The 7 R’s of Sustainable Packaging
Wal-Mart's packaging score card and the “7 R’s of Sustainable Packaging” are widely references and have become a model for corporate packaging sustainability.
Wal-Mart's “7 R’s of Packaging” , as outlined on the Wal-Mart website, are:
• REMOVE: Eliminate unnecessary packaging, boxes or layers, and harmful materials.
• REDUCE: “Right-size” packages, optimize material strength, and design packages appropriately for contents and merchandising requirements.
• REUSE: Wal-Mart has a goal that all transport packaging will be reused or recycled by 2011 through improved pallets and reusable plastic containers (RPCs).
• RENEW(ABLE): Use materials made of renewable resources as measured using ASTM D6866, or select biodegradable materials that meet ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868.
• RECYCLE(ABLE): Use materials made of the highest recycled content without compromising quality, including post-consumer recycled material (PCR) where appropriate. Components should be chosen based on recycle-ability post-use, with a goal of increasing the municipal recycling rate to 35 percent by 2011.
• REVENUE: Achieve all principles at cost parity or cost savings, which requires a supply chain approach.
• READ: Get educated on sustainability and how suppliers play a part. The Education Sub-Committee of the Packaging Sustainable Value Network recommends the following curriculum for professionals to learn more about packaging design for sustainability:
− Sustainable Packaging
- New Thinking: The Sustainable Packaging Essentials Program
- More information at www.pac.ca
− Packaging Fundamentals
- Fundamentals of Packaging
- More information at www.iopp.org
− Damage reduction through Simulated Distribution Testing
- CPLP training
- More information at www.ISTA.org
− Sustainable Packaging Scorecard
- Training from ECRM and Thumbprint
-More information at www.sustainability-education.com
