reducing the complexity of the laminate, using less materials, seeking responsible sourcing, simplifying the supply chain, or lowering cost are often additional motivators. With all the different options to consider and the lack of any industry standards and regulations, how does a brand quantify the value of sustainable packaging? Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is one of the tools that measures the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. The LCA tracks the resources required to produce a product from resource extraction through disposal. Two categories of LCA analysis can be conducted including both Cradle to Gate and Cradle to Grave. The main differentiator between the two is that the Cradle to Grave includes both the use stage and end of life considerations as shown in the figure below.

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