We are reaching out to waste management companies as we want to develop a holistic carbon footprint software solution for the End of Life of packaging. Our aim is to enable businesses and consumers to make informed, sustainable decisions about packaging.
End of life is a topical subject within the packaging industry, and will continue to be so for some time. This part of the supply chain relates to the process of how waste is disposed of, whether that is recycled or re-used, incinerated, or dumped into landfill. At Benchmark, we are particularly interested in the packaging End of Life process, in fact we are so interested that we are trying to figure out how we can successfully and granularly measure the carbon emissions in the End of Life part of the supply chain. Having the ability to do this will provide a much better picture of the whole carbon footprint for the different packaging materials and processes.
Currently, our waste management systems do not allow for a circular economy. Much of the packaging that we produce is not recyclable, or not widely recycled which results in it being sent to landfill or to be incinerated, both being extremely harmful to our environment. Burying or burning packaging, which is made from our precious raw materials (for example, plastic is made from oil), means taking it out of use, which in turn creates demand for more production. The idea of a circular economy, championed by Ellen MacArthur, sailor and environmental activist, aims to create an economy in which there is no waste, and materials are re-used, recycled, and reduced. This idea is the optimal outcome for our environment as it would result in a significant reduction in both waste materials and carbon emissions from the production process.
Recycling rates are increasing in the UK, with an average yearly rate of around 45%. However, shockingly, a report from the National Geographic Society and Great Britain’s Royal Statistical Society in 2018 stated that 91% of plastic never actually makes it to a recycling plant. 12% of that figure accounted for its incineration, which leaves a remaining 79% still somewhere in our environment. The practice of recycling however is growing with increased awareness for the need for and benefit of recycling. Although, parallel to this, our population also continues to increase – more people means more waste! Many materials can be recycled: tin, aluminium, paper, plastic and glass, and information on pack aims to educate the consumer as to which and where materials can be recycled. However, with the UK’s average yearly recycling rate being around 30% lower than that of Germany, Austria, and South Korea (around 60-70%), there is clearly a long road to be travelled.
Recycling prevents rubbish from entering our environment, but it does also use energy. There is no doubt that recycling and re-using are the most environmentally-friendly End of Life processes. Having the ability to track our progress and measure the carbon emissions released at End of Life whilst we work towards a more circular economy will enable brands, manufacturers, and consumers alike to make more holistic sustainable decisions. Ultimately, whilst recycling is vital, the main threat regarding climate change is carbon emissions, which is why it is important that we can measure the CO2e released in the End of Life stage. As of yet, no one has been able to model carbon emissions at End of Life.
At Benchmark, we are keen to create such a model to carbon footprint the End of Life stage. We are working hard to create an accurate measurement model that operates at a granular level. To enable this development, we are looking to work with waste management companies, as they sort waste and drive sorted materials down differing methods at End of Life. As this is a new venture for the packaging industry, our research is supported by the University of Nottingham.
If you work in waste management, we would love to hear from you. Please get in contact with us if you would like to help drive a better, more circular economy!
E: enquiries@benchmark-consulting.co.uk
Some of this information was extracted from: https://www.recyclingbins.co.uk/recycling-facts/
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