Sustainable packaging systems LUND UNIVERSITY URBAN ARENA, MARCH 5, 2013

Henrik Pålsson Assistant Professor Packaging Logistics

Lund University / Faculty of Engineering / Packaging Logistics / 2011

Packaging Logistics

Division of Packaging Logistics

Packaging Logistics Packaging Logistics

Sustainability A systems approach

Innovation Integrated product/package development

Traceability Supply chains (mainly food)

Logistics Service Management At Campus Helsingborg

Specialized in

Our focus

Handle, Tranport, Store, Distribute.

Logistics

Sell, Differentiate, Promote, MarketingMake profit,Provide value.

Reduce,

Environment Reuce,

Recovery,Disposal.

Production/Manufacturing

Produce, Make, Assemble, Fill.

Packaging LogisticsPlan, implement & control.

Packaging systemProtect, contain, preserve,

unitise, communicateand convenience

Packaging logistics effects on the urban arena

• Product waste – shelf life, material etc.

• Transport and distribution (fill rate, co-loading, handling, transport)

• E-trade

• Sustainable city logistics

• Sustainable freight transport

• Role of companies

• Difficult to separate the urban area from other areas

An example of product and package requirements

Hållbar butik: Ramverk med hållbarhetsaspekter som värderas i försörjningskedjor

1. Minska spill av produkt med skyddande förpackning

2. Optimera förpackningsstorlekar baserat på kund och konsumentkrav

3. Maximera fyllnadsgrad i transport och lagring, genom mindre luft i förpackningar

4. Optimera materialåtgång och materialegenskaper

5. Förbättra livskvalitet med bättre mer användarvänliga förpackningar

6. Informera användarna.

Reduce carbon footprint and costs

• Evaluate packaging systems – e.g. Volvo case • Great cost saving opportunities – e.g. Glimma

Source: World Economic Forum report

Savings at Boxon Current average fill rate: 72 %.

20% of the most frequent materials analysed.

Changes of layer pattern configuration of 8 materials.

Redefine pallet heights to 1300 mm.

10% increase in fill rate

Annual savings around 92.000 € (10% of the total transportation expenses).

Annual total emissions reduction is 14%.

Customer

Innovative packaging material

Ketchup and mayonnaise

A sustainability dilemma from a company perspective

• Economic effectiveness – The amount of produced and distributed products that

are sold.

• Environmental effectiveness: – The amount of produced, distributed and sold

products that are completely used for their purpose.

A FOOD PERSPECTIVE

Role of packaging for sustainable development

Good for the environment with:

1. Less packaging?

2. Local sourcing/production?

3. Less complicated packaging?

4. What role does the best before date on packaging play for food waste?

QR scanning for traceability

Part 2: The role of packaging for prevention of product waste in food supply chains

Katrin Molina-Besch PhD student Packaging Logistics

Food Waste Facts

• In Europe 20-30% of the total environmental impact from consumption is a related to food production (Tukker and Jansen, 2006).

• Roughly one-third of the edible parts of food that is produced for human consumption globally gets lost or wasted (FAO, 2011).

• In developed countries > 40 % of food losses occur at the retail and consumer phase while in developing countries, > 40 % of produced food is lost at in early stages of the supply chain, due to managerial & technical limitations (e.g. harvesting techniques, packaging, marketing systems) (FAO, 2011).

Package & Product LCA: Yoghurt

Source: “LCA of yoghurt packed in polystyrene cup and aluminum based lidding” S. Büsser, N. Jungbluth, ESU-services Ltd., commissioned by German Aluminum Association 2009.

Packaging and Food Waste

• 20-25% of the food wasted at Swedish households can be related to packaging (too large packaging, difficult to empty packaging, too little protection, difficult to store correctly or reseal) (Williams et al. (2012)).

• 36% of consumers in UK interpret a “best before” date as a “use by” date, which leads them to throw away edible food (WRAP, 2008).

• Possibilties to improve packaging to preserve food waste: application of new generation time-temperature indicators (TTI), implementation of innovative portion/ready-to-serve packaging, new developments in resealing/reclosing & information to increase awareness of correct food storage (WRAP, 2007).

Packaging, Food Waste and Sustainable Urban Development

• We have to transport food into cities.

• We have to distribute food within cities.

• We have to store food in cities.

• We have to collect, transport and treat food waste from stores and households in cities.

• We have to collect, transport and treat packaging waste from stores and households in cities.

Let’s start to focus here!

Questions for discussion

• Packaging – a possibility to decrease food waste in cities or part of the problem?

• Developed countries and developing countries: how can packaging systems help to decrease food waste in cities in different parts of the world?

• How can we change the perspective on packaging: from being a problem to become an opportunity?

Part 3: Overcoming Consumer & Supplier Challenges

Helena Lindh PhD student Packaging Logistics

Consumers are interested in more sustainable packaging

They are even willing to pay more for it

However: They do not know what a sustainable package is…

Source: Erlöv et. al 2000

A more holistic view is needed…

… How do we reach it?

Consumers’ main environmental concern regarding packaging is dominated by its material.

A change is needed…

Companies are guided by tradition

Smal and medium sized companies especially: - Lack financial resources - Lack power to influence packaging or product suppliers - Do not reach volumes required for company speciffic solutions - Lack packaging related knowledge - Lack knowledge regarding existing suppliers and solutions

… Who actually have the power to make things happen?