Sustainable Packaging Glossary

The following terms are a curated selection from a wide range of concepts related to packaging and sustainability. While the definitions provided are accurate, they may vary depending on specific organizational contexts and applications.

Compostable Packaging Materials

Materials that decompose naturally over time through biological processes (this timeline is variable and depends on environmental conditions). Unlike compostable materials, compostable materials do not have a defined decomposition timeframe.

Examples

Cornstarch, bioplastic, seaweed, recycled cardboard, compostable films

Circular Economy and EPR

The circular economy is a system where materials, including packaging, are kept in use for as long as possible through reuse, recycling, and regeneration. EPR complements the circular economy by holding producers responsible for ensuring their packaging contributes to this closed-loop system, reducing waste and encouraging sustainable material use.

Circular Economy Packaging Solutions

Packaging designed for reuse, recycling, or repurposing, where all materials re-enter the production cycle instead of ending up as waste.

Examples

A shampoo bottle designed to be refilled at the store rather than discarded.

Compostable Packaging Options

Packaging that breaks down into non-toxic, natural elements within a specific timeframe when placed in a composting environment, contributing nutrients to the soil. 

Examples

Cornstarch, bioplastic, banana leaf packaging, kraft paper

Eco-Friendly Packaging

Packaging that minimizes environmental harm by using fewer resources and sustainable materials during production, transportation, and disposal. It focuses heavily on reducing carbon footprints and waste.

Examples

Compostable packaging, bioplastic, recyclable packaging, returnable packaging, edible packaging

Environmentally Friendly Packaging Design

Design strategies that prioritize reducing environmental impacts, such as climate change, across the packaging’s life cycle, from sourcing materials to disposal. It involves optimizing material use and ensuring recyclability or reusability.

Examples

Glass bottles designed for multiple refills, zero-waste bulk food containers

EPR Compliance for Packaging

EPR compliance for packaging refers to a company’s adherence to Extended Producer Responsibility regulations. This includes meeting packaging recycling and waste management targets, properly labeling materials, and paying any associated fees or levies. Non-compliance can result in penalties or fines.

Example

A company selling products in Europe must register with local EPR schemes, pay fees based on the weight and recyclability of its packaging, and ensure all packaging is correctly labeled for recycling.

EPR Packaging Fees

EPR packaging fees are charges imposed on producers based on the amount and type of packaging they place on the market. These fees are designed to cover the costs of waste management and recycling programs. The less sustainable the packaging, the higher the fee—encouraging producers to adopt more eco-friendly options.

EPR Packaging Reduction Targets

Goals set by EPR regulations that require producers to reduce the overall volume and environmental impact of their packaging over time. These targets encourage companies to use less material, design more recyclable packaging, and innovate with sustainable alternatives, contributing to waste reduction and environmental sustainability.

EPR Packaging Reporting

The process in which producers must regularly submit detailed reports on the type, amount, and recyclability of the packaging they place on the market. These reports are required by EPR regulations and help authorities track compliance, measure recycling efforts, and ensure that producers are meeting their environmental responsibilities.

EPR Packaging Solutions

EPR packaging solutions are strategies and products developed to help businesses meet EPR compliance and reduce the environmental impact of their packaging. These solutions focus on improving recyclability, reducing packaging waste, and lowering overall material usage to avoid costly EPR penalties.

EPR Sustainability Initiatives

EPR sustainability initiatives are programs and practices adopted by producers to reduce their environmental impact in response to EPR laws. These initiatives focus on increasing packaging recyclability, reducing resource use, and minimizing the overall environmental footprint of packaging.

Ethical Packaging Practices

Packaging that is designed and produced with consideration for its environmental and social impacts, ensuring that no harm is done to workers, communities, or ecosystems.

Examples

Using fair trade-certified materials and ensuring safe working conditions in manufacturing plants.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

A regulatory framework that holds producers responsible for the disposal and recycling of their packaging materials, encouraging eco-friendly design and reducing environmental impact.

Green Packaging Innovations

Advancements in technology and materials that lead to more environmentally responsible packaging solutions. These innovations aim to reduce environmental impact and improve packaging functionality.

Examples

Compostable packaging, plantable packaging, mushroom packaging, lightweight packaging

Home vs Industrial Compostable

Home compostable refers to materials that can break down in a standard home composting system compared to industrial compostable which refers to materials that need high heat, controlled moisture, or microbial activity to break down.

Examples

EN 13432 (EU Standard) and ASTM D6400 (USA Standard) require materials to degrade within 90 days in an industrial facility and leave no toxic residues to be considered compostable.

Packaging EPR Regulations

The laws that hold producers responsible for managing the entire lifecycle of their packaging, including waste management, recycling, and disposal. These regulations aim to reduce the environmental impact of packaging by encouraging sustainable design and requiring producers to fund or manage waste collection and recycling systems.

Packaging Lifecycle Sustainability

Assessing and minimizing the environmental impact of packaging throughout its entire lifecycle—from raw material extraction to disposal, as measured by lifecycle assessment indicators.

Example

Analyzing carbon emissions, water usage, and waste generation in the production of a paper carton versus a plastic bottle.

Packaging Producer Responsibility

Packaging producer responsibility refers to the legal and ethical obligations of producers to manage the environmental impact of their packaging throughout its entire lifecycle. This responsibility includes designing packaging that is easier to recycle, using fewer materials, and contributing to the costs of waste management and recycling.

Packaging Recycling Obligations

Packaging recycling obligations under EPR regulations require producers to ensure that a certain percentage of their packaging materials can be collected, processed, and recycled. Producers may need to set up or fund collection systems, recycle materials in compliance with national or regional guidelines, and report on recycling performance.

Example

Packaging recycling obligations vary from state to state and country to country.

Packaging Waste Reduction Strategies

Approaches aimed at minimizing the amount of waste generated by packaging through design, material selection, and the promotion of reuse or recycling.

Example

Shifting from single-use plastic packaging to multi-use packaging like reusable glass jars

Plastic-Free Packaging Alternatives

Packaging solutions that avoid the use of plastics and instead utilize alternative materials such as paper, metal, or glass to achieve sustainability goals.

Examples

Cardboard, beeswax wraps, compostable plastics, mushroom packaging, plant-based packaging, bamboo

Recyclable Packaging Solutions

Packaging made from recycled materials that can be reused or converted into new products through recycling processes, as per guidelines set by organizations such as the APR (Association of Plastic Recyclers).

Examples

Cardboard, plastic bottles

Renewable Packaging Materials

Packaging materials derived from resources that can be naturally replenished or regenerated, such as trees, bamboo, or other plant-based materials.

Examples

Mushroom, bioplastic, compostable materials, cornstarch

Sustainable Packaging

Packaging that protects a product during its transportation and usage cycle while minimizing material consumption and avoiding harm to the environment or future generations. It addresses the economic, social, and environmental pillars of sustainability.

Examples

Reusable packaging, edible packaging, compostable packaging, mushroom packaging

Sustainable Packaging Certifications

Certifications that verify the environmental responsibility of packaging, often based on a set of predefined criteria such as recyclability, biodegradability, or carbon neutrality.

Examples

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification for paper-based products, sustainable packaging coalition

Sustainable Packaging for Food Products

Packaging designed for food items that meet sustainability criteria while also maintaining necessary food safety standards, such as refrigeration and barrier protection.

Example

Compostable trays for fresh produce that extend shelf life and can be composted after use

Sustainable Packaging Solutions for eCommerce

Packaging designed specifically for online retail, optimizing for product protection, minimal materials, and reduced carbon emissions during shipping.

Examples

Slim, recyclable mailers instead of bulky boxes for clothing items.

Sustainable Packaging Supply Chain

A supply chain where all stakeholders, from material suppliers to manufacturers and retailers, are committed to sustainable practices, including the use of renewable resources, reducing waste, and minimizing emissions.

Example

A company that sources packaging from local, renewable sources and minimizes transportation emissions.

‍Sustainable Packaging Trends

Emerging practices in the packaging industry that focus on sustainability, including reducing packaging weight, using refillable containers, and increasing the use of compostable materials.

Examples

Smart packaging, compostable packaging, plant-based packaging

Zero-Waste Packaging

Packaging designed in such a way that no part of it ends up in landfills, incinerators, or oceans, typically through refillable, reusable, or recyclable solutions.

Example

Glass bottles designed for multiple refills, zero-waste bulk food containers