OUGD603 / Extended Practice - PART 2 Design Publication: Sustainable packaging definition.

OUGD603.
DESIGN PUBLICATION. 
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING DEFINITION.


I found the article below really useful as it spoke more about the production side of considerations, ensuring that as designers we are considering how our designs will be produced once they leave us. I had done a lot of research into sustainable branding and its relationship with consumers for my dissertation, however this focused more on the aesthetics of design rather than the production stages. I often found that the discoveries I made whilst writing my dissertation were evidenced through out the article and related to production. I also found a useful and simple criteria within the article that sustainable packaging design should be compared to for thorough consideration. 

ARTICLE

A vision for sustainable packaging:

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition® (SPC), a project of GreenBlue® , envisions a world where all packaging is sourced responsibly, designed to be effective and safe throughout its life cycle, meets market criteria for performance and cost, is made entirely using renewable energy, and once used, is recycled efficiently to provide a valuable resource for subsequent generations. In summary: a true a closed loop system for all packaging materials


Criteria for sustainable packaging:

A. Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle 
B. Meets market criteria for performance and cost 
C. Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy 
D. Optimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials 
E. Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices 
F. Is made from materials healthy throughout the life cycle 
G. Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy 
H. Is effectively recovered and utilised in biological and/or industrial closed loop cycles 


The use of recycled or bio-based and renewable materials from well-managed sources can contribute to sustainable material flows and help ensure the availability of materials for future generations.


In addition to “profitability” the other two pillars of sustainability—social equity and the environment—are growing areas of corporate focus. 



Sustainable packaging design considers the full life cycle of the package, recognizes the principle of Shared Product Responsibility,5 and consequently seeks to minimize the total packaging system cost through efficient and safe package life cycle design. 



Relevance to packaging:

Packaging allows marketing and product differentiation and educates and informs the consumer. At the same time, the procurement, production, transport, and disposal of packaging can have negative consequences for both the environment and societies around the globe. The SPC believes that through intelligent packaging and system design, it is possible to “design out” the potential negative impact of packaging on the environment and societies. 



Made from materials healthy through out the life cycle:

Packaging may use or contain certain chemicals that result in the unintended release of harmful substances during the life cycle of the package. While these chemicals are typically utilized in small amounts, the scale and quantity of packaging and associated wastes can render them significant. Ensuring all ingredients—including additives, inks, adhesives, and coatings—are safe for human and environmental health throughout their life cycle is a vital aspect of sustainable packaging design. 


Physically designed to optimize materials and energy:

Typically a company designs packaging to meet critical cost, performance, marketing, and regulatory requirements. Sustainable design for packaging starts with informed material selection, a clear understanding of performance requirements, and adds consideration of life cycle impacts. These include: energy use over the life of the package, impact of materials in all end-of-life scenarios, and appropriateness of the package design to facilitate material recovery. Other factors that should be considered in the design phase are consumer behavior and the variation of established recovery systems by market.