Reuse, more efficient recycling and new materials - Luke's life cycle assessments showed that several solutions are needed to improve the sustainability of food packaging
The results of the life cycle assessment carried out by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) played an important role in shaping the positions of Finland and the European Parliament on the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
The EU and national regulatory framework for food packaging has undergone significant changes in recent years to tackle the growing amount of packaging waste and the resulting environmental impact. Luke has monitored food packaging changes, including the five-year Package Heroes research project*.
Life cycle assessment shows no single solution works for all applications
Luke was responsible for assessing the environmental impact of packaging solutions throughout their life cycle. Life cycle assessments were carried out on reusable food packaging solutions and new fibre-based packaging materials, among others.
The results of Luke's life cycle assessments showed that the environmental sustainability of packaging can be improved through a variety of solutions. New recyclable and biodegradable packaging materials can significantly reduce the climate and littering impacts of packaging. An effective and centralised packaging reuse system can also reduce the environmental impact of packaging.
Impact of research results on Finnish and EU Parliament positions
The results of Luke's life cycle assessments provided science-based information for decision makers in both Finland and EU.
In Finland, the information produced by Luke influenced Finland's position on the European Commission's proposal for a new packaging and packaging waste regulation. In addition, the results of Luke's calculations were presented in the main national media in Finland and at the final seminar of the Package Heroes project.
The Commission's proposal reached the plenary session of the European Parliament in the autumn 2023. Compared to the Luke's life cycle assesments, the proposal put too much emphasis on one solution, the reuse of packaging. Luke and VTT, which led the Package-Heroes project, therefore decided to address the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and other EU decision makers with an open letter.
The open letter was published at Luke's website, distributed directly to all MEPs and other EU decision makers, and shared on social media. The results of the life cycle calculations were also shared with Finnish MEPs in a separate online Q&A event.
After the plenary and vote, the European Parliament's position was in line with the main messages of the open letter.
The impact of Luke's life cycle calculations also extended to the review of different packaging solutions carried out by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.
The regulation will be finalised during the trialogue between the EU Commission, Parliament and Council during spring 2024.
"The results of Luke's life cycle assessments showed that there are several complementary solutions for improving the environmental sustainability of packaging. We published the results of our calculations just before the plenary session of the European Parliament, and the Parliament's position was in line with our messages."
Research Professor Ilkka Leinonen, Luke
Package-Heroes research project
*Package-Heroes was a five-year project funded by the Strategic Research Council which researched and developed environmentally friendly, consumer-acceptable and commercially viable food packaging solutions. Besides Luke, other partners in the project included VTT, LUT University and Åbo Akademi University. In addition to life cycle assessments, Luke was also responsible for work packages dealing with foresight, communication and interaction. The project ended in 2023.
