Sustainability in Packaging: A Glossary of Terms
Sustainability in Packaging: A Glossary of Terms
When it comes to describing our environmental commitments and achievements, Unipack’s sustainability experts work to make sure we’re accurate and transparent at all times.
When it comes to describing our environmental commitments and achievements, Unipack’s sustainability experts work to make sure we’re accurate and transparent at all times.
Why?
Why?
Because we know that getting sustainability right is important to Unipack, our people, our customers, and our investors – and it’s crucial for the world around us, too.
Because we know that getting sustainability right is important to Unipack, our people, our customers, and our investors – and it’s crucial for the world around us, too.
We put together this glossary to capture some of the key terms and concepts important in both the packaging industry and the wider world.
We put together this glossary to capture some of the key terms and concepts important in both the packaging industry and the wider world.
Bio-based materials
Bio-based materials
Materials derived from renewable sources such as corn, sugar cane, or trees.
Materials derived from renewable sources such as corn, sugar cane, or trees.
Chemical recycling
Chemical recycling
Recycling process where polymer chains are reduced to constituent components through chemical processes. These components can be reconstituted into plastics, or alternatively used in plastics-to-fuel processes. Chemical recycling is not common today, though there are several pilots and new technologies under development.
Recycling process where polymer chains are reduced to constituent components through chemical processes. These components can be reconstituted into plastics, or alternatively used in plastics-to-fuel processes. Chemical recycling is not common today, though there are several pilots and new technologies under development.
Circular economy
Circular economy
A circular economy is one that aims to move away from the consumption of finite resources by designing waste out of the system. Underpinned by a transition to renewable resources, it’s based on three key principles:
A circular economy is one that aims to move away from the consumption of finite resources by designing waste out of the system. Underpinned by a transition to renewable resources, it’s based on three key principles:
• Design out waste and pollution.
• Design out waste and pollution.
• Keep products and materials in use.
• Keep products and materials in use.
• Regenerate natural systems.
• Regenerate natural systems.
Closed-loop system
Closed-loop system
Recycling where the material is used for a different purpose, for example PET bottles recycled into clothing. Very often the new product cannot be easily recycled again, or the material cannot be recycled for its original purpose, or “upcycled”.
Recycling where the material is used for a different purpose, for example PET bottles recycled into clothing. Very often the new product cannot be easily recycled again, or the material cannot be recycled for its original purpose, or “upcycled”.
Compostable
Compostable
Materials that biodegrade in a commercially managed or home composting system according to the relevant industry standards.
Materials that biodegrade in a commercially managed or home composting system according to the relevant industry standards.
Developed-to-be-recyclable
Developed-to-be-recyclable
This term refers to packaging that is recyclable and has proven to be recyclable in practice and at scale. Whether or not it’s able to be recycled in practice depends very much on the local recycling infrastructure. At Unipack, we believe the first step in is designing products for recycling. We go the next step too, working across the supply chain and with selected sustainability partners to implement waste management systems and drive up rates of recovery and recycling worldwide.
This term refers to packaging that is recyclable and has proven to be recyclable in practice and at scale. Whether or not it’s able to be recycled in practice depends very much on the local recycling infrastructure. At Unipack, we believe the first step in is designing products for recycling. We go the next step too, working across the supply chain and with selected sustainability partners to implement waste management systems and drive up rates of recovery and recycling worldwide.
Downcycling
Downcycling
Closed-loop recycling indicates that a product can be recycled back into itself (as in bottle-to-bottle recycling), while open-loop recycling indicates that it is recycled into other types of products (e.g. bottle into fiber).
Closed-loop recycling indicates that a product can be recycled back into itself (as in bottle-to-bottle recycling), while open-loop recycling indicates that it is recycled into other types of products (e.g. bottle into fiber).
Downgauging
Downgauging
Using less of certain materials (e.g., moving to thinner films) to reduce a product’s lifecycle impact and minimize costs.
Using less of certain materials (e.g., moving to thinner films) to reduce a product’s lifecycle impact and minimize costs.
Engineered landfill
Engineered landfill
A facility designed to sequester waste while minimizing environmental impacts from leakage to the environment including blown debris, groundwater contamination, and methane release.
A facility designed to sequester waste while minimizing environmental impacts from leakage to the environment including blown debris, groundwater contamination, and methane release.
Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
LCA is a technique used to assess the environmental impacts associated with every stage of a product's life, from raw material extraction through to materials processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling.
LCA is a technique used to assess the environmental impacts associated with every stage of a product's life, from raw material extraction through to materials processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling.
Lower carbon footprint
Lower carbon footprint
Packaging which has a lower life cycle carbon footprint than alternatives, e.g. due to material selection, design, or improved recycling performance.
Packaging which has a lower life cycle carbon footprint than alternatives, e.g. due to material selection, design, or improved recycling performance.
Mechanical recycling
Mechanical recycling
Recycling process where the material polymer chains remain intact. Mechanical recycling typically includes sorting, cleaning, and melting the material. Mechanical recycling is currently the most common method to recycle plastics.
Recycling process where the material polymer chains remain intact. Mechanical recycling typically includes sorting, cleaning, and melting the material. Mechanical recycling is currently the most common method to recycle plastics.
Near-infrared (NIR) optical sorting
Near-infrared (NIR) optical sorting
Materials that have served their purpose (have been used by the consumer) and subsequently been recycled to produce a new product.
Materials that have served their purpose (have been used by the consumer) and subsequently been recycled to produce a new product.
Similar automated technologies for sorting plastics include Fourier-transform spectroscopy and optical color recognition systems.
Similar automated technologies for sorting plastics include Fourier-transform spectroscopy and optical color recognition systems.
Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy is a non-profit environmental organization focused on marine health. It organizes the annual International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest ocean-related volunteer event. In 2016, over half a million volunteers removed more than 18 million pounds of rubbish from beaches and the water itself. The data collected by volunteers during the cleanup is valuable for better understanding the huge challenge of plastic in our oceans.
Ocean Conservancy is a non-profit environmental organization focused on marine health. It organizes the annual International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest ocean-related volunteer event. In 2016, over half a million volunteers removed more than 18 million pounds of rubbish from beaches and the water itself. The data collected by volunteers during the cleanup is valuable for better understanding the huge challenge of plastic in our oceans.
Post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic
Post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic
NIR is one type of optical sorting technology that enables plastic packaging to be separated by polymer type into different plastic recycling streams. It is already used in Germany, with other countries planning to introduce it soon.
NIR is one type of optical sorting technology that enables plastic packaging to be separated by polymer type into different plastic recycling streams. It is already used in Germany, with other countries planning to introduce it soon.
Recyclable
Recyclable
Packaging that meets accepted design standards for recyclability, i.e. packaging with the right attributes for successful collection, sorting, and recycling in the real world.
Packaging that meets accepted design standards for recyclability, i.e. packaging with the right attributes for successful collection, sorting, and recycling in the real world.
Recycle-Ready
Recycle-Ready
Packaging that meets accepted design standards for recyclability.
Packaging that meets accepted design standards for recyclability.
Efficient separation remains a challenge due to different shapes and formats of plastic packaging, labels, coatings, and inks that can slow or impede analysis. One element of designing packaging to be recyclable is to facilitate better sorting of materials.
Efficient separation remains a challenge due to different shapes and formats of plastic packaging, labels, coatings, and inks that can slow or impede analysis. One element of designing packaging to be recyclable is to facilitate better sorting of materials.
Recycled content
Recycled content
Materials that have served their purpose (have been used by the consumer) and have subsequently been recycled to produce a new product.
Materials that have served their purpose (have been used by the consumer) and have subsequently been recycled to produce a new product.
Recycling streams
Recycling streams
Recycling streams refer to the categories that materials are sorted into to prepare for sale into the market. In terms of packaging, common streams are aluminium, paper, Polyolefins (PO) for flexible plastics and PET for rigid plastics.
Recycling streams refer to the categories that materials are sorted into to prepare for sale into the market. In terms of packaging, common streams are aluminium, paper, Polyolefins (PO) for flexible plastics and PET for rigid plastics.
Resin identification code
Resin identification code
A resin identification code specifies what type of plastic a package or product is made from, such as PET or polypropylene (PP). It does not imply whether the package is recyclable or not.
A resin identification code specifies what type of plastic a package or product is made from, such as PET or polypropylene (PP). It does not imply whether the package is recyclable or not.
Responsibly sourced materials
Responsibly sourced materials
A focus on responsible sourcing practices and an approach to using and re-using materials more productively over their entire life cycles. Unipack’s strategy for minimizing its environmental footprint is to choose materials based on their ability to protect the product as well as their environmental footprint.
A focus on responsible sourcing practices and an approach to using and re-using materials more productively over their entire life cycles. Unipack’s strategy for minimizing its environmental footprint is to choose materials based on their ability to protect the product as well as their environmental footprint.
Single-stream recycling
Single-stream recycling
A system in which all materials to be recycled are collected in one mixed container, instead of being pre-sorted. It tends to encourage more items to be put out for recycling, but adds cost to the process and can negatively impact the quality of the recycled materials.
A system in which all materials to be recycled are collected in one mixed container, instead of being pre-sorted. It tends to encourage more items to be put out for recycling, but adds cost to the process and can negatively impact the quality of the recycled materials.
Sustainable materials management
Sustainable materials management
Raw materials sourced from socially and environmentally responsible suppliers, as confirmed by certification schemes, such as ASI (Aluminium Stewardship Initiative) or FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council).
Raw materials sourced from socially and environmentally responsible suppliers, as confirmed by certification schemes, such as ASI (Aluminium Stewardship Initiative) or FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council).
Ensuring that suppliers also source sustainable materials is a crucial part of this. Unipack requires major suppliers to undergo an EcoVadis assessment so that we can be sure of good practice in their environmental governance.
Ensuring that suppliers also source sustainable materials is a crucial part of this. Unipack requires major suppliers to undergo an EcoVadis assessment so that we can be sure of good practice in their environmental governance.
Reusable
Reusable
Packaging that is refilled or used again for its original purpose.
Packaging that is refilled or used again for its original purpose.