SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Sustainable packaging is a key initiative in today’s consumer marketplace where being “green and ethical” are no longer options but a necessity. As new legislation makes companies more accountable for the impact of their products on the environment and consumer demand for eco-friendly products continues to grow, packaging is coming under scrutiny. Consumers view packaging as one of the top ways in which companies can address environmental concerns. Yet, with all the “green” messages in the marketplace, many companies are wondering how they can meet sustainable packaging expectations.

What is Sustainable Packaging?
A simple definition of sustainable packaging is: packaging made by the best utilization of renewable energy, design and materials to minimize the environmental impact through its lifecycle. Goals of a sustainable packaging initiative include:

• Reducing packaging and maximizing the use of renewable or reusable materials
• Using materials which reduce negative end-of-life impacts (e.g., eliminating the use of heavy metals and materials
such as PVC)
• Using materials which are from certified, responsibly managed forests
• Demonstrating compliance with regulations regarding hazardous chemicals and legislation such as the Model Toxics
in Packaging Legislation of the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH), formerly known as CONEG, and the European Directive 94/62/EC, Packaging and Packaging Waste
• Optimizing material usage including product-to-package ratios
• Meeting criteria for performance and cost (e.g, minimize product damage during transit)
• Reduce the flow of solid waste to landfill
• Reduce the costs associated with packaging (i.e., logistics, storage, disposal, etc.)
• Reduce CO2 emissions through reduced shipping loads

At Bureau Veritas, we can help you customize a program to meet your company’s specific goals and objectives.

What are the key benefits?
• Meet the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products
• Minimize the hazardous impact of products upon the environment and society
• Enhance risk management and brand protection

OUR APPROACH
At Bureau Veritas, we believe a better world means better business, and we are committed to helping you package and deliver your products to the marketplace in a sustainable manner. With a wide range of services, we can help you take a comprehensive approach and customize services to meet your needs including:

Auditing and Monitoring of Your Supply Chain: Pre-shipment inspections (ANSI/ASQ Standard) utilizing test report and product specifications; factory audits to validate use of recycling content and material control; and assessments for average distance to transport material and cube utilization.

Comparison Evaluations: Test, compare and analyze packaging materials from multiple sources or compare designs to minimize costs and protect package.

Chemical Monitoring: Testing and evaluation of materials for compliance with regulations and industry initiatives.

Customized Consulting Services:Provide total packaging solutions tailored to your distribution needs. Our packaging professionals will work to correct packaging deficiencies or help with existing designs to reduce costs.

Packaging Design Consultation
- Level 1: Reviews your packaging and provides a technical opinion with suggestions for improvement.
- Level 2: Includes Level 1 services and adds testing to validate improved packaging design.
- Level 3: Takes our Level 2 service and works directly with your supplier to optimize packaging design for cost.

Packaging Palletization and Containerization: Provides pallet and container configuration to optimize shipping efficiency.

Performance Testing:Validation of package product integrity and performance package testing by certified packaging laboratory professionals to a wide variety of ISTA (International Safe Transit Association) performance testing procedures.

Total Packaging Solution: Provides package design service from start to finish, including manufacturing ready design drawings and specifications; building and testing of design prototype; and optimizing of palletization and containerization.