The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has released a fact sheet that summarizes the key findings of its recent sustainability report, “A Holistic View of the Role of Flexible Packaging in a Sustainable World.”
The report focuses on the segment of the industry that adds significant value to flexible packaging materials, usually by performing multiple processes such as printing, laminating multiple layers, and adding coatings, all of which aid in the performance of the material, improve the consumer/user experience, and/or extend the shelf life of the product. It focuses on the U.S. perspective, though global data and context are utilized to provide a broader picture, and it looks at the current state of flexible packaging, while also providing foresight into potential future implications
The report also highlights six Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) case studies using EcoImpact-COMPASS® LCA software, which allows for quick life-cycle comparisons between different package formats. Results from the case studies show that flexible packaging, when compared to other package formats, has preferable environmental attributes for carbon impact, fossil fuel usage, water usage, product-to-package ratio, and material to landfill.
Among some of the facts cited:
- A rigid PET container for laundry detergent pods emits +726% more greenhouse gases than a flexible pouch with zipper
- A steel can for packaging coffee consumes +1,605% more water than a flexible pouch
- A single serve juice flexible pouch efficiently uses packaging with a product-to-package ratio of +97%
Download the fact sheet here.
