PEFC International Launches New Responsible Packaging Campaign
Packaging isn’t just part of the products we buy … it’s a product and an entire industry by itself – in fact a $US900 billion industry.
Forest fibre-based packaging is essential to the products we buy online and also the food we eat by extending shelf life and protecting it from damage. More and more people are getting packages delivered to their homes and workplaces as the global parcel delivery boom continues.
Australia Post says more than 200,000 new online shoppers have entered this market since the Covid pandemic.
When it comes to a product’s packaging it’s fair to say that kids and adults alike are now well conditioned to think of recycling, and rightly so. However, consumers and brand owners have often not thought beyond recycling. Which, when you think about circular economies, resource management, climate, carbon and energy use, recycling is only part of the equation. No fibre in the world can be recycled indefinitely, however, forests produce a truly renewable resource.
This is why the idea of Responsible Packaging is based on the notion of three ‘Rs’ – Renewable, Responsible and Recycled. Responsible sourcing is about more than how the forest is managed – to be truly sustainable, the people who produce the forest products must also be treated fairly. This means safe working conditions and fair labour practices throughout the entire chain of custody.
Recycling is not the full equation but it remains an essential part of any sustainability strategy and is a key component of the approach to Responsible Packaging. As demand for forest and tree-based products continues to increase, and while wood fibre is the ultimate renewable packaging material, the use of recycled materials helps to optimise the sourcing of the raw materials and to move towards circularity.
Responsible Wood and PEFC International’s Responsible Packaging Campaign offers a holistic sustainability solution that centres on forests. Consumers and brand owners supporting responsible packaging are protecting biodiversity, supporting local communities and rewarding foresters and suppliers who demand safe working conditions.
By broadening our approach, by not just focusing on part of the equation, we can actively promote the protection of our forests through certification.
Like to know more?
The Responsible Packaging campaign is an initiative by PEFC International – the world’s leading forest certification system. Responsible Wood is the national member for PEFC in Australia.
Fore more information on the campaign and what role you can play, click here.
