WRAP: A Guide To Packaging Eco Design

WRAP, set up in 2000, is helping recycling become more prominent in the UK. They help governments devise strategies to deal with environmental issues, such as how to stop wasting resources. They do this through research and practical advice.

I then looked into their guide: "Packaging: A Guide To Packaging Eco Design", found here: http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/GG908_final_linked.pdf


REUSE

It explains that reusable packaging is on the increase. Though when it left for the costumer to return the packaging back to the company, it must be made easy for them to do so, otherwise they will not do it. People are unlikely to go out of their way to return packaging and so they must be given an incentive to do so. It also explains that packaging is most likely to be reused when it strong and reliable. So, for example, people are more likely to reuse biscuit tins, spice jars, coffee jars etc. I know that my grandma continues to use the same biscuit tin (a roses chocolate metal tin) and sweet box that she has had for years, so this is definitely something to consider.

The guide goes on to explain how a product must be formed so that it can be reused. For example:
- Make sure that it is strong and robust enough for reuse.
- It must be designed for reuse, so no health and safety issues arise.
- You should ask from confirmation from customers if they intend to place the packaging into the reuse circuit. Reusable packaging only benefits the environment if it is actually returned for reuse.


RECYCLING 

Designing for recycling makes sense when your packaging is made from materials such as glass, paper or card, metals or rigid plastics. This is because this type of packaging will typically contain suffice material material to justify spending additional resources to collect it after use for recycling.

Packaging that is most likely to be recycled are: aluminium cans, steel cans, plastic bottles, glass jars and bottles, milk and juice cartons and paper. Plastic carrier bags can also be collected for recycling. At Sainsburies, for example, you can hand in your previous carrier bags for recycling.

Metal packaging, such as steel and aluminium, has a high recycled content, and this has no effect on functional performance.

Paper and board packaging for non-food containers use high levels of recycled content. However, paper packaging that has been recycled multiple times may be heavier than new paper packaging. This is because when the fibres are recycled, they lose strength and more fibres are needed to achieve the same level of protection.

Plastic packaging is rarely recycled, for health and safety reasons. However, as technology advances, we are now able to use some recycled plastic for food packaging, though this is still not very common.

Glass packaging has high recycled content and using recycled glass does not affect the performance of the packaging.


References:
http://www.wrap.org.uk
http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/GG908_final_linked.pdf