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Reduction of packaging

Improvement <- C: transportation intensive <-

Checklist for ECODESIGN analysis

Product
Does the distribution of the product require only a minimum of packaging?
  
  
Can packaging or at least parts of it be avoided? How can packaging of the product be minimized by an optimization of the system product - packaging?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Reduce material input for packaging
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Is returnable packaging used in the distribution of the product?
  
  
What kind of packaging is necessary for the product? Can packaging be used several times and is it optimally designed for multiple use?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Preferably use reusable packaging
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Is the packaging material made from renewable raw materials?
  
  
What characteristics are essential for packaging of the product? What materials is the packaging made of? Can these materials be replaced by renewable raw materials?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Preferably use renewable raw materials for packaging
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Does packaging consist of recycled materials or materials for which there are well established recycling channels?
  
  
What materials are used for packaging? Is it possible to use recycled materials instead? Are there well established recycling channels for the materials used?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Preferably use recycled materials or packaging materials suitable for established recycling processes
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Does packaging consist of environmentally acceptable materials?
  
  
Do the packaging materials used have a relatively low environmental impact compared to potential alternatives?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Use environmentally acceptable packaging materials
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Is packaging labeled to identify materials used and/or give instructions for adequate disposal?
  
  
Is packaging of the product adequately labeled in order to facilitate recycling? Is labeling clearly visible?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Label packaging materials (incl. instructions for disposal)
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline


Approach to assessment:
  1. Relevance:
    Rate the relevance of the assessment question with a view to your product. (10...very important for my product; 5...less important for my product; 0...not relevant for my product).
  2. Fullfilment:
    Estimate the fulfilment of the assessment questions using one of the four possible answers (yes / rather yes / rather no / no); the additional questions support understanding of the assessment question and need not be answered.
  3. Priority:
    Select ECODESIGN tasks with high priority (P) and continue only with these.
  4. Idea for Realization:
    Find ideas to realize these ECODESIGN tasks. The content of the learning part with its examples shall assist you in doing that.
  5. Feasibility:
    Evaluate the feasibility of the suggested ideas (difficult / easy).
  6. Costs:
    Compare the costs of the new ideas with a reference situation (higher / same / lower) and give reason for that.
  7. Action:
    Decide when to carry out the ECODESIGN tasks (at once / later / never) and determine the person or department that shall be in charge of further steps in the realizing the product improvements and fix a deadline.
  8. Save:
    Save the checklist to document the ECODESIGN assessment.

 

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Reduce material input for packaging

Minimizing packaging with a view to weight can be realized either by optimization of packaging or by appropriate product design, for instance by casings that endure transportation without or with only a minimum of packaging.


Preferably use reusable packaging

Robust packaging designed for multiple use reduces the overall input for packaging. Returnable packaging is particularly advantageous in the case of direct delivery. The supplier can take back and subsequently re-use packaging material.


Preferably use renewable raw materials for packaging

The use of renewable raw materials (i.e. non fossil materials, usually made from plant material) not only constitutes an adequate solution for the disposal of packaging material but also takes into account the issue of resources (renewables as an important criterion for sustainability).


Preferably use recycled materials or packaging materials suitable for established recycling processes

Using recyclable materials reduces the consumption of primary materials as well as the amount of waste generated. Materials for which there are already well established recycling channels facilitate recycling of packaging materials.


Use environmentally acceptable packaging materials

The materials used for packaging should be environmentally acceptable not only as far as manufacture is concerned but also at the time of disposal. Therefore, one has to determine at what point in the whole life cycle the issue of disposal of packaging arises and how disposal can be realized there.


Label packaging materials (incl. instructions for disposal)

One of the prerequisites for recycling consists in clear labeling of packaging material. Packaging usually has only a very short life cycle; therefore labeling is particularly important in order to ensure appropriate recycling (value added) or environmentally acceptable disposal.