New, Free Tool Informs Better Food Packaging Purchasing
Adoption of more sustainable food packaging has long been hampered by competing and unclear assertions that are difficult to compare to each other. Now, as a result of unprecedented collaboration among members of the GreenBrownBlue Accelerator, a free tool makes information about sustainability factors including chemicals of concern widely available to food-service decision makers.
Additives used in paper, pulp and plastic products that are intended to improve performance can also contaminate food and beverages and disperse harmful chemicals in the environment during either production or end of life through composting, recycling, or incineration. The harm to humans and the environment from toxic chemicals in food packaging is well documented and the risk of environmental and human health harm poses financial, compliance and reputational risks to companies making and using food packaging.
Now, for the first time, the Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard, led by the Single Use Materials Decelerator, provides a single measuring stick to food service and restaurant managers who must make decisions considering claims such as compostable, recyclable, low-carbon and sustainable.
“ChemFORWARD is pleased to have had a hand in developing a pathway to safer chemistry in food-contact materials, ensuring harmful substances are limited or eliminated while addressing chemical safety beyond legal requirements,” said ChemFORWARD Executive Director Stacy Glass. “We were delighted to work in partnership with other SUM Decelerator members to advance a unified approach to chemicals of concern including the Green Science Policy Institute, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Food Packaging Forum among many other valued organizations.”
ChemFORWARD participated in a multi-stakeholder group of packaging, recycling, and chemical experts to develop and release the scorecard under a Creative Commons CC0 License.
This open source, free-to-use tool offers an entirely unique multi-attribute life-cycle analysis, along with consideration for chemicals of concern. It provides scores that are easy to understand, rank and compare, in six impact areas: climate, water use, plastic pollution, sustainable sourcing, recoverability, and chemicals of concern to help purchasers make informed decisions.
The public beta version of the scorecard can be used to evaluate single-use cups, plates, straws, bottles, wrappers and other containers, and compare them to reusable alternatives.
Get more information about partners and try the tool.
