U N I T 3 NEW PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES In this Unit we focus on packaging sustainability using environmentally-sensitive methods, including energy efficiency, recyclable and biodegradable materials, reusability and much more. We will find out about the Life Cycle Assessment and the 3 R s green arrowed triangle logo. Good things come in small packages (proverb) A. SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING Sustainability is the ability to last. In ecology the word describes how biological systems remain different and dynamic over time. Long-lived and healthy wetlands and forests are helpful examples of sustainable biological systems. For humans, sustainability is the potential for long-term preservation of well-being, which has ecological, economic, political and cultural dimensions. Sustainability requires the understanding of environmental, social equity and economic demands. Sustainability means the ability of humanity to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. 1 Sustainable packaging is the development of packaging that can be used with minimal long-term effects on the environment. At the stage of design it involves an increased study of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to help guide the use of packaging which reduces the environmental impact and ecological footprint and that requires a look at the whole of the supply chain: from basic function to marketing and then through to the end of life and a new start of the product. The aims are to advance the long term viability and quality of life for humans and the longevity of natural ecosystems. Sustainable packaging is a further new development strictly connected to ecological considerations; it is mainly based on the analysis of the design, on the choice and the use of material, on the processing, and on the management and disposal of raw material. Sustainable packaging involves looking at the entire delivery sequence. It must be sourced in a responsible way, using renewable resources and conserving energy. The design of the package must be effective and safe. Sustainability is not just about the environment: packages must meet the market criteria for performance and cost. Finally, at the end of its lifecycle, a sustainable package must be recyclable or biodegradable. Companies enforcing these eco-friendly performances are reducing their carbon footprint, using more recycled materials, re-using more package components, and minimizing plastic derivatives. 1 From Our Common Future , The World Commission on Environment & Development, 1987. 140