Packaging Design for Shrinkage Prevention

The purpose of this report is to provide guidance on how retailers and their suppliers can work together to identify and minimise the risk of shrinkage through the better design of product packaging. The fundamental role of packaging is to deliver every product to the consumer in perfect condition at minimum cost and environmental impact.

Date: July 2010
Source: ECR EUROPE

Global Language for Packaging and Sustainability

The industry has a responsibility to review the packaging it uses and to ensure that any negative impact arising from its production or disposal is minimised. But this analysis of impacts must be done in the round. It must include the impact of product losses that may result from the use of too little packaging as well the impacts of using too much.

Date: July 2010
Source: Consumer Goods Forum

Waste arising in the supply of food and drink to households in the UK

Very little research has been undertaken to better understand the total amount of waste arising along the whole UK food and drink supply chain, and assessing this against waste generated by UK households. As a result, WRAP sought to establish a baseline for this supply chain, from which to monitor progress, identify areas of greatest opportunity for cost savings, improved resource efficiencies and identify future interventions.

Date: March 2010
Source: WRAP

Household food and drink waste in the UK

A report containing quantification of the amount and types of household food and drink waste in the UK. Information is collated from recent studies covering all major disposal routes, and can assist WRAP, national and local governments and the food industry to develop policies, advice and tools to help us all reduce the amount of good food and drink that we purchase but don’t eat.

Date: November 2009
Source: WRAP

Down the drain

Food and drink disposed by households via household drains has to date been unquantified in the UK. The best estimates to date come from water industry research. This report presents the findings from a weeklong diary keeping exercise where householders were asked to record quantities of food and drink that they were disposing down the drain, along with an assessment of the reasons for that disposal on each occasion.

Date: November 2009
Source: WRAP

Waste strategy annual progress report 2008/09

This report provides an overview on progress made on the commitments in that Strategy. It does not rewrite the strategy but highlights the achievements made since the last progress report published in June 2008. The report also contains a forward look which outlines the issues and priorities for the year ahead. Much has been achieved in the last year with just under half of all the actions in the strategy completed but there is still more to be done in achieving the waste vision of greater waste prevention, re-use, recycling and energy recovery.

October 2009
Source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

An introduction to packaging and recyclability

This guidance has been developed by the Product Design sub group of PRAG. It is a plain language introduction to designing for recyclability. It provides guidance for designers and packaging specifiers at a general level on the factors that need to be considered. Packaging technologists and designers will need to seek more detailed informed to inform design decisions. It contains links and references to these sources.

Date: October 2009
Source: Packaging Resources Action Group

Packaging in the sustainability agenda: A guide for corporate decision makers

A non-technical guidance document for corporate decision makers aiming to achieve a common understanding of sustainability principles among packaging supply chain stakeholders covering the entire life cycle. A guide intended as a reference for corporate decision makers, this publication is not a packaging design guide, nor a technical document.

Date: July 2009
Source: ECR Europe and EUROPEN

Making the most of packaging: A strategy for a low-carbon economy

Packaging fulfils an important role. It protects food and other goods on their journey from farm or factory via warehouses and shops until they arrive at homes, offices or wherever they are used. The key role of packaging is to avoid spoilage and damage in the supply system and in the home.

Date: June 2009
Source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Waste strategy annual progress report 2007/08

This report aims to present an overview on progress made in the last year on the commitments made in the Waste Strategy for England 2007 (WS2007). It does not aim to rewrite the strategy or produce the next one. It highlights what has been achieved since the publication of the WS2007 and areas where there is still more to be done in achieving the waste vision of reducing waste by producing products with fewer natural resources.

Date: July 2008
Source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Report of the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy Champions' Group on Waste

An Industry led Champions’ Group was formed to identify how the food industry can contribute to sustainable waste management. The group was made up of representatives from industry, government and the third sector. It was challenged to reduce the amount of food and packaging waste that is produced each year, both by the industry itself and by consumers of their products, without compromising food safety; and to recycle or otherwise gain value from the waste that does arise.

Date: May 2007
Source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Waste strategy for England 2007

This is a strategy for the whole community, not just for Government. We need to generate and maintain the desire to take responsible action on waste, in which we share a sense that what we do to reduce or better manage waste – as designers, as producers, as retailers, as purchasers, as consumers – will make a real difference to things we care about.

Date: May 2007
Source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs