Definition of Sustainable Packaging

In 2005, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition℠ (SPC) completed version 1.0 of the Definition of Sustainable Packaging. This definition represents an important first step in articulating a common understanding of the term sustainable packaging. It provides a common vision and a framework for understanding activities directed toward improving packaging and continues to inform the future vision of the coalition and its individual member-companies.

Sustainable packaging:

	•	Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle;
	•	Meets market criteria for performance and cost;
	•	Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy;
	•	Maximizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials;
	•	Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices;
	•	Is made from materials healthy in all probable end of life scenarios;
	•	Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy;
	•	Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial cradle to cradle cycles.

The criteria presented here blend broad sustainability objectives with business considerations and strategies that address the environmental concerns related to the life cycle of packaging. SPC believes that by successfully addressing these criteria, packaging can be transformed into a cradle to cradle flow of packaging materials in a system that is economically robust and provides benefit throughout the life cycle—a sustainable packaging system. SPC recognizes that the timelines for achievement will vary across criteria and packaging materials. Together, these criteria characterize the vision of sustainable packaging. No ranking is implied in the order of definition criteria.

One-page Definition of Sustainable Packaging (PDF - 32 k)

Full Definition of Sustainable Packaging (PDF - 173 k)