We develop a sustainability scoring system for food packaging, which enables a comprehensive comparison of the environmental impact of packaging.
We are developing the Packaging Sustainability SCORE, an environmental indicator based on science that comprehensively sheds light on the environmental footprints of food packaging. Our goal is to build a standardized set of metrics that can be used to score the environmental sustainability of packaging, in line with Product Environmental Footprint methodology and ISO standard seies.
The SCORE enables consumers, trade, food and packaging industry companies and authorities a genuine opportunity to compare the environmental sustainability performance of packaging and make choices that reduce the environmental burden.
In the development of the SCORE the essenatial elements and features are life-cycle wide environmental footprints. As a new element, the technical performance of the packaging will be taken into account, which means, for example, how packaging can prevent food waste.
The goal is to make the assessment requirements and guidelines for the life cycle of packaging and packaging systems more detailed than at present. In this case, the life-cycle environmental impacts and carbon footprint assessments prepared for packaging would be more uniform than at present. DS Smith, HKScan, Metsä Board, Olvi, Orkla, RKW Finland Oy and Wipak are involved in developing the SCORE and financing the work.
