Packaging for people, planet and profit - A sustainability checklist
Produced jointly with INCPEN, this checklist will help companies choose and optimise their packaging systems in order to continuously improve the sustainability of their value chains.
It provides practical guidance for companies to improve resource efficiency at
all stages of a packaged product's journey while ensuring that the essential
functionality of the packaging is not compromised.
While including references to relevant regulation and guidance, the checklist
also encourages companies to go above and beyond legal requirements.
We would value feedback on the guidance, including whether it has been of
benefit to your organisation.
Foreword - Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey
Our packaging industry plays a critical role in
protecting and preserving the goods the UK
produces. But in the food sector, the industry
also has an essential role in preventing waste.
So it's crucial we continue to explore
opportunities to ensure packaging is not
only effective, but is also sustainable and
recyclable where possible. I hope the Checklist
will help to drive future innovation.
We have made great progress in boosting
recycling rates and making more packaging
recyclable, and we continue to see exciting
innovation in this area. But there is still much
more to be done to increase sustainability
across the supply chain – from producers and
into the home.
That's why it is so encouraging to see food and
drink manufacturers, packaging companies
and retailers working together on the Wrap
Framework for Greater Consistency in
Household Recycling, sharing a vision to make
recycling at home significantly easier for the
wider public.
This framework is a strong development
towards a more sustainable future, helping
to increase resource efficiency and waste
prevention, while contributing to an overall
reduction in carbon use.
A whole chain effort is needed to truly
succeed, and we must all make the best use
of our resources – that is why I welcome these
initiatives and the work of the Food and Drink
Federation and INCPEN to help us make
supply chains more resource-efficient and
better protect our environment.
Download the packaging checklist for businesses
Last reviewed: 08 Mar 2017