Why is Packaging so Complex?

The packaging production process is complex, but we don’t want to bore you with the ins and outs of it, so in this blog, my aim is to highlight why, and why you should care about the environmental effects of the packaging that you use.

If produced without consideration for the environment, packaging can be damaging. Poor waste management means that end-of-life packaging is discarded at both landfill and incineration sites, and plastics are finding their way into our rivers and oceans, damaging our sea life and polluting our water supply. Waste is a behavioural problem within society and if we are to move towards a better future for our planet, it needs managing effectively through better recycling schemes.

There is already a large conversation regarding waste and recycling, however the real threat is global warming which is a result of our increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The CO₂e impact of packaging production directly contributes to global warming, therefore businesses need to make more sustainable decisions to reduce their impact on the environment when producing packaging. There needs to be a greater conversation around the emissions that are released in the production of packaging if we are to move towards becoming a sustainable society.

Previously, there has been a lack of CO₂e transparency in packaging materials due to the complex nature of collecting the data. However, A life cycle analysis of the packaging process requires various pieces of data, e.g., raw materials, machinery usage, and transport. Benchmark’s new CO₂e calculator and carbon labelling service is first-to-market, and aims to provide the consumer with carbon transparency and the ability to actively reduce their carbon footprint when shopping. Packaging is complex as it is derived from many materials, processes and energy. Below are just some insights into why the complexities of the process.