New tool on sustainable packaging for marketers

A new toolkit is being launched to provide businesses - particularly marketing professionals - with the knowledge required to have a greater awareness and positive influence on decisions about sustainable packaging design and end of life.

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), with funding support from the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC), has developed an interactive e-learning program with assistance from Net Balance Foundation and Change2. Marketing professionals helped drive the content and format of the toolkit through a series of consultation sessions.

The Sustainable Packaging Toolkit addresses the following:

• An introduction to sustainability and sustainable packaging
• The APC and its requirements and objectives
• The aspects of the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines
• Aligning marketing strategy and packaging design
• The role for marketing and communications professionals in packaging design

AFGC Policy Director Sustainability, Trade and Innovation Tanya Barden said, “In many companies, decisions about packaging design are not made by packaging teams alone; sales and marketing personnel also play a significant role. Indeed, marketing personnel often have the ultimate decision over choices of packaging.

“By improving their understanding of the principles of sustainable packaging, we believe the toolkit can make a positive contribution to reducing the environmental impacts of packaging across the whole supply chain.

“By working together with government, industry has leveraged funds to assist in designing packaging that can be more cost effective,” Barden said. “As costs are rising, industry must seek innovative ways to become more sustainable - reducing packaging costs where possible.”

APC Chief Executive Officer Stan Moore said the toolkit will increase awareness and understanding of sustainable packaging principles, leading to the minimisation of the environmental impacts of packaging.

“The toolkit will provide users with ideas and evidence to demonstrate the business case for pursing sustainable packaging outcomes,” Moore said.