Packaging cleans up its act

Anti-greenwash guidelines and third party validation of supplier claims help make sustainability a reality.

After years of bad press about everything from “wrap rage” to land fills, the packaging community has banded together to make sustainability a realistic goal. Is anyone noticing?

Wal Mart raised the bar for everyone with the introduction of its packaging scorecard, but initially many package developers and designers were paralyzed as suppliers made confusing and often contradictory claims about their materials.

Now, in an unprecedented effort, Greener Package has announced guidelines for suppliers to follow when making claims. And, in an even bolder move, has established a process where suppliers can go through a third party to have their advertising claims validated.

I assure you, never before in the history of packaging advertising has a publisher required suppliers to have their claims substantiated.

This is a huge move for packaging to clean up its act, and I don’t hear the popular press making much of it at all. Of course, these issues are complex and not as “juicy” as someone cutting their hand opening a clamshell with a kitchen knife.

If you are in packaging you should be proud. If you love to rant about packaging, at least give these good folks some credit.
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