Code of Practice for Packaging Design, Education and Procurement Packaging Council of New Zealand (Inc) June 2010.

Code of Practice for Packaging Design, Education and

Procurement

Packaging Council of New Zealand (Inc)

June 2010

Why develop the Code?

Sustainability is an essential element of business strategy

Packaging is critical to this strategy

Using consistent measures of sustainability reduces complexity, costs and enables better results

Government agencies are coming down hard on unsubstantiated environmental claims

How can the Code be used?

Primarily intended for use when introducing new packaging or reviewing existing packaging

General educational tool

Procurement guide for companies wishing to introduce terms of trade around the Code’s four key principles

How does the Code work?

It underpins the fundamental principle that good packaging design prevents more waste than it creates

It assists in the design, manufacture and end-of-life management of packaging to minimise its environmental impacts

But, firmly recognises the sometimes conflicting demands of performance, cost, consumer protection and the environment

The purpose of the Code is to take you by the hand and lead you through the minefield.

Using the CodeThe Code incorporates 45 performance indicators, based on international best practice.

The Code’s Four Key Principles

Labelling and Symbols to Help Recovery, Reuse and Recycling

The Code also Covers Packaging, Environmental Claims and the Law

Green marketing and the Fair Trading Act 1986

Environmental claims about packaging

Making misleading environmental claims -‘greenwashing’

Packaging, Environmental Claims and the Law (contd)

Waste Minimisation Act 2008

Consumer Guarantees Act 1993

Commerce Act 1986

Plus a number of selected industry specific packaging laws, e.g. food contact, hazardous substances

External Environmental ReportingIdentifying where your company sits in the supply chain, in conjunction with the Code’s performance indicators, will help you understand the type of environmental data you may be asked for by your customers or suppliers.

Sustainable Procurement

If you have measure and monitor systems in place to report on the performance indicators set out in the Code, you are more likely to be at a competitive advantage if you are bidding for a contract where the tenderer is engaged in sustainable procurement practices which include some environmental measures.

Three Key Messages

This is not simple – get used to it

There is rarely only one right answer

Decisions should be strategic with full consideration for the marketing mix

Contacts

Paul Curtis, Executive Director (p.curtis@packaging.org.nz)

Sharon Jereb, Environment Manager (sharon@packaging.org.nz)