Carbon Footprint and Packaging

By Jennipher Murphy, Novice Explorer

Carbon offsets and carbon footprints sound scientific and technical so it might be hard for some people to embrace and become connected to this cause. But it doesn’t have to be difficult. I did a little research to find other ways we can make a difference, be connected and have a greater impact. I came across the term, “life-cycle” and “life-cycle sustainability standards” which were new terms for me and refers to the environmental impact of a product through the product’s life cycle; beginning to end. This seems to be critical to the overall success of carbon offsetting because 31.6% of our waste is comprised of containers and packaging. This waste comes from our need to have individual product packaging, products to be delivered safely to our homes and sometimes for our merchandising needs. Other statistics I found around packaging:

• Our landfills contain thirty percent paperboard—American Chemistry
• Over 6.4 billion cardboard boxes were used to ship items via ground or air in 2007 alone—Rapioli 
• Of the 66 million tons of solid waste generated by Californians each year, approximately    one third is packaging—California Integrated Waste Management Board
• 38 billion water bottles enter U.S. landfills every year—Fast Company 

How does this translate to carbon footprints? How do we distinguish between “green” and “eco-friendly” labels? As consumers, we need to begin to demand more transparency and accountability from our manufacturers and more detailed labeling. The more we demand, the more manufacturers will be forced to make changes to meet those demands. A datamonitor survey shows that in the U.S. 67% of people are concerned about heavy packaging and 33% of people would choose another product because of this packaging. This changing viewpoint increases the demand for sustainable packaging and empowers the consumer.

Sustainable packaging does seem critical to making a positive change and making better choices is something we can do to help offset our carbon emissions. For example, we can steer away from the heavily packaged items and buy more in bulk or buy locally to minimize shipping costs, but ultimately, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to provide consumers with better choices. A good example of a sustainable packaging initiative is from Sunlyte. They are using a three prong approach: energy efficient design, streamlined distribution, and carbon neutral delivery.

Becoming more aware of our purchases and how the packaging is affecting our planet is a good step towards a more sustainable future. Feel like you want to go all out? Check out the interesting and often scary info in The Big List of Things That Suck.