27.07.2004
Matt Bench from the University of Brighton is researching into the efficient use of resources in modern packaging.
The project is funded by the Biffaward Programme on Sustainable Resource Use, Valpak, the Packaging Federation and AMCOR Flexibles (Europe). The aim of the programme is to provide accessible, well-researched information about the use of different resources in the UK economy.
The project results will be officially launched by Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Corporate Social Responsibility at the Department of Trade and Industry on 28 July. Matt Bench from the Waste and Energy Research Group (WERG) at the university will present key findings to an audience of policy makers, regulators and representatives from the packaging industry.
Matt Bench said, “Packaging is visible to the public and is often criticised for its contribution to the amount of waste we produce. Yet, packaging performs the role of protecting goods that are supplied to market, thereby helping to minimise damage and waste”.
The project, Packaging’s Place in Society: Resource efficiency of packaging in the supply chain for fast moving consumer goods, gave consideration to five case studies in the consumer goods supply chain - ready meals, soft drinks, potatoes, laundry detergents and cat food. Each case study analysed how materials consumption, solid waste generation and energy consumption had changed over the years in which production had been taking place.
Soft drinks
The amount of material used per litre consumed decreased by an average of 17
grams between 1997 and 2002. Solid waste generation and energy consumption
also decreased. This is despite the fact that the total market expanded by
more than 60% from 8 billion litres per annum to around 13 billion litres
per annum between 1989 and 2002. The reasons for this improvement were due
to the use of lightweight materials and tailoring of packaging formats to
consumer demand.
Laundry detergents
The way we wash our clothes has changed to reflect technological advances and
social changes. One of the conclusions for laundry detergents was: ‘As
we live in smaller households, we buy smaller boxes & bottles of detergent,
which use more packaging per unit wash. Nonetheless, during the period 1993
to 2002 there has been an overall reduction in packaging used per wash’.
Cat food
Pet foods are influenced by our demands for quality and health of our pets.
There has subsequently been a trend towards feeding cats dried rather than
moist food - cheaper for us and healthier for our cats. We only need to feed
a cat 70g per day of dried food, compared to 400g per day of moist food.
The impact of this change has been an overall reduction in the total weight
of cat food consumed. There was a 35% decrease in the weight of cat food
packaging between 1993 and 2002. During this time, the average weight of
packaging required to pack the daily food consumed by a cat has fallen from
71g to 46g.
It is hoped that the method and results obtained from the project will form the basis of a series of resource efficiency indicators for the packaging industry.
Contact: Matt Bench on 01273 642391.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
