The Effects of Plastic Packaging

A Sea of Plastic Waste

Every year, a mind-boggling 8 million metric tons of plastic find their way into our oceans, posing a grave threat to marine life and ecosystems. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s report on The New Plastics Economy emphasizes the urgent need to tackle this global crisis. Plastic waste not only suffocates marine biodiversity but also burdens landfills, where it takes centuries to decompose, exacerbating environmental strain.

Climate Change and Non-Renewable Resources

The plastic industry’s annual greenhouse gas emissions of around 390 million metric tons contribute significantly to climate change. This data, reported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlights the link between plastic production and environmental degradation. Moreover, the extraction and processing of fossil fuels for plastic manufacturing further deplete our non-renewable resources. To combat these challenges, we must explore sustainable alternatives that reduce carbon emissions and promote the use of renewable materials.

Human Health Concerns

Plastic waste poses not only an ecological crisis but also a direct risk to human health. Microplastics, generated by the breakdown of plastic waste, contaminate our food, water sources, and even the air we breathe. Early research raises concerns about potential health issues, including respiratory and immune system problems, linked to microplastic exposure.

Thermoformed Paper: A Sustainable Game-changer

Pack360 and PaperForm™ Thermoformed Paper

Through our partnership with Pack360, we proudly introduce thermoformed paper—a cutting-edge packaging solution. Pack360 specializes in thermoformed paper packaging, utilizing a unique grade called SPS (special paper substance). By infusing SPS with moisture, it becomes incredibly flexible and allows us to create custom designs that align perfectly with your brand’s vision.

Sustainability at Its Core

Thermoformed paper is a sustainable superhero. Crafted from renewable materials like responsibly sourced wood fibres, it reduces our reliance on non-renewable resources, ensuring a greener future. This packaging marvel is fully recyclable, contributing to a circular economy and minimizing waste. By choosing thermoformed paper, brands demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship while aligning their packaging solutions with sustainability goals.

Energy Efficiency and Cost Competitiveness

Compared to traditional pulp-based packaging, thermoformed paper requires less energy during production, reducing carbon emissions. Its drop-in technology seamlessly integrates with existing heat-sealing capabilities, eliminating the need for costly equipment upgrades. This cost-effective solution empowers businesses to adopt thermoformed paper without disrupting operations or breaking the bank.

Customizable Design and Functionality

Thermoformed paper offers boundless design possibilities. Its remarkable malleability enables intricate shapes, contours, and textures that captivate customers and elevate your brand. Whether it’s a unique tray for delicate cosmetics or an eye-catching display for confectionery, thermoformed paper combines aesthetics with functionality.

Recyclability and Plastic-Free Approach

Unlike traditional plastic packaging, thermoformed paper doesn’t require lamination, making it fully recyclable without compromising quality or aesthetics. By opting for thermoformed paper, brands contribute to a more sustainable waste management system and reduce their environmental footprint. Consumers can easily recycle thermoformed paper packaging, keeping it within the circular economy.

Stronger Together

At GPA Global, we believe in the power of collaboration to drive sustainable change. Our partnership with Pack360 and the introduction of thermoformed paper PaperForm as an alternative to plastic packaging marks a significant step toward a greener future. Plastic waste is wreaking havoc on our environment, but by embracing thermoformed paper, we can combat this crisis head-on. Thermoformed paper offers unparalleled advantages: it’s sustainable, customizable, energy-efficient, cost-competitive, and recyclable. It combines functionality with aesthetics, delivering packaging solutions that protect products and enhance brand interactions.

For more information on how thermoformed paper can be integrated into your packaging solution, contact GPA’s head of Material Science and R&D, Mike Marcinkowski at mmarcinkowski@gpaglobal.net.

The post Breaking the Plastic Cycle appeared first on GPA Global.

In response to this shift, companies across the globe are turning to recyclable materials.

• As part of the Global Commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, over 500 organizations worldwide have committed to ambitious goals to increase the amount of reusable, recyclable, or compostable materials in their packaging.
• In America, every one of the 25 largest CPG companies has promised to minimize, reuse, and/or increase the recyclable content of their packaging. 80% of these companies have committed to 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2030.

With that being said, is it realistic to think recycled material and current recycling practices can keep up with these lofty commitments and the growing consumer demand?

Where’s the (Hopefully Recyclable) Bottleneck?

Recycling has been around for decades, so why have we just begun to place so much emphasis on recycled and recyclable materials?

The harsh reality is that recycling involves so many different pieces—government regulation, regional rules, company participation and effort, consumer understanding and action, and beyond. When you have that many pieces to the puzzle, a lot can go wrong.

In a perfect world, everyone would recycle, and we’d already be operating in a circular economy. We may all want the same thing, but we all have to align to achieve that “perfect world”—or anything close to it.

So, what are some of the biggest bottlenecks?

Consumer Confusion

There are so many aspects that lead to consumer confusion around recycling.

• Regional Rules: Many countries implement regional rules around recycling, and many residents don’t know exactly what they are. A 2021 global survey reveals that the top two leading barriers to recycling are (1) the lack of recycling programs and (2) not knowing how to participate in recycling programs.
• Material Variation: There’s an overarching disconnect between thought and action, and many consumers have a false sense of confidence surrounding individual material recyclability. In the US, 64% of people are confident they know what types of plastics can be recycled, yet 61% wrongly believe that plastics such as grocery bags and bubble wrap can go in their curbside recycling bins.
• Recycling vs. Composting: There are a lot of compostable materials out there that look like plastic. Many people who don’t have experience composting—or simply mistake the compostable material for plastic—end up throwing these into the recycling bin. If mixed with petroleum-based plastics, this can contaminate the recycling stream.
• Trust: Many people believe that even after they correctly recycle, facilities may not actually process the materials. When word got out that developed countries may be sending their recycled waste to be dumped in vulnerable, underdeveloped countries, many consumers began to feel they couldn’t trust the system anymore.

All of these considerations lend to a general disconnect and lack of effort. Many consumers think, “Is it worth it? Why even try?” While there are different ways to calculate a country’s overall recycling rate, you can see from this 2022 chart of 180 countries that rates are not very promising—with the UK at 34%, the US at 14%, Ireland at 42%, France at 32%, Mexico at 10%, Canada at 23%, China at 24%, and the highest, South Korea, at 67%. 

Unstable Supply

As you can see, recycled material is very unique, as consumers control the supply. This, by definition, is an unstable supply. Consumer recycling rates are slowly climbing (if at all) while the demand for recycled material is hiking up at full speed.

But the instability doesn’t end there. What about geopolitical trends?

• Import Restrictions: Recent import bans have slowed down recycling even further. Historically, the US used to send a lot of recyclables to China to be processed. But China’s 2018 ban on imported plastics put a stop to that, tempting developed countries to send even more recyclable waste to rot in underdeveloped countries.
• Rising Prices: Post-consumer recycled (PCR) material prices have been high, and experts predict they’re likely to stay high for (at least) the next couple of years. Slow supply increases and consistently strong demand are considered the “new normal” in the world of PCR material, yet demand continues to hold strong even with these higher prices.

These events are just a couple of examples of bumps in the recycling road—ones that have caused the price of recycled material to increase. We’ve seen the far-reaching effects of this in our own partners’ supply chains.

The Time Is Now

If we want this to work, every stakeholder must be intentional, honest, and aligned. Otherwise, there simply won’t be enough supply to keep up with consumer demands and global promises.

Recycling rates speak louder than words.

How can we all own our role in this recycling story?

• Government Responsibility: Countries with the highest recycling rates set out clear government policies and restrictions regarding waste management. South Korea’s waste management system, Jongnyangje, is a great example of this.
• Recycling Facility Responsibility: With so many regional rules, it’s the responsibility of recycling facilities to clearly outline what items they accept to reduce consumer confusion. Transparency is also hugely important. Where are the recyclables going? Are they actually being recycled and resold, or are they being exported to vulnerable countries and dumped?
• Brand Responsibility: Work with sustainable packaging experts to come up with the best bespoke solution for you. Hint hint, GPA Global is a whole company full of packaging experts. Specific solutions include reducing weight, increasing reusability, increasing recycled content, and beyond.
• Sustainable Packaging Expert Responsibility: We always work to fulfill our responsibility to guide our partners to the best sustainable packaging solution, using our knowledge and expertise regarding material engineering, package labeling, hybrid supply chain solutions, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). We can help increase packaging reusability, recyclability, and recycled content. We can also provide guidance regarding labeling each packaging item to improve end-of-life recyclability.
• Individual Responsibility: At the end of the day, it’s up to us all, as consumers, to understand our area’s recycling rules, research alternative methods of disposal (if recycling is not the answer), and vote with our dollars to support brands and facilities who follow through with their recycling promises.

Always remember, there’s hope in alignment. The majority of the world is aligned in their desire to act more sustainably—now let’s transfer this alignment to the world and everyday action of recycling.

The post Can Recycling Keep Up With Consumer Demand? appeared first on GPA Global.

Today, the blue CHEP pallets are ubiquitous in supply chains around the world, with a pool of approximately 300 million.

The big picture is that the world is moving faster than ever before. What the Australian government did in 1958 was circular thinking at its finest. But times have moved on. With the increase of products being transported around the globe, the environmental impact grows larger every day. And the onus is on companies like us to lead the charge, stay ahead of the curve, and champion the latest innovations in our space. Enter Hexcore.

Hexcore: A Forward-Thinking Partnership

At GPA Global, we’re under no illusion that the environment takes precedence in every business decision. We know that companies are looking for ways to minimize their impact on the planet without sacrificing their bottom line.

That being said, we unequivocally believe sustainability and profitability can be synonymous. And our partnership with Hexcore is a testament to that belief.

Hexcore is a company that operates in the Materials Science and Machinery industry, with a primary focus on producing circular packaging solutions. Their innovative corrugated pallet structure is fully customizable, sustainable, and cost-effective.

So where does GPA fit in?

This year we began leveraging the award winning Hexcore technology, to roll out to our clients. We have exclusive rights to the equipment and production in North America. Meaning we can produce and sell them at lower costs to standard pallets.

Diving Into the Data: Why Switching to a Corrugated System Makes Fiscal Sense

• Weight: Corrugated cardboard pallets weigh around 25-30 pounds, while wooden pallets can weigh between 50-80 pounds, depending on the type of wood used. Using lightweight, high-performance pallets has been estimated to result in annual cost savings of $1.8 billion for the global logistics industry.
• Cost: Corrugated cardboard pallets are generally less expensive than wooden pallets, with prices ranging from $7-$20 per pallet compared to $10-$30 per pallet for wooden pallets. Hexcore takes it up a notch. Their pallets can be up to 50% less expensive than traditional wooden pallets.

Championing Profit and Planet

Beyond the financial benefits, the solution is good for the planet as well as profit. The corrugated pallet system is made entirely from paper materials, making it fully recyclable. It requires minimal packaging and assembly, with 2-way or 4-way use designs and reusable options available. This not only reduces labor requirements and headcount but also offers a high paper reclaim value by allowing for easy repurposing or recycling of materials.

The system is also much lighter than traditional pallets, which reduces transportation costs and emissions. By allowing for more efficient stacking, it also reduces warehouse space and storage requirements, further optimizing the supply chain.

Beyond Packaging

At GPA, we support your brand’s growth by thinking big, beyond packaging. We invest in the capabilities needed to deliver seamless packaging solutions without limits. Our solutions are designed to optimize every aspect of your supply chain, from mitigating transportation costs to reducing carbon emissions.

To learn more about our partnership with Hexcore and how our corrugate pallet system could integrate into your packaging solution, contact Mike Marcinkowski, our head of R&D and Material Science, at: mmarcinkowski@gpaglobal.net

The post The Evolution of Sustainable Pallets appeared first on GPA Global.

That’s exactly why we’ve decided to dive into a three-part series on the topic, where we’ll investigate why recycling is still so important, who’s most responsible at each point in the process, and how we can all work together to improve the system as a whole.

With so many mixed messages out there about recycling, we hope to inspire and encourage you to block out the noise and continue on the recycling journey, just as we are.

We’re kicking off the series by discussing inception: the phase where we, a global packaging company, are responsible for the heavy lifting. Inception involves helping our partners analyze, compare, and choose sustainable and recyclable materials that fit their use case. We use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to inform these decisions, so we can create bespoke packaging that helps our partners meet their goals while reducing their impact on the planet. When we think and operate this way, it allows us to set you (our partners and their end-consumers) up for success when the time comes to recycle.

It’s important to note that sustainable initiatives such as recycling have the potential to generate a ripple effect.

This majority belief puts pressure on businesses to increase the recyclability of their packaging—which is where we come in. We help our clients increase their packaging recyclability while also encouraging our raw material manufacturers to prioritize these mindful materials.

As you can see, increasing recyclability at inception is essential if we want to create a well-oiled recycling machine and generate that positive ripple effect, which is exactly what we want to do.

Why is recycling as (if not more) important than ever?

If we all recycled according to the textbook, and our facilities could actually handle the volume of materials and process them accurately and efficiently—our landfills would be less overwhelmed, recycling centers would be a bustling hub for cities around the world (providing jobs and boosting the local economy), and we would all be contributing to a circular economy.

Sounds pretty ideal, right?

Well, it’s no secret that we don’t all recycle according to the textbook, and recycling facilities around the world have historically not been able to handle the sheer volume of materials that come their way.

And when we hear that our individual and collective efforts to recycle are going to waste (quite literally), it’s tempting to stop trying altogether.

But we’re here to urge you to do the opposite. When our recycling systems are struggling as they are, it’s more important than ever to own our individual recycling responsibilities and come together to improve the system however we can.

For a bit of inspiration, let’s review the many benefits of recycling. When done right, it has the power to prevent air, water, and land pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve energy and natural resources, and free up more forested land and open space. To put this into perspective:

• Making a can from recycled aluminum requires 95% less energy than using virgin aluminum would.
• Research suggests that the carbon footprint of post-consumer recycled plastic is 60% less than that of virgin plastic, and using post-consumer recycled plastic reduces plastic waste. This is huge in a world that contains over 30 million tons of plastic with a plastic recycling rate of a mere 9%.
• If everyone in America recycled one aluminum can, it would result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions equal to removing 6,750 cars from the road.
• Over the next 30 years, recycling has the potential to help us reduce carbon emissions by six gigatons, which is equivalent to removing one billion cars from the roads for one year.

On the other hand, if we give up on recycling, we’ll use significantly more energy and raw materials, we’ll release millions of extra tons of greenhouse gasses, our soil and groundwater will become more and more toxic, and our landfills will fill up faster—overflowing into fresh land and natural habitats.

Who is most responsible at the point of inception?

When we say, “It’s more important than ever to own our individual recycling responsibilities and come together to improve the system however we can,” it’s important to identify who’s most responsible at each point in the process.

Healthy systems require a healthy foundation.

Our partners turn to us to point them toward the best, most efficient types of sustainable and recyclable packaging. This is a great honor, but it’s also a great responsibility. We’ve maintained this responsibility for decades, considering sustainability and recyclability in our earliest days as a packaging company—and we hope to inspire other key players in our industry to do the same.

That’s exactly why we keep a circular economy (+ our partners’ and the planet’s best interests) at the forefront of our minds from the beginning—from reducing the overall weight and volume of the packaging to increasing its overall recyclability with environmentally friendly materials that can be continuously reused, remade, or returned to the earth.

So, what types of recyclable packaging are available?

One of our main goals as a sustainable packaging company is to provide innovative, recyclable packaging options that make sense for the planet, its people, and our partners’ operations. Over the years, we’ve discovered and implemented various solutions that inspire us to believe there’s a bright future for recycling. Some of these solutions include:

• Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics (PCRP): It’s efficient to replace virgin plastics with PCRP, made from a combination of recycled plastics and ocean plastics.
• Molded Pulp: This highly renewable resource is made using a range of post-consumer waste such as old newspapers, bamboo, and other bi-products.
• Recycled and Recyclable Paper: Paper has a high recycling rate of around 68%, making it a strong sustainability success story. We prioritise the use of recycled and recyclable paper, and where possible, we aim to source materials from responsibly managed forests, such as those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
• Aluminum: Aluminum is a great option, especially for child-resistant packaging. You can create child-resistant tins that are fully and infinitely recyclable.
• GreenBlister: Our own eco-friendly material, GreenBlister, is a trapped blister package made from recycled (and recyclable) paperboard and plastic.
• Soy Inks & Water-Based Adhesives: Both of these sustainable options heighten the recyclability of a pack, as chemical-based inks and adhesives introduce a barrier to recycling.

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list, and we’re always discovering and developing new packaging materials to increase the recyclability and overall sustainability of our offerings.

What innovative methods increase packaging recyclability at this point?

To increase end user recyclability, it’s important to pair those awesome, sustainable materials with innovative packaging methods. What do we mean by that? There are various ways to optimize the functionality of our packaging so that end users are more inclined to (1) reuse the packaging and (2) recycle it properly. Some of these methods include:

• Ships In Own Container (SIOC) Packaging: Using this method, products can be shipped without an overbox. These packages can bypass the fulfillment center, which ultimately means you can use more sustainable packaging while lowering costs and creating a better unboxing experience.
• Dual-Use Packaging: Ah, packaging that has a built-in second life. The packaging we developed for the KITH x Estée Lauder Generational Beauty Kit is a beautiful example of this. Once you remove the inner fitment that holds the makeup in place, the remaining container doubles as a chic clutch purse.
• Mono Material Packaging: This is a sustainable move away from the traditional approach of gluing or laminating packaging components (making them difficult to separate). Mono material packaging is designed to ensure different materials are easily separable, so it’s smoother for end users to separate and put them in the correct recycling bin.
• Light and Minimal Design: We’re fans of minimalist design, especially when it benefits the planet—and looks good doing it. Whether it’s an innovative plastic spiral design for a bottle pump or a minimal pull-out tray for a CBD pen, we’re always looking for ways to minimize materials while maximizing functionality.

No matter what, we always take a very tailored, bespoke approach to every single piece of packaging we create. Working with clients across so many different sectors requires great flexibility and adaptability—there’s no denying that. But we pride ourselves on finding the perfect balance between our partners’ needs and the well-being of the planet.

Increasing recyclability at the point of inception plays a key role in achieving this balance, and we’re honored to uphold this responsibility.

The post What Does Recyclability Mean to Us? appeared first on GPA Global.

The industry is growing rapidly—from $30 billion in global sales in 2021 to a projected $55 billion in 2026. While mature markets in Canada, California, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon are stabilizing, newer markets continue to emerge and boom.

While this is certainly an exciting time, the cannabis industry is no stranger to growing pains. Not only do many people still oppose the legalization of cannabis, but growers and distributors face increased scrutiny for its impact on the planet. They’re continuously called out for straining the electric grid with indoor grows, using too much water during outdoor grows in drought-prone regions, filling the air with odor and pollution, and generating huge amounts of waste through vaping devices, cartridges, and packaging.

It’s no secret that sustainability will be the center of conversation this year at MJBizCon, and we’re excited to represent the packaging industry and offer innovative, proven solutions that promote sustainability in this space.

To take a closer look at the industry’s current challenges, wins, and opportunities for growth surrounding sustainable packaging, we sat down for a Q+A with our Vice President of Strategic Packaging, Jesse Dixon.

With almost a decade of experience specializing in THC and CBD Packaging Development, Jesse shares his inside perspective on where the industry has been, where it’s going, and GPA Global’s essential role in the journey.

What does a typical day at MJ Biz Con look like?

MJ Biz Con is the biggest B2B trade show for the cannabis industry. It’s a phenomenal opportunity for anyone in the sector to connect and explore. Whether you’re in operations and you’re looking for some new equipment, you’re a manufacturer showcasing new innovative products, you’re on the supply chain procurement side meeting your vendors, or you’re in marketing scoping out what other brands are doing—it’s a great chance to connect with your partners, collaborate with new people, get inspired, and share inspiration.

For GPA, it’s a great chance to see our clients and show the industry what we’ve been doing—what’s innovative and new. We’ve been quietly growing and doing extremely well in this sector, and our goal is to have a “coming home” party to say, “Hey, you know about us, and you’ve seen our product, you just might not know our name yet.”

What are you most looking forward to this year?

I’m extremely excited for us to showcase our growth and innovative approach to all the key players in this industry.

Our main goal has always been to help this industry work with more ethical and responsible vendors. Industries like health & beauty, spirits, and consumer electronics all have so many great options when it comes to manufacturing partners. But when the cannabis industry started booming, a lot of inexperienced packaging companies weaved their way into the mix because they saw a new opportunity.

But GPA Global has been a manufacturing partner for decades—long before the cannabis industry started booming. And this industry doesn’t have enough experienced, ethical manufacturing partners.

A lot of huge packaging companies are still a little bit iffy about joining the industry because it’s not federally legal yet. But at GPA, we didn’t hesitate to say, “We’re in.” We strongly believe this sector deserves a responsible manufacturing partner that will deliver quality packaging on time, at a high quality. And right now it doesn’t have enough of that. In that sense, we’re the unsung heroes because we’re trying to bring that to the industry and make it more accessible.

It can be hard to deliver that message through all the noise, but we’re excited to have the chance to do so. By the time we’re done with the show, we hope we’ve made some waves.

In what ways does the cannabis industry intertwine with the topic of sustainability?

I think the majority of the cannabis industry is pushing for green and sustainable initiatives. That’s true across all industries, but the cannabis industry in particular caters to a green market—it’s in their DNA to act in the best interest of Mother Earth.

As far as the packaging goes, there’s a huge initiative to make sure that the packaging itself is recyclable and/or made from recycled materials.

Are we using less water and less power when we produce our packaging items? That’s a huge initiative on our end.

So while the industry works to promise that their final packaging is recyclable and/or made from recycled materials, behind the scenes, we’re working to gather and show data that proves our manufacturing processes can help them deliver on that promise.

What sets GPA Global apart from other packaging suppliers at this trade show?

In short, in-region production.

A majority of the packaging produced for the cannabis industry is child-resistant. When child-resistant mechanisms are involved, a lot of that production takes place overseas in Asia. But at GPA, we have facilities to create this type of packaging in-region.

Outside of that, we utilize paper, soy inks, and other materials that exhibit a degradable function. I avoid using the word biodegradable because it’s become such a buzzword that’s often thrown around when it shouldn’t be. But we do use a lot of materials that have a degradable aspect to them, and certainly, a majority of our packaging is curbside recyclable.

It’s also worth mentioning that we’ve been hyper-focused on sustainability for 20+ years. This is not new for us—it’s in our roots. Since day one, our focus has always been sustainability, as opposed to some of our competitors who don’t have as much of a say in the recyclability or the sustainability that goes on behind the scenes throughout the production process.

This industry is unique because it’s not federally legal in many countries. Do you think it’s still possible to conduct meaningful research around sustainability without government funding?

It’s certainly difficult, but I think it’s coming. It’s such a new market that there’s a lot of growing to be done there (pun intended).

For example, states like New York are coming forward and saying, “Hey very soon here, we’re going to require that any single-use plastic contains at least 25% post-consumer recycled content.” So, it’s great to see individual states setting their own restrictions. But for now, it’s really up to the brands, companies, responsible vendors, and suppliers of packaging materials to make sure that the packaging is compliant.

As far as third-party organizations that are funded to help measure the impact of the companies and confirm that they’re actually doing what they say they’re doing—I don’t know if those exist or when that funding will be available. But that’s more reason for us to help motivate, govern, and measure what we’re doing and what our clients are doing. That way, we can say, “Hey, we have the data to back up our claims when so many other people don’t.”

In what specific ways does GPA Global help its clients gather data and stay accountable?

For any client who requests data, we can provide documents like a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) document that outlines the carbon emissions and environmental impacts associated with the packaging’s material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, usage, and disposal. This not only helps our clients stay accountable, but it allows for continuous improvement.

 we’re proud to offer this option to our clients, so they can share this information with key stakeholders, their internal teams, or even their consumers..

Not to mention, we’re a large organization (and growing rapidly), so we have a robust sustainability team. Many of our competitors don’t have an entire team of professionals dedicated to sustainability.

What do you think is the biggest challenge when it comes to packaging in the cannabis industry?

I think the biggest challenge for the industry as a whole is filtering through all the noise and the greenwashing to find out who’s as responsible as they say they are.

The biggest challenge for GPA Global is ensuring people see what we’re doing and accomplishing. There’s a lot of talk when it comes to sustainable packaging in the cannabis industry, and many packaging suppliers don’t follow through on their promises. But we are in the minority, and we’re actually making significant strides in this space. So our biggest challenge is really getting the brand’s attention to show them the data we have—which is substantiated and proven.

Other than that, the industry is moving so quickly—there’s not a lot of time to slow down and sift through options. I also think there’s a common misconception that sustainable processes cost more than unsustainable ones. So as brands face fast expansion (in a vulnerable economy), there’s a conflicting force between lowering costs and pursuing sustainability. There’s a fear that it’s “harder” and more expensive to lean into sustainable initiatives. But we really want to deliver the message that it can be done in a very efficient, cost-effective way, and that’s exactly what we’re here to help with.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

The key talking point for everyone at MJBizCon is sustainability. Although we’re absolutely going to touch on it, it can’t be our leading message because it will get lost in the noise.

However, we want to leave people with our message of in-region production. You know, cannabis in California has to be grown in California, so it makes the most sense if your soil, fertilizer, lights, and packaging come from California too. Because one, there are lead times associated with overseas production. And two, there are cost advantages when you’re not shipping your packaging in a container across the world. And in-region production ties into sustainability, so everyone wins.

At the end of the day, we want to do the best for Mother Nature, of course, but we want to do it in a cost-effective way. And the reality is that those two things can live together. They are not mutually exclusive.

The post MJBizCon Sustainability Q&A appeared first on GPA Global.

It’s no wonder that the race to find the most sustainable packaging option continues, and Swedish furniture mogul, IKEA, is running full speed. The company recently announced that it’s replacing all Styrofoam packaging with mushroom packaging—a compostable and biodegradable material.

In a world that’s not yet equipped to properly handle compostable packaging, we’d like to use this announcement as an opportunity to open the floor to a conversation about whether or not mushrooms are a viable solution. As IKEA’s Head of Sustainability states, the switch to mushroom packaging is a “small yet significant step towards reducing waste and conserving ecological balance.”

That might be true, but we hope it doesn’t serve as an excuse for other companies to follow suit and consequently miss other (potentially more practical) sustainable packaging solutions—especially before the verdict is in on mushroom packaging.

What is Mushroom Packaging?

Mushroom packaging is exactly what it sounds like—packaging made of mushrooms.

Once all the spaces are filled, the final product is heated to the point where active spores are killed, ceasing mold growth. This whole process takes less than a week, making mushroom packaging a hot commodity.

What Are the Claimed Benefits of Mushroom Packaging?

Mushroom packaging claims the following environmental benefits.

• Energy: It requires only 12% of the energy required to produce plastic packaging.
• Wildlife: Because it’s a natural material, it reduces adverse effects if/when land or sea animals accidentally ingest it.
• Carbon Emissions: It produces a mere 10% of the carbon emissions that emerge from plastic manufacturing.
• Decomposition: It can decompose in about 30 days. For reference, Styrofoam can take hundreds (even thousands) of years to break down in a landfill.

We emphasize the word can because composability is very dependent on the disposal method. Claiming that a material can decompose in 30 days does not mean that if you simply throw it in your garden, it will decompose within that time frame. It requires specific conditions to decompose, which is why home composting and industrial composting are the most effective disposal methods.

Remember that both of these methods require very specific conditions to ensure success—high temperatures, diverse microorganisms, and availability. At this point, many home compost heaps don’t exist under prime conditions and most industrial composting facilities actually refuse compostable packaging such as mycelium.

It’s difficult to determine how long it will (not can) take for something to decompose in less-than-ideal conditions—such as the conditions in a landfill or on the side of the road. With that being said, companies that manufacture this packaging claim that it’s completely circular, litter-friendly, and adds no environmental burden if it ends up in a landfill.

Is Mushroom Packaging Fit for Mass Production?

As a furniture giant like IKEA transitions to mushroom packaging (and countless other companies take note), it’s important to ask ourselves if this material is fit for mass production and use.

• Evidence: It’s no secret that IKEA is one of the first powerhouses to switch to mushroom packaging, so we actually don’t know how well it will perform on a large scale. What we do know is that worldwide infrastructure already cannot handle the amount of compostable packaging that’s produced worldwide.
• Infrastructure: As a reminder, only about 15% of industrial composting facilities in the US accept some form of compostable packaging, and most of the 272 industrial composting facilities in the UK refuse this type of waste. Will mushroom packaging actually get composted? How long will it take to decompose in a landfill if it’s not properly composted? These are other factors that should be explored before beginning mass production.
• Durability: It’s important to note that mushroom packaging can only be used for packaging dry products—the material will lose its rigidity ​​when exposed to moisture. In environments below 85% relative humidity, mycelium tends to absorb low amounts of water (<6%). However, when conditions reach 100% relative humidity, mycelium’s water uptake can reach 20%, which is much higher than most other materials.
• Production: While there are many variables to consider during production, it’s undeniable that mushroom packaging is more time intensive and expensive to produce than other options such as low-grade molded pulp. We can produce molded pulp in around six hours at a low cost comparable to Styrofoam. Mushroom packaging, on the other hand, takes up to seven days to produce and can cost up to 10x as much.
• Scalability: Thus far, mycelium-based materials have achieved success in the realm of small commercial products. But the production of mycelium involves various complex, biological variables—long production cycles, contamination risk, and multi-step growing processes. Analysis shows that it’s difficult to consistently reproduce a specific material profile, which poses problems when thinking about scaling the production of mycelium. Leading producers such as EcoVative are now using genetic engineering to address some of these conditions, but it’s possible that the material is not quite ready for mass production yet.
• End-of-Life Handling: As mentioned above, the “big picture” success of this material depends heavily on end consumers’ commitment to keeping the packaging and their willingness and opportunity to properly dispose of the material once they’re done with it. When recycling rates continue to hover around 50%—and industrial recycling is generally much more accessible than industrial composting—can we truly expect proper end-of-life handling for mushroom packaging?

Instead of jumping into sustainable “solutions” for mass packaging production that have not been tried and tested on an appropriate scale, we believe in talking about—and prioritizing—solutions that are proven to deliver the intended benefits.

We do not intend to criticize IKEA’s decision to transition to mushroom packaging. We believe mushroom packaging is a step in the right direction. We’d actually like to commend and celebrate IKEA’s work in the world of sustainable packaging. After all, they’ve reduced their packaging volume by 50% over the last few years, and we believe that deserves to be a spotlight story and point of aspiration for those who view IKEA as a role model in the realm of sustainability.

As always, we believe that packaging requires a very individualized approach. While mushroom packaging could be an acceptable solution in an ideal world, we want everyone to be wary of using it as an excuse to follow big names like IKEA—instead of analyzing and discovering alternative solutions that might work better for your company and its consumers.

The post Is Mushroom Packaging The Answer? appeared first on GPA Global.

It’s not hard to admit that there’s something that just feels good about a piece of packaging that says “This box is 100% compostable.” But what exactly does that mean? Is compostable packaging actually a viable solution to our waste problem, or does it do more greenwashing than good?

Compostable Packaging In Theory

In theory, this packaging sounds like a great solution. A box that will decompose and return to the soil as nourishment? If it’s really that simple, sign us up.

Like most things in the packaging world, it’s not that simple.

For compostable packaging to properly decompose, it must be handled in one of two very specific ways.

1. Industrial Composting: The majority of compostable packaging must be handled by an industrial composting facility since the facilities generate higher temperatures than at-home composts and have larger compost heaps with more diverse microorganisms to promote decomposition.
2. Home Composting: Only very specific types of compostable packaging can fully decompose in a home compost, such as cardboard, compostable mailers, and some bioplastic mailers. These items typically sport a “home compostable” label. Note that home composts must exist under the perfect conditions for proper decomposition to take place. These conditions include high temperatures, compost-friendly materials, and plenty of microorganisms to aid the process.

In an ideal world, after you ship your products in compostable packaging…

• Consumers would follow one of the two methods above.
• All industrial composting facilities could handle the volume of packaging they receive.
• The items would decompose as anticipated in an at-home composter.
• The packaging would return to the soil in a matter of months.

But in reality, that’s just not the case.

Compostable Packaging In Reality

Industrial Composting in Reality

It’s clear that industrial facilities play a key role in the success of compostable packaging. However, not all cities have industrial composting facilities, and the facilities that do exist often refuse packaging.

Why do most facilities refuse packaging that decomposes? Well, they prefer to prioritize food and yard waste, as it’s much faster to decompose. The food and yard waste is typically ready to be resold to farmers as compost within 90-130 days, allowing the composting facility to turn a quick profit.

Compostable packaging, on the other hand, can take up to six months to decompose in an industrial facility. These composting sites are hesitant to mix packaging with food & yard scraps since they have different decomposition timelines. When the food waste is ready to be sold as compost, the packaging waste must be filtered out and recirculated through the composter. For many facilities, this isn’t worth the trouble, so the packaging ends up in a landfill.

Not to mention, even if a commercial facility does accept it, many of the bioplastics look a lot like regular plastic. It’s common for sorters to mistake them for trash and send them to a landfill regardless. In a landfill, the conditions aren’t right for healthy decomposition, so the compostable packaging ends up lingering and creating similar problems as their fossil-fuel-based counterparts.

At-Home Composting in Reality

When it comes to at-home composting, there’s plenty of room for error. For example, if the home is experiencing lower-than-average temperatures or the compost heap is simply not thriving, the compostable packaging may not decompose as expected.

It’s also suspected that many compostable packaging items do not decompose in the suggested time frame, even under the right conditions. An ongoing investigation at UCL called the Big Compost Experiment measures the success of at-home composting by asking the public to directly report their results, finding the following:

What Can We All Do?

We don’t intend for this article to exist as an argument against compostable packaging. Rather, we hope it serves as a discussion starter about which packaging solutions are most realistic and effective at this point in time—and flexible enough to adapt to the times. To help facilitate the discussion about what we can do to improve the compostable packaging landscape, we’ve outlined some important points below. We encourage you to start with these, as we do the same.

• Face the facts. As both producers and consumers of sustainable packaging, we cannot blindly accept compostable packaging as an effective solution. We must face the facts to make empowered decisions about what packaging actually makes sense. The fact is, food is easily compostable and widely accepted by industrial composting facilities. Yet only about 6% of food waste is actually composted in the US. How can we expect to see better numbers for compostable packaging when only a small percentage of industrial composting facilities actually accept this type of organic material?
• Increase education and awareness. Not only should we increase public awareness about the realities of compostable packaging, we can all do our part to educate the world on the different types of this packaging, their associated disposal methods, and how to find their local composting facilities. Check out this ultimate guide for a jump start on all of these things.
• Advocate for robust composting infrastructure. You can get started by checking out the resources provided by agencies like the US Composting Council, European Compost Network, and International Compost Alliance.
• Use compostable packaging in specific situations. For products that require packaging that’s not easily reusable or recyclable (think chip bags, fruit stickers, and sauce sachets), compostable packaging may be the best fit for a circular economy—especially if these compostable packaging solutions contribute to soil regeneration and healthier food systems. Streamlined sceneries are also ideal applications—consider a large event where compostable packaging and food scraps can be thrown into a single bin without contaminating the waste stream. On top of this, companies that can supply and collect this packaging have a better chance of success.
• Make waste reduction the collective priority. Together, we can place the focus on waste reduction to move the world closer to a circular economy. As in most cases, prevention is better than diagnosing and treating.

At GPA Global, we’re committed to providing tailored packaging solutions that minimize waste (and overall environmental impact) from the start. Our designers, engineers, craftsmen, and logistical specialists work with you every step of the way to deliver a bespoke solution that makes the most sense for your brand, the planet, and its people. Whether that’s compostable packaging, recyclable packaging, or a unique combination—you can be sure our packaging solutions consider the product’s entire lifecycle, avoid unintended negative impacts, and utilize methods and materials that are backed by data.

The post Breaking Down Compostable Packaging appeared first on GPA Global.

As if that wasn’t enough, sustainability requirements add another layer of complexity to these problems. Customers continue to demand more from the brands they buy from, with sustainable packaging beginning to overtake both function and innovation as the leading concern for buyers. But how can companies overcome the above concerns while ensuring they’re not compromising on sustainability?

To help, we’ve collated direct consumer data to prove how vital eco-friendly packaging for electronics is. We’ll also cover how sustainable changes can be utilized alongside other strategies to combat some of the many industry-wide challenges companies face right now.

How Strong is the Consumer Demand for Sustainability in Packaging for Electronics?

In addition to the vital contributions sustainable packaging can make toward a greener future, the ongoing global demand for more eco-friendly packaging solutions is supported by direct customer research.

Customers are shifting their spending patterns toward companies that can evidence their green credentials. Since packaging for electronics is often the first significant touchpoint in the consumer experience, particularly for online buyers, these products must be able to use their packaging to convey their sustainability alongside their brand. That includes low-volume and high-volume electronics, from wearables and headphones to gaming peripherals.

However, sustainability can often be at odds with budgets and current operations. Consumer electronics companies today are also required to navigate significant sector-wide concerns that can compromise plans to adopt sustainable packaging.

Price Rises in the Consumer Electronics Market: Leverage Consumer Data

As with several other sectors today, price rises for essential components, as well as energy and fuel, mean the consumer electronics market is forced to operate in an increasingly volatile financial climate.

When considering more eco-friendly packaging for electronics products, decision-makers should use the data available to them. By leveraging consumer data, packaging solutions can be modified to meet the strongest current customer requests, meaning the expense of adopting sustainable approaches goes entirely towards packaging changes with a proven impact on buying patterns.

While a similarly large proportion of consumers review whether the packaging has been made of recyclable materials, by focusing spending on recyclable packaging with a design that can be easily taken apart, companies can better apply their budget to embrace a proven sustainable packaging model with clear impacts.

Material and Labor Shortages: Consider Container Reductions

Consumer electronics products are often constructed from various components, so material costs and shortages significantly impact the entire sector. Similarly, talented and experienced employees must prepare, distribute and market these products effectively to end users.

These concerns, such as the ongoing chip shortage, impact product manufacturing processes. But taking a reductionist approach to packaging solutions can be a reliable way for companies to combat some of the costs incurred by these shortages. By reducing the number of containers used in their packaging for electronics, companies can lessen the number of packaging materials used, thereby becoming more cost-effective and more sustainable.

It’s important to note that reducing containers doesn’t mean simplifying consumer electronics packaging entirely. E-commerce trends are driving more protective and individually customized packaging solutions and more complex designs that can enhance a company’s overall brand experience. Therefore, consumer electronics companies should reduce containers to tackle price rises and shortages while also considering ways of innovating their packaging designs.

Moving Goods is Difficult in Today’s Geopolitical Climate: Adopt a Hybrid Supply Chain to Meet Unexpected Demands

Tariffs, coronavirus complications, and other significant supply chain concerns continue to impact consumer electronics businesses, many of whom manufacture and assemble products in Asia before distributing them worldwide. Decision makers today should be thinking about scope 3 emissions alongside other sustainability measures, and one way to reduce these impacts can be through adopting a hybrid supply chain where production is handled in-country.

Manufacturing locally can help reduce the overall emissions of operations while enabling companies to be more responsive to adjustments like new product introductions or unexpected demand changes. This approach can also ensure companies are hit with fewer tariffs for moving goods. To help accomplish this with our packaging solutions, GPA operates three super-sites in North America, Asia, and Europe, where we source and transport packaging materials locally to reduce environmental impacts. You can find out more about this in our latest Sustainability Report.

Work with GPA to Ensure Your Consumer Electronics Packaging Meets Current Consumer Demands

These are just some of the many ways moving towards more sustainable packaging in the consumer electronics industry can help businesses navigate sector-wide problems that are primarily outside their control.

GPA Global has a track record of providing successful, sustainable packaging for electronics companies worldwide. We’ve designed innovative packaging for headphones, watches, wearables, baby monitors, and more, many of which you can review on our electronics portfolio. Our recent success stories also include reducing landfill potential by 35% and greenhouse gas emissions by 33% for one of our global clients.

Or, if you’d like to find out more about our specific packaging solutions for consumer electronics, you can contact our team here.

The post Challenges Facing Consumer Electronics Brands appeared first on GPA Global.

Every product (in our case, every piece of packaging) follows a unique journey, passing through various phases that craft its sustainability story.

These questions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding an object’s overall environmental impact. It requires getting extremely granular—you can’t just simply ask these questions, you have to quantify them, too.

Sure, it sounds daunting, but that’s what we’re here to help you with.

We have systems in place that allow you to assess your products’ current impacts, compare new sustainable packaging options, and uncover and avoid any unintended consequences down the road.

How do we do it? We utilize a trusty method known as the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

What is a Life Cycle Assessment?

Simply put, a Life Cycle Assessment is a method of measuring the environmental impact one object (in our case, one piece of packaging) has on the world around it.

It’s our attempt to understand the whole story, providing us with key metrics and indicators that allow us to evaluate and improve the sustainability of our packaging solutions. A packaging life Cycle Assessment can also highlight potential problem areas to ensure our sustainability efforts are actually producing the intended outcome.

What stages does an LCA consider? The answer is all stages, which we’ve broken down below.

1. Raw Material Extraction
2. Manufacturing Processes
3. Transportation Methods
4. Usage and Retail
5. End-of-Life Operations

In most cases, we call this a cradle-to-grave analysis, as it follows the product from its inception (sourcing of raw materials) to its disposal (landfill, recycling facility, etc.).

In an effort to move towards a circular economy, we also utilize a cradle-to-cradle analysis. This method aims to close the loop—intentionally utilizing reusable and recyclable materials to ensure sustainable packaging solutions remain in use. In other words, the product’s end-of-life becomes its inception, eliminating disposal altogether.

It’s also important to note that the LCA process follows a standardized methodology regulated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It consists of four phases.

1. Goal and Scope Definition: What do we want to analyze, and how deep?
2. Life Cycle Inventory Analysis: This is the data collection phase.
3. Impact Assessment: How far do the impacts reach?
4. Interpretation: This is where we provide the most reliable conclusions and recommendations.

This standardized approach allows us to compare apples to apples—or rather, boxes to boxes.

What do we measure in a Life Cycle Assessment, and how?

Because we’re measuring the environmental impact of each piece of our sustainable packaging, we focus on the following metrics throughout every stage of the product’s lifecycle.

1. Greenhouse gas emissions
2. Fossil fuel consumption
3. Water usage

It’s important to note that reducing the size and weight of the packaging is by far the most effective way to reduce the overall environmental impact, so this is always the first place we start. We can then evaluate material selection, transportation, and manufacturing processes (in that order) to suggest additional improvements.

Why does it matter?

While it’s true that your overall sustainability goals are macro company-wide goals, it takes micro-level data and analysis to achieve them.

LCAs are crucial in helping you (and, in turn, us) evaluate and reduce your overall environmental impact. If you’ve set carbon, water, and energy consumption targets—the quantifiable, granular data gathered in our LCAs can help you achieve said targets.

We can perform a packaging life cycle assessment on several unique options to compare the possibilities. For one of our clients, we used LCAs to compare their original packaging to two new options, lending the following compelling results. In the sustainable packaging space, it’s common to hear people “talk the talk” instead of seeing them “walk the walk.” Having these numbers on paper allows you to legitimize your sustainability claims, work towards your sustainability goals, and uncover even more opportunities for improvement down the road.

Not to mention, these metrics can be transformed into relatable messaging about your brand’s commitment to sustainability. For example, it feels great to say that your new sustainable packaging saves 300 acres of forests and 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water. It feels even better having the data to prove it.

The post Why We Care About Life Cycle Assessment appeared first on GPA Global.

While we can’t always control these factors, we can improve resilience against them by keeping an open mind when it comes to our packaging solutions.

It sounds nice on paper, but how do we actually do it? Let’s take a look at close-to-home production solutions.

First, we always take a client-centric approach and maintain it throughout the entire supply chain. That means we’re always optimizing our processes based on your needs, not a “one-size-fits-all” packaging solution.

This approach has led us to new supply chain solutions—sometimes naturally, but oftentimes through a lot of time and effort. One example of such solutions is our hybrid supply chain offering. It allows you to keep your production offshore, move it onshore, or blend the two depending on what’s most efficient for your use case.

Let’s dive into what that looks like in practice.

Identifying Your Supply Chain Pain(s)

With greenhouse gas emissions, freight costs, and tariffs, there are so many factors to consider when optimizing your supply chain. You’ve probably experienced the burden of one or more of these supply chain pains.

• Carbon Emissions: Global shipping emits over 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. On average, 80% of a company’s GHG emissions come from its supply chain.
• Freight Costs: Since the beginning of the pandemic, ocean freight costs have more than quadrupled.
• Trade Tariffs: As a result of the 2018 tariffs imposed on imports from China, Americans have accumulated over $80 billion in extra tax costs.

Which of these has directly impacted your supply chain?

On top of all of this, we’ve seen a change in consumer demand: 73% of consumers are willing to change their purchasing patterns to reduce their environmental impact. With 80% of emissions coming from your supply chain, we understand that there’s increasing pressure to improve in this area.

That’s what we’re here to help you do.

Our Approach

As a client-centric company, we’ve been developing solutions to these pain points for years. We’ve established a skilled team that’s dedicated to optimizing our supply chain solutions on multiple levels.

1. Automation: Over the last five years, our team members have used OEM principles to automate specific processes in the supply chain that may have previously introduced bottlenecks. This is not to say that we’ve replaced skilled laborers with machines. Rather, we’ve developed hybrid solutions that maximize efficiency while maintaining a unique, creative touch through skilled human labor.
2. Engineering: In addition to automation, we’re always engineering new packaging solutions. We use our technical expertise to identify ways we can optimize packaging, cut costs and materials, and reduce our environmental impacts—in turn doing the same for your business. What does that actually mean in practice? Looking at one client case study, we were able to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 33% per unit, fossil fuel use by 22% per unit, water use by 20% per unit, and end-of-life landfill potential by 35%. On top of that, we increased end-of-life recycling potential by 40%. And this is just the beginning.
3. New Facilities: We’ve opened new facilities in Europe, America, and Central America. Just five years ago, 95% of our manufacturing took place in Asia. Now that figure has reduced to roughly 70%, as much of our manufacturing occurs near our clients’ distribution centers. We can now offer you more options for manufacturing closer to home.

In other words, we’ve done the work, so you don’t have to. By transitioning our own manufacturing to a hybrid solution (both nearshore and offshore, human-powered and automated) to maximize efficiency, we can apply the same model to your business.

Our Solutions: Close-to-home Production Solutions

Using the approach above, we’ve been able to provide more sustainable packaging using close-to-home production solutions for our clients, some of which include:

• Sustainable and/or Recycled Materials: While there’s so much more to sustainable packaging than materials, we offer plenty of eco-friendly materials that ensure components are easily separable to increase reuse/recycling potential. The engineering practices outlined above allow us to accomplish this, along with our access to innovative materials such as molded pulp, crinkle paper shreds, paper pads, corrugates, paper foam, and more.
• Domestic Manufacturing: Our regional manufacturing facilities give you the option to produce onshore (fully or partially) to improve resiliency against geopolitical impacts and reduce your carbon footprint.
• Warehouse Space: We have 1.2 million square feet of warehousing (and counting), so you have the option to produce half overseas, and half domestically if you decide.
• Flexibility: Our innovative and ever-evolving supply chain solution template can be applied to any scenario at any moment, whether it’s your company or the world (or both) that’s experiencing a seismic shift.

With these solutions, we can help you reduce emissions, navigate tariff and freight costs, and focus on continuous improvement every step of the way. In an uncertain world where the only constant is change, feel at ease with our ever-evolving packaging solutions.

The post Close-to-Home Production Solutions appeared first on GPA Global.

When approaching the intricate subject of sustainability, it can be easy to feel immediately overwhelmed. As a sustainable packaging company with a hand in many different sectors, we understand this deeply.

Scope 3 emissions serve as a perfect example of the depth and complexity of sustainability. Realizing your footprint extends beyond your direct assets, actions, and ownership can be shocking for sustainable brands, suppliers, and consumers alike.

But we’re living proof that even just a few years of conscious collaboration—allowing experts to help you break down the subject into smaller, quantifiable pieces—can ignite inspiring progress. In the last five years, we’ve been able to grow exponentially as a brand while still quantifying and understanding our environmental impact more than ever before.

And to us, that’s what it’s all about. We know our sustainability journey will never be perfect, but as long as we’re making measurable progress—and helping others in the sustainable packaging space (and beyond) do the same—we can carry on in good conscience.

Why are we singling out Scope 3 emissions?

When it comes to reducing emissions, setting net zero goals, or achieving carbon neutrality—Scope 3 emissions should always be part of the conversation. In a way, you can even think of Scope 3 emissions as a way to sift through greenwashers. If an “eco-conscious” brand or business doesn’t acknowledge its Scope 3 emissions, you can bet that they’re not truly walking the walk.

You see, Scope 3 emissions result from activities and assets that are not owned or controlled by the reporting organization (for example, items purchased from third-party suppliers, emissions from business travel, accumulated waste in landfills, and the like). While the reporting company is not directly responsible for these emissions, they still indirectly impact the company’s value chain and make up a significant portion of overall emissions.

It’s tempting for companies to make net zero claims once they’ve squared away their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, resolving that Scope 3 emissions are “someone else’s problem.”

And that’s the issue. To the planet, emissions are emissions no matter what scope they fall under. If we don’t all take responsibility for our direct and indirect contributions, we’ll have a hard time moving towards a better climate future.

To give you an idea of how expansive Scope 3 emissions are—as a global sustainable packaging company with over 500 suppliers, 77% of our 2021 emissions fall under Scope 3. Can you imagine if we claimed carbon neutrality while 77% of our total emissions were left unchecked? Now, can you imagine if other “sustainable packaging companies” or “sustainable brands” did the same?

Why is this particularly important in the packaging industry?

The packaging solutions industry holds a unique position.

True sustainable packaging solutions can serve as a catalyst in the journey towards a circular economy. Not only do we, as packaging solutions providers, have our own Scope 3 emissions—but we are Scope 3 emissions for hundreds of brands across multiple industries. Not to mention, global online shopping is at an all-time high, and so is the consumer demand for eco-conscious products and sustainable packaging.

With our toes in so many different pools, we have a responsibility to act in the best interest of the planet. At GPA Global, we take great pride in our client-centric model and understand that the environmental efforts we put forth reflect back on the clients that depend on us—and that’s not something we take lightly.

By prioritizing the reduction of our Scope 3 emissions, we’re able to better ensure that sustainability is built into our supply chain, such that our sustainability efforts are not empty claims. This way, we’re better able to act in the best interest of the planet, our clients, and their consumers—so we can help move everyone towards a circular economy.

Consider the whole package.

What can we do in the short term and long term to keep Scope 3 emissions in check?

We’ll be the first to admit that we don’t have all the answers, and our Scope 3 emissions are not “in check”. And we believe acknowledging that is the first step. From there, we encourage everyone to:

• Start conversations. Just like we’re doing right now, we encourage you to start conversations with yourself, your company, your stakeholders, and anyone else who will listen. We’ve found that, even if you’re in a transitional period like us, you can still provide useful ideas, evidence, and advice to inspire those around you.
• Quantify current emissions. 80% of our Scope 3 emissions are a result of purchased goods and services. We currently have data for around 20% of our Scope 3 emissions via our suppliers. This isn’t perfect, but it’s a great start.
• Set realistic and transparent goals. We’ve set a goal to understand 50% of our Scope 3 emissions from our suppliers by 2030. As a global sustainable packaging company with over 500 suppliers, we feel this goal is realistic, achievable, and most importantly—transparent.
• Come up with plans to achieve these goals. We’ve partnered with sustainability reporting platform, UL360, to collect our site’s sustainability data, and we’ve used their platform, Turbo Carbon, to record data for our supplier sites. These platforms will remain key in our goal to understand 50% of our Scope 3 emissions via our suppliers.

On top of this, Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) not only allow us to provide our clients and stakeholders with granular data on the footprint of our products and our progress towards circularity—but they also serve as a reminder to maintain a holistic outlook on sustainability.

At the end of the day, sustainability is a complex multilayered subject, and maintaining a 360-degree outlook while also breaking down and confronting specific areas of improvement—such as Scope 3 emissions—is paramount for progress. This journey is not, and never will be, someone else’s problem.

The post Scope 3 Emissions: If You Want to Consider the Whole Package appeared first on GPA Global.

We’ve held an EcoVadis certificate for several years, but our new rating places us within the top 1% of companies assessed by EcoVadis.

Our commitment to sustainability has been entrenched since day one; GPA Global started life as Green Packaging Asia. We make sure everyone involved in our manufacturing processes works to our sustainability standards.

The EcoVadis assessment examines a company’s sustainability strategy, concentrating on four primary areas: the environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

GPA Global did well in each of the four areas, but especially in Labor & Human Rights and Sustainable Procurement.

Our Platinum Sustainability Rating was awarded in March 2022 and is valid for a year.

The post GPA Global awarded Platinum Sustainability Rating from EcoVadis appeared first on GPA Global.

At GPA Global, we take sustainability seriously. Since 2007, we have been pioneering innovative global packaging solutions that work for both people and planet, with the environment always being our top priority.

That is why we are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the Valpak Packaging Certificate!

What’s Valpak Packaging Certificate?

The Valpak Packaging Compliance Scheme is the largest of its kind in the UK, and ensures that companies who handle large amounts of packaging comply with UK Packaging Waste Regulations.

We are proud to say that throughout 2021, GPA Global has met these regulations, maintaining our commitment to the environment.

What are Packaging Waste Regulations?

Packaging Waste Regulations were first introduced to the UK in 1997, as the first piece of legislation aimed at producer responsibility. These rules were put in place to help relevant producers reduce the amount of packaging waste created, reduce the amount of packaging waste in landfills, and increase the volume of packaging waste which is recycled and recovered.

GPA Global Packaging Solutions

As registered members of Valpak, we at GPA Global, ensure that we take full responsibility for our environmental impact by paying for the recovery and recycling of the packaging waste we produce that enters the UK waste stream.

But that’s not all – ever mindful of the constant need for improvement when it comes to sustainability, we also pay for Valpak’s ‘Data Insights’ service.

This service allows the experts at Valpak to collate and analyze all of our packaging data, ensuring that we do not leave a stone unturned when it comes to maximizing our protection of the environment.

This data and our yearly submission were vigorously checked by Environmental Compliance Officers, before being sent along to the Environment Agency.

Our Planet. Our Business.

We believe that taking environmental responsibility shouldn’t just end at meeting government standards for packaging.

GPA Global was founded in 2007 by Adam Melton and Tom Wang in an attempt to combat the worrying amounts of toxic waste generated by the packaging industry worldwide.

We envisaged a greener, more sustainable future for packaging, which would still provide users with premium quality products. Since then, we have consistently been at the forefront of the industry, pioneering innovative packaging solutions which prioritize sustainability without sacrificing on style or functionality.

Whether through sourcing the most eco-friendly materials, exploring renewable energy options or localizing our supply chains, we are always seeking new ways to champion sustainability.

Sustainable Luxury Packaging

Our Eco-Logic range of luxury packaging combined cutting-edge material science with our more traditional skill sets, resulting in a gorgeous line of completely biodegradable packaging. The use of molded pulp, soy-based inks, water-based glue and recyclable foils mean that the range’s eco credentials are second to none, while the elegant designs perfectly illustrate the fact that sustainable packaging solutions can also be sleek and stylish.

In 2021 we launched our Incept Sustainability training initiative, an innovative system which aimed to equip our staff with sustainability knowledge and training, while also surveying their opinions and queries.

We’ve been able to pinpoint areas where more attention is required, which has increased our ability to produce more eco friendly innovations as a result of a two-way dialogue.

We are determined to strike the perfect balance between people and planet, minimizing our impact on the environment while providing high quality products for consumers and funding community wellbeing.

And all that’s just for starters: you can find out more about our environmental targets here.

Sustainable Packaging & Innovations

As ever, sustainability remains the beating heart behind everything we do. We are thrilled to have received our Valpak Packaging Certificate for 2021, and you can bet that throughout 2022 we will continue to strive towards a greener, cleaner future for the packaging industry.

The post GPA Global awarded the Valpak Packaging Certificate 2021 appeared first on GPA Global.

In the past few years, we’ve made huge steps forward with our sustainability mission – just recently, we launched Eco-Logic, a range of fully biodegradable luxury pack formats for the cosmetics sector.

Now, we’re proud to present another eco-friendly packaging innovation, this time from the laminate film experts at Nobelus. The new product in our offering is EcoElement CLS, a biodegradable film that ticks every box for functionality and sustainability. Read on to learn more.

What is EcoElement CLS?

EcoElement CLS is a bio-based thermal laminate film made with sustainably sourced wood pulp. Unlike traditional plastic films, EcoElement CLS is fully biodegradable and suitable for home composting.

Features:

• 1.4 Mil thickness
• Matte and gloss finishes
• Adheres to most substrates
• PEFC Certified wood pulp
• ISO 14001 Certified
• BPI Certified

What applications does EcoElement CLS have?

This sustainable laminate film can be used across a variety of packaging formats and styles, including:

• Folded carton
• Secondary cosmetics packaging
• Wines & spirits packaging
• Luxury packaging
• Electronics packaging
• Consumer goods packaging
• Flexible packaging

What GPA Global can offer

We know that for many of our clients, sustainability is a number one concern. That’s why we’ve partnered with Nobelus to become an official beta test site for this exciting new product.

Our team has been busy testing out the varied applications offered by EcoElement, and we’re now ready to make it available to our eco-conscious clients. This versatile laminate film is an excellent alternative to traditional plastic materials and can be used in countless ways, from wrapping card stock to creating window effects on pulp parts.

Whether you’re crafting a simple folding carton, a flexible pouch or a luxurious secondary pack, EcoElement is the material you’ve been waiting for.

To find out more, get in touch with the GPA Global team today.

The post Introducing EcoElement: the new eco-friendly film from Nobelus appeared first on GPA Global.

Unfortunately, there’s often a gap between the promises that companies make to their consumers, and the manufacturing processes they utilize behind closed doors – in other words, not all products and services are as sustainable as they seem.

The good news is, governments around the world are beginning to close the loopholes that allow for this “greenwashing”. In the UK, the government is implementing Climate-related Financial Disclosures from April, which will hold businesses more accountable when it comes to sustainability. In the US, lawmakers in California have introduced ground-breaking legislation about product labeling, which will prevent manufacturers from making deceptive or misleading claims about the recyclability of their products.

In other words, 2022 is going to be a massive year for sustainability across all sectors.

For packaging manufacturers, this means big changes – and big opportunities – are on the horizon. If you’re keen to get ahead of the curve, take a look at the packaging solutions that we think we will be huge in the coming year.

Reusable packaging

The concept of a reusable pack is not a new one, but in 2022 we’ll start seeing it everywhere.

In the in-store environment, businesses can offer consumers the opportunity to buy reusable glass, aluminum or plastic containers which can be filled with the product of their choice and topped up whenever needed. Ecommerce brands, meanwhile, should focus on providing refills in reduced packaging – an area where flexible packaging (see section below) can really come into its own – and offering free returns so that empty packaging can be sent back.

This approach is already proving successful for cosmetics brands like MAC, La Mer, Kiehl’s, UpCircle and The Body Shop, who are offering a range of refillable products in bottles, tubs, lipsticks and palettes. In 2022, it will be interesting to see how the same approach is used by brands within other sectors.

Better plastics & plastics recycling

It’s a misconception that all plastic packaging is equally damaging to the environment and should be banned from use. In fact, there are many contexts where a plastic container may be the more sustainable choice when compared to a non-plastic container, once you factor in manufacturing costs, recyclability and functional aspects like food safety and shelf-life.

In other words, we don’t expect 2022 to be the year that we see an end to plastics. Instead, we’ll see manufacturers using far fewer virgin plastics and more recycled plastics, and in general moving away from plastic varieties that are associated with the most pollution and waste.

The Good Plastics Company is already making waves with its recycled and recyclable plastic sheets, while engineering pioneers around the world are finding innovative ways to breathe new life into old plastics – in Nzambi Matee’s case by creating incredibly durable building materials.

For consumers looking to reduce their use of plastics, top tips include:

• Buying plastics that are wholly or partially manufactured from recycled content
• Avoiding dark colored plastics, which are generally harder to recycle
• Avoiding plastic wraps, bags and films wherever possible

Plastic alternatives

In addition to finding better ways to use and recycle plastics, 2022 will also be a year in which plastic alternatives surge in popularity – and, perhaps, even become the norm.

Sustainable packaging materials that can be used in place of plastic include those which are biodegradable, compostable and even dissolvable – read about starch-based packing peanuts if you don’t believe us! Another good route is to use materials that are easier to recycle and have a longer lifespan than recyclable plastics. Of course in both cases, manufacturers have a responsibility to look at the overall life-cycle of the material to determine which is best suited to the job.

For rigid bottles, tubs and containers, tin and aluminum are two excellent alternatives to traditional plastics, as they are durable, food-safe and can be easily recycled many times over without loss of quality. Lightweight, shaped and flexible packaging, meanwhile, can be recreated with bioplastics, which are made using renewable biomass sources like vegetable oils and corn starch.

At GPA, one of our favorite plastic alternatives is molded pulp. This is a material made from recycled paper or natural fibers blended with water and pressed into molds. The benefits of molded pulp are that it’s fully compostable and biodegradable, uses renewable “tree-free” sources, and achieves a smooth, lightweight and easily customizable finish.

High-recycled content packaging

In the next few years, we’re going to see governments around the world taking action to encourage the use of recycled materials. In the UK from April 2022, plastic packaging imported to or produced in the UK will be subject to a new tax based on its content of recycled material – anything less than 30% means the manufacturer will have to pay up.

We’ll also continue to see a big push towards recycled paper products. These have applications across primary, secondary and tertiary packaging – from the shower-friendly paper bottles pioneered by L’Oréal to recycled corrugated boxes and paper void fill.

Flexible packaging

Flexible packaging is packaging that eschews the rigid structure of boxes, bottles and tubs in favor of bag and pouch formats. The sustainability benefits of flexible packaging are less to do with the materials used – which include paper, aluminum and plastic – and more to do with 1) shelf-life, and 2) material, warehousing and transit costs.

A piece of flexible packaging like a resealable pouch is ideal for food products, as it allows for easy and food-safe storage. Moreover, it’s lightweight, uses less plastic and is cheaper to produce than rigid packaging, and takes up very little space in storage and during transit. This results in reduced transportation costs, a smaller carbon footprint and less pollution overall.

An area where we can expect to see flexible packaging really shine is where it overlaps with reusable packaging. Many cosmetics companies are already utilizing flexible pouches to enable the refill of rigid bottles and tubs.

Minimalism

“Minimalism” may have had its heyday as an interior design concept in the 1990s and early 2000s, but right now it’s starting to come into its own within packaging.

This “less is more” approach will see packaging stripped back to its essentials – not simply because a functional aesthetic is in vogue, but because the modern, eco-conscious consumer is drawn to packaging that doesn’t reek of needless waste. In other words? It’s OK to keep things simple!

A particularly austere and eco-friendly approach is offered by the mono-material pack i.e. one that is made almost entirely from one material. Over at GPA Cannabis, our team has developed a mono-material, paperboard sliding tray with a paper rather than plastic insert, allowing the entire pack to be disposed of in the paper recycling bin once finished. We manufactured something similar for RAIN’s Botanical Mist Pen, using soy inks to ensure enhanced sustainability.

Zero-waste packaging

At the most extreme end of the sustainable packaging spectrum is no packaging at all – but, in practice, what does this really look like?

Boldly eco-conscious brands like Lush have made huge steps forward with packaging-free beauty products. Today, their range includes classic staples like solid soap and bath bombs, as well as innovations like solid shampoo and massage bars – but we can expect them to expand the range further in 2022 to eliminate packaging wherever possible.

A similar approach has been embraced by certain grocery chains, including The Clean Kilo (Birmingham, UK) and Precycle (Brooklyn, US). With this style of shopping, fresh and dried produce is stored “loose” and packaging-free, and can be taken away in desired quantities by the shopper using a reusable container brought from home, or purchased in-store.

While we applaud any business tactic that successfully reduces waste, there’s no denying that this is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and it simply won’t work for a lot of businesses. In particular, it’s a system that can only function within the physical retail environment, which means this style of shopping excludes those people unable to shop in person.

Beyond that, the plastic wraps and containers used on products like fresh food are often there for a reason – to prolong freshness, offer a longer shelf-life and reduce food wastage. In short, cutting out all packaging isn’t always the best way to do your bit for the environment, which is why brands need to approach this topic with care and consideration.

Partner with GPA Global to achieve your sustainability goals

If you’re a brand looking to get ahead of the curve with sustainability, we can help. We were founded on sustainable principles and have years of experience working with renewable and recyclable materials.

To learn more about how we apply our sustainable approach to crafting exceptional packaging, check out our portfolio. Otherwise, get in touch with our team and we’ll talk you through the GPA ethos – you’ll find our contact details here.

The post A guide to sustainable packaging trends for 2022 appeared first on GPA Global.

Here at GPA, we’re always looking for ways to operate more sustainably, and to help our clients achieve their sustainability goals. For our latest project, we’ve created a new range of biodegradable packaging made from molded pulp to demonstrate our capabilities within the luxury cosmetics sector.

This is Eco-Logic, from GPA Global.

Butterfly

The first pack in our range is Butterfly, a container box designed to store multiple cosmetics items.

We used wet-press technology to craft the moulded pulp insert for this telescoping pack. In brief, this means that we applied wet pulp to heated moulds, where it was pressed and dried, resulting in superior dimensional accuracy and an exceptionally smooth finish that evokes the look and feel of thermoformed plastic. Unlike thermoformed plastic, however, this material is 100% compostable.

We wrapped the exterior of our Butterfly pack in black paper, embellished with a pink and gold floral design. Further embellishments include gold foil piping around the edges of the lid and a pattern of spot UV butterflies, which continues onto the base of the pack.

All inks used on this pack are sustainably made from soybeans. Compared to traditional petroleum-based ink, soy-based ink is accepted as more environmentally friendly. The adhesives are all white glue, which is water-based, and all foils are recyclable.

Upon lifting the lid, the user is presented with the complex inner fitment, which is topped with a layer of gold card and can hold a variety of cosmetic products. On the inner face of the lid, we added aluminum transfer paper embellished with the same butterfly pattern as the exterior. Unlike regular silver cards, this transfer paper isn’t coated in a polypropylene film, which means it remains 100% biodegradable.

This eco-friendly cosmetics packaging is the ideal solution for gift sets, influencer kits, and limited-edition product launches.

Leaf

The second pack in our new range is Leaf. Based on a shoebox design that is similar to Butterfly, this elegant pack was crafted using the same wet-press moulded pulp technique and utilizes soy inks, water-based white glue, and recyclable foils.

We wrapped the exterior in FSC-certified paper printed with a stylish, modern botanical design, and once again added subtle embellishments with gold foil. The base of the box is grey with a subtle spot UV leaf pattern.

Inside we inserted the molded pulp fitment, which has been fashioned to hold a small selection of cosmetics products and topped with matte grey card. As with Butterfly, we added biodegradable aluminum transfer paper to the inner face of the lid.

This is another example of pulp packaging that has countless applications with cosmetics.

Peacock

Our third pack, Peacock, has a different style to the first two, although it is also been constructed from wet-press molded pulp and utilizes eco-friendly materials like water-based white glue and recyclable foils. We crafted this as a standing box with a hinged door that opens to reveal three fitments.

The most distinctive aspect of this pack – aside from the striking purple Peacock design on the front – is that it is coated in a deep blue, suede-like material delicately embossed with various patterns. We continued this material onto the interior of the pack, using it to coat the molded pulp fitments that hold the cosmetics.

This ingenious material was sourced from Winter & Company and is called Suedel® Luxe Recycled. Not only is it fully biodegradable, but it also offers an efficient solution to the problem of material wastage in cotton production. Winter & Company collects, cleans, and processes cotton waste before applying it to a recycled paper base, thereby helping to “close the loop”.

For luxury cosmetics brands seeking a heightened textural aspect for their packaging, this material is a fantastic option.

Get in touch with us to learn more

If you’re a brand in the luxury sector – whether you work within cosmetics, spirits, or jewellery – GPA  is here to help you bring your most ambitious briefs to life.

Our team has over two decades experience within the luxury sector and has bagged some of the biggest industry awards – including Luxury Supplier of the Year at the Luxury Packaging Awards.

If you have a project that requires our expertise, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The post Eco-Logic: our range of luxury packaging with sustainability at the heart of the design appeared first on GPA Global.

For Sofie, one-third of the Incept Sustainability founding team, influencing how corporate sustainability works in organizations today and tomorrow, is the driving force behind their innovative training tool – a tool that combines E-learning with employee surveying and idea collation.

For GPA, innovation has been key to our sustainable development. So it was only fitting that our entire team had access to the most innovative sustainability training out there.

We spoke to Sofie about how Incept has changed the game when it comes to sustainability training; offering the corporate world the training it not only wants, but needs.

Thanks for speaking to us Sofie! So tell me, how did Incept Sustainability come into being and why did you develop an E-learning tool?

“It’s great to speak to you! So, the journey started back in 2018. At the time I was interning at a start-up in Stockholm. The company started a team-building exercise where employees were invited to present internally on a topic that interested them.
 
Being passionate about sustainability, I took no time getting to work on my presentation.
 
The reaction was as encouraging as it was shocking.
 
I was amazed that the sustainability angle had hardly been explored in a company full of potential – but I guess, when you’re in the sustainability bubble, it’s very hard to see outside of it.  
 
Nonetheless, a lot of discussion was sparked afterwards, with input coming from such varied places within the company – allowing me to see nuances I hadn’t before.
 
I knew that the gaps in people’s knowledge was a real red flag – feeling compelled to do something, I contacted Katherine and our journey began. Shortly after, Alexa came on board and Incept Sustainability was born.

In the beginning, we had intended to run the tool exclusively as a training program – a training program that sought to provide respondents with direct impetus to operate more sustainably.”  

“For instance, instead of testing people solely on what they know about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the questions we pose delve deeper – exploring how motivated respondents are to work with SDGs, while also allowing them to discuss what obstacles are preventing their organization from fully embracing them into their sustainability strategies.

It was just before the first pilot that Alexa said: “why don’t we study the answers from activity questions afterwards? I think there might be a lot to learn” – and she was right. From this, we started to actively combine the training and the surveying, creating an unprecedented type of training!
 
With a pool of feedback, we could then provide an analytics service, allowing companies to build a two-way communication around sustainability.”

I think that’s what makes the Incept process so unique, tell me more about the process after the training is completed.

“Typically E-learning is a linear process, one which is generally limited to several hours. And when it’s done, its done, without you being able to comprehensively gauge how effective the training was.
 
With Incept you can take training further off the back of all the feedback and ideas, while also being able to benchmark yourselves through our analytics.

Essentially meaning you can pinpoint exactly where more attention needs to be directed.”

That’s so important! For GPA, it was a must that every member of our team had access to this same, ground-breaking training. So, considering the current environmental crisis we’re living through, how important is it that every employee gets access to the same training?

“I think it’s essential. But it goes beyond training of course because without action, training is pointless. 
 
You see it so often – large organizations with a Corporate Social Responsibility team, of let’s say, five or six people, max! That team is then dealing with a huge task. 
 
So, sustainability really must be part of everyone’s job – it’s a universal issue, so the response must be also. 
 
That’s also why continued training is so important, training that not just informs, but engages.”

Absolutely! I think that’s such an important sentiment. Especially as eyes are very much focused on the corporate world, in terms of driving change. Do you think it’s essential then that companies embed sustainability into every aspect of their operations?

“What we need to see is large-scale corporate change, and fast. But this can only be achieved if sustainability is embraced by all.”

“When 50% of all change projects fail, it’s essential sustainability change projects don’t, because we simply can’t afford to let them.”

I couldn’t agree more. So what’s the end goal for Incept Sustainability? And what impact would you like it to have long term?

“On the most basic level, I just want to have engaged as many people as possible. But as a tool, we don’t want to stop where we are.
 
While getting feedback is essential, it’s vital that companies act on that feedback. So long-term, we would ideally want to be supporting the organizations we work with on their journey. So that it’s as easy as possible for them to follow-up on the challenges and opportunities raised through the feedback while continuing to provide additional training and guidance to further their sustainable development.”

Contact GPA Global today

If sustainability is as pressing an issue for you, as it is for us, get in touch to find out about our sustainable packaging solutions

The post Incept Sustainability training: keeping our team engaged appeared first on GPA Global.

If you’ve been keeping up with the GPA story you’ll know that they have a commitment to supporting sustainable charity initiatives across the world. You might also know that they’ve spent the past few years collaborating with Captivating International on an exciting charity project in China.

The project was set up to provide poor families in Qinghai Province with their own greenhouses. In certain rural villages within this part of China many families scrape together a living by growing their own produce – but most struggle to make any profit, on average bringing in less than 6,000CNY (around 900USD) each year.

This limited income makes it hard for families to afford basic necessities and healthcare. Parents here also struggle to send their children to school, preventing them from getting a good education and attaining higher-paying jobs.

The Greenhouse Project is managed by Captivating’s Bason Lhamo and is partnered with SHAMTSE. This Qinghai-based charity works with the poorest villages in the region, all of which sit at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres, making living conditions for the families there even more challenging.

Not only does a greenhouse enable a family to cultivate fresh produce for their own table, it’s also a fantastic way of bringing in extra income. Our hope is that, as the project continues, parents will be able to save up money and send their children to school, keeping them in education for longer than they would otherwise be able to afford.

In addition to receiving a greenhouse, families are trained on how to grow quality vegetables, and taught about pesticide-free pest control and growing organic produce for the market.

Beyond that, the Greenhouse Project is just a fantastic way of bringing communities and families together. We hear that local kids get involved in the building, helping their parents to lay the bricks for their own greenhouse!

GPA Global history with the Greenhouse Project

GPA partnership with Captivating first started in 2013 when we supported the charity’s second annual Kidz With Heart Mini Olympics. Two years later, the Greenhouse Project commenced, with funding from GPA. We have continued to fund 50% of the project since 2015, matching donations to ensure that as many families can benefit from the initiative.

The following is a rundown of how many people have benefitted from the project each year since it began:

• 2015: 43 families and an estimated 86 children
• 2016: 84 families and an estimated 168 children
• 2017: 159 families and an estimated 318 children
• 2018: 130 families and an estimated 260 children

This year, funding for a further 111 families and 222 children has been secured, although the greenhouses themselves are yet to be constructed.

In total, 527 families and over 1,000 children have benefitted from the Greenhouse Project, allowing them to live better and more financially secure lives.

The trickle down effect is that 1,000 children growing up in Qinghai will have improved access to education, and later on, higher paying jobs. As these children become parents themselves they will have the capability to support their families and send their own children to school – and it’s all thanks to a simple greenhouse.

An update on the project from January 2019

Since the GPA Global team committed to funding the project in 2015 we’ve been receiving regular updates on its progress.

Families who have received their greenhouses have already begun to report excellent results. The crops yielded from these greenhouses have netted participating families profits of 4,000-5,000CNY per year (600-750USD). The project has particularly led to improvement in the lives of single mothers, and parents struggling to send their children to school.

With each year that the project continues, we are learning more and more about how to implement these greenhouses efficiently and on budget – in short, things are only getting better!

The Captivating International story

Captivating International is a Hong Kong-based charity committed to helping children and families who have become trapped in poverty, or found their lives negatively impacted by injustice.

Started by Andrew and Julie Colquhoun in 2006, the charity initially focused on poverty and inequality in China, but soon expanded to cover Kenya, Nepal and the Philippines.

Captivating’s three focus areas are:

1. Educating girls
2. Ending poverty
3. Stopping human trafficking

We’re delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with such a fantastic charity, and to have supported a project that is already having a tangible effect upon the lives of hundreds of men, women and children.

Visit the Captivating International website to find out more about the vital work they do.

How to get involved!

We are tremendously proud of the success of the Greenhouse Project, and we will continue to fund the initiative for as long as it benefits families in need – but we need your help to do so.

For every donation you make to the Greenhouse Project, GPA will donate the same amount. It’s our goal to fund 200 more Greenhouses, and the only way we can do that is with the help of people just like you!

Those who fund an entire greenhouse by donating just 500 USD, will receive a full implementation report on how their greenhouse was constructed, and updates on how the recipient families have benefitted.

The post The Greenhouse Project: our campaign has provided a lifeline for 84 families in China appeared first on GPA Global.

According to this report from Deloitte, respondents questioned about their consumer habits over the past 12 months reported the following:

• 61% had limited their use of single-use plastics
• 39% had reduced the number of new products and goods they were buying
• 34% were choosing to actively buy from brands with environmentally sustainable practices and values

Perhaps most notable is that 28% reported they had stopped buying from brands where there were concerns about ethics or commitment to sustainability.

This trend appears to be even stronger amongst younger demographics – in 2015, almost 75% of millennials stated that they’d be willing to spend more money on sustainable brands.

The takeaway? Brands across every sector need to start putting more time and resources into sustainability if they want to ensure that they’ll maintain a loyal customer base in the coming years.

Luckily, the technology surrounding eco-friendly materials has come a long way from its early days. Today, cosmetics brands – and particularly those in the luxury sector – have a vast array of options when it comes to sustainable materials, including moulded (or molded) pulp.

At GPA we view paper pulp as one of our core product offerings, alongside carton board and rigid box.  With production sites in the US and Asia – and a site in Europe to follow – we’re able to significantly improve your brand’s sustainability credentials by coordinating your global packaging requirements via our local supply bases. Read on to learn more.

What sustainability challenges does the cosmetics industry face?

Within the cosmetics industry, beauty products themselves can be an issue as many are made with polluting chemicals, or using ingredients or methods that are harmful to animals. However, a significant part of the problem is the packaging. The cosmetics industry alone is responsible for 120 billion units of packaging each year – a large proportion of which ends up in landfill due to complexities over recycling.

Cosmetics brands that want to reduce the impact they’re having on the environment should concentrate on finding ways to reduce the amount of, and the style of, the packaging they produce.

How can cosmetics brands improve their packaging?

Reduce packaging

The best way to reduce waste from packaging is to reduce packaging altogether. Many beauty brands have already begun leading the way on this – LUSH has even opened shops entirely free of packaging.

Of course, within cosmetics, it’s not always easy to cut back on packaging. Makeup containers tend to be small and self-contained, requiring airtight and watertight seals to ensure the product within isn’t compromised.

One option is to focus on reducing the secondary and tertiary packaging. Slimming and lightweighting a cardboard carton for lipstick may seem insignificant but these kinds of small changes add up over time, reducing transportation and storage costs and, in the process, creating less of an environmental impact.

Create refillable packs

An increasingly popular option for beauty brands is to create refillable packaging. Within the makeup sector this might involve lipstick tubes and eyeshadow palettes that can be refilled with a new insert – usually for much less money than a replacement would cost.

Many luxury cosmetics brands are leading the way on this front, including Estée Lauder, Dior, Charlotte Tilbury, Kjaer Weiss, M.A.C. and Guerlain.

Make recycling easier

Recycling cosmetics packs has always been notoriously difficult. Bottles, tubes and tubs are often made from multiple plastics and can contain complex components like pumps, which are difficult or even impossible to recycle. Mascara wands, lipstick tubes and eyeshadow palettes can be even more tricky to dispose of in an environmentally friendly way.

The good news is, recycling schemes dedicated to cosmetics waste are starting to crop up around the UK and the rest of the world. Many big cosmetics brands have partnered with TerraCycle, a scheme that allows consumers to recycle their makeup waste – either by dropping it off at an in-store recycling station, or sending it away in a prepaid box.

Cut back on plastics

Most cosmetics products come packaged in some form of plastic, whether it’s a bottle, tube, lid, cap or film. While not all plastics are equally polluting (some can be very efficiently recycled), cosmetics brands should be looking for ways to step away from virgin plastic usage wherever possible.

Some brands are finding inventive ways to revitalise their approach to plastic. REN released a range of bottles made from 80% recycled plastic and 20% recovered ocean plastics. Others are turning to plastic alternatives such as moulded pulp.

What is moulded pulp?

Moulded (or molded) pulp is a highly sustainable packaging material that is made from renewable and biodegradable resources like recycled paper. Depending on the raw materials used, the moulded pulp will have a different colour, surface texture, strength and overall finish.

There are multiple applications for moulded pulp, as it can be shaped and finished in a variety of ways, making it a good option for brands in the luxury sector.

For environmentally-conscious consumers, moulded pulp has far greater appeal than plastics.

How is moulded pulp made?

Moulded pulp is made by blending water with recycled paper or natural fibres. Together, these substances form a slurry which can be easily formed with custom tools that bind the fibres together into the desired shape. The next stage is pressing and drying.

Dry press involves taking the product directly to a heater or air drying it to remove moisture, then pressing it into shape.

Semi-wet press involves putting the product through a drier then through a hot press transfer moulding process – this helps achieve a smoother surface.

Wet press enables the smoothest and most refined finish, comparable to plastic. The product is taken through a thermoforming process during which it is dried and smoothed in a mould.

Finally, any protruding edges are trimmed and recycled back into the pulp, along with any other waste materials.

Why is moulded pulp sustainable?

Moulded pulp is 100% recyclable and can be made from fully recycled materials, or – depending on requirements – a mixture of recycled and virgin materials. At GPA, we make sure the pulp we manufacture ticks the following boxes:

• Fully compostable and biodegradable
• Zero waste as scrap can be re-pulped in the slurry
• Uses renewable “tree-free” resources which have a quick harvest turn-around and a short grow time

We use a few different sustainable materials to make our moulded pulp, including:

• Bagasse, fibrous waste from sugarcane or sorghum plants after they have been juiced to create other products
• Shredded bamboo, which has fibres similar in strength and length to softwood
• Wheat straw, the stalk of the wheat plant left over after the grains have been removed
• Newsprint (ONP)
• Corrugated cardboard (OCC)
• Paper

Which packaging formats can be made with moulded pulp?

The beauty of moulded pulp is that it can be adapted to a variety of packaging formats. For cosmetics brands, it can be an excellent material for the following:

• Interior cushioning
• Liner trays
• Exterior/secondary packaging

What colours and finishes are available with moulded pulp?*

For cosmetics brands, and particularly those in the luxury sector, there may be some concern about the appearance of moulded pulp. Traditionally, it has had a rough, brown, “natural” appearance which lends itself well to tertiary packaging or food products, but not to high-end and high-value items.

However, the technology surrounding moulded pulp has advanced hugely in recent years, meaning that clients now have a wide range of options when it comes to the colour, texture and finish of their moulded pulp product.

At GPA we offer a wide range of options, ensuring that our clients get the look and feel they want from their product every time.

Thermoforming for a “plastic smooth” finish

Our thermoforming wet press technology offers an incredibly refined finish resembling plastic. This style is well suited to secondary packs such as cartons and cases.

Different fibres for different finishes

We can achieve a variety of finishes with moulded pulp, simply by changing the mix of raw materials. Some of the smoothest finishes can be achieved with bagasse and bamboo, or a combination of the two. For a less refined, more “recycled” look, 100% OCC (corrugated cardboard) is a good option.

Colour options

Moulded pulp can be colour-matched to any Pantone shade, ensuring your packaging aligns perfectly with your branding and product.

Varied coatings

The final finish on your moulded pulp can range from natural – unbleached grey or brown – through to an oil-based coating that looks and feels like plastic.

We also offer:

• Soft-touch coating for a matte finish
• Spray-on coating for a semi-gloss finish
• Film laminate for water resistance
• Textured paper laminate
• Wood grain laminate
• Flocking for a velvety finish

Embellishments

We can add a variety of embellishments to your moulded pulp product, including:

• Emboss/deboss
• Silk screen printing
• Hot foil stamping

*Although at GPA we are constantly searching for sustainable coating options, some of the above may affect the recyclability of the pack.

Partner with GPA Luxury to meet your sustainable luxury needs

If you’re a cosmetics brand looking for ways to improve on sustainability, a partnership with GPA Luxury could help. Having worked with some of the most high-profile cosmetics and spirits brands in the world for the past twenty years, our expertise within the luxury sector is unparalleled.

With the support and international reach of our parent company GPA Global, we’re able to offer a fantastically advanced level of technological capability, as well as a firm commitment to sustainable ideals.

We can provide cutting-edge moulded pulp packaging, as well as a variety of other sustainable pack formats and materials – and we’re proud to say that there are further exciting innovations and developments on the way. Take a look at our sustainable cosmetic packaging from GPA Global.

The post Is moulded pulp the answer? appeared first on GPA Global.

Another Captivating program we have funded is Pigs for Poverty, also based in Qinghai. This project helps families – and particularly single mothers – to set up as pig farmers, giving them the resources and skills they need to make money rearing and selling piglets. The program has been running for several years and has already helped hundreds of families across the region.

What Pigs for Poverty offers

When taken care of properly, a healthy sow can produce two litters of piglets each year (on average, 18 in total). After a month, the piglets can be weaned and sold at market, raising around RMB400 ($60) each. With two sows, this equates to RMB14,400 ($2,000).

Even factoring in expenses such as vaccinations, food, vet visits, and breeding costs, it is expected that a family will profit by RMB10,000 per year ($1,500). This extra income (on top of income from other work carried out through the year) will move a family above the poverty line, increasing their disposable income and helping them consume a healthier and more nutritious diet. Additionally, children are more likely to stay in school.

Families who participate are given two quality, disease-resistant sows and the knowledge of how to save money, keep to a budget, and invest in their business. Additionally, they are taught:

• How to feed their pigs to maximize growth
• How to care for a breeding sow to maximize piglet production
• How to keep their pigs disease-free
• How to get the best market rate for their pigs

Running a pig business is a great way for women to increase their status and income. It removes the need for single mothers to go into the city for work, letting them stay at home in their village and work while taking care of their children.

An update from 2019

In 2019, Captivating managed to help a total of 200 families as part of Pigs for Poverty. Each family received two breeding pigs and training in pig husbandry and small business budgeting.

One single mother who benefited from the program in 2019 is 48-year-old Baiyuhua. Baiyuhua lives in a village in remote Qinghai and is solely responsible for the financial support and care of her three children. The family earns money from farming, however, their annual income is largely dependent on the quality of each harvest – most farming families only earn RMB3,000-5,000 ($460-770) in a year.

With Baiyuhua’s health declining, she can no longer perform much of the heavy work that farming requires. Additionally, she has been forced to choose between sending her children to school to receive an education and keeping them at home to work and bring in much-needed income.

But having joined the Pigs for Poverty program earlier this year, things look set to change for Baiyuhua and her family. With her two breeding sows, she has the opportunity to bring in profits of RMB10,000 per year ($1,500). She is now far more optimistic about her future and the educational prospects for her children.

“It’s a good thing to know that you are helping single mothers to support pig breeding businesses,” says Baiyuhua. “I am very lucky to have your support. Although I am not good at doing business, I think I can raise pigs. It is not heavy work, and I can take care of my family. Thank you!”

Click HERE to read more about Baiyuhua, and see some photos of her new breeding sows!

How you can help

If you’d like to help people like Baiyuhua support their families and send their children to school, visit the Captivating International website today and make a donation.

The post Pigs for Poverty: a life changing initiative for farmers in Qinghai, China appeared first on GPA Global.

One hundred and fifty runners will take part in the 3km family fun run. Money raised will be used by the charity to support underprivileged children and families in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.

“The Shenzhen Santa Run took place for the first time in 2018, and we’re delighted to help bring the event back this year. Captivating does fantastic work helping improve education, end poverty, and stop human trafficking in some of the poorest regions of China and East Asia. We are very proud to have worked with them as a charity partner since 2013.” Adam Melton of GPA.

Captivating works alongside grassroots Chinese charities in remote locations to help improve the quality of life of residents, particularly young women and girls. Their initiatives, which include Pigs for Poverty and My First Job, focus on education and training. The schemes empower women, helping them to establish an income and a more stable future for themselves and their families.

GPA, which has an innovation center and manufacturing team based in Shenzhen, has a long relationship with the charity and recently sponsored a charity auction and gala event. The money raised at the event will enable 90 women to be trained as assistant chefs and professional tailors, 450 underprivileged students will receive financial support for their senior schooling, 57 girls will have a personal sponsor and 1,000 primary school students will have access to a volunteer teacher throughout the school year.

“We are so thankful for GPA’s support. Their partnership makes a huge difference to our events and consequently to our ability to support families in most need.

“The Santa Run is great fun for everyone involved, and we are very grateful to have permission to hold it again.” Andrew Colquhoun, Captivating International

For more information about the ru,n visit Captivating’s website.

The post We’re proud sponsors of Captivating International’s charity Santa Run appeared first on GPA Global.

An eco-friendly approach is also reflected in consumer shopping habits. Increasingly, people are looking to buy from brands that use sustainable and recyclable materials to create their products and packaging. In the US, nearly 54% of consumers consider a product’s impact on the world when making a purchase.

With consumer demand for eco-friendly options increasing, brands from every sector are starting to make sustainability a key priority. Many products and packs are now made from recycled and recyclable materials, using processes that reduce the manufacturer’s carbon footprint.

Even within the cosmetics sector, an area notorious for its “wasteful” packaging, we’ve seen some excellent strides forward – but many of us are still struggling to dispose of our used makeup in an eco-friendly way. If you’d like to know how to rescue your old lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes from landfill, read on for some simple tips.

Tips for recycling and reusing your makeup packs

Check local recycling guidelines

Recycling guidelines vary depending on where you live. You should be able to find out what you’re able to recycle by checking the website for the local council, municipality, or government authority in your region.

For different regions, there will be third party resources you can use to figure out what to recycle, and where you can recycle it. One excellent site in the US is Earth911 – enter the type of waste and your zip code to find a recycling plant or scheme nearby.

Separate out different components

Depending on local restrictions, you may not be able to recycle certain types of pack components. For instance, squeezable tubes, makeup brushes, and soap pumps don’t tend to be recyclable. However, the cardboard container or the plastic bottle those components came with may be perfect for recycling.

Use TerraCycle

Even if your local area has fantastic recycling provisions, there will always be some items that simply can’t go to a normal recycling plant. The good news is, there are other types of recycling scheme that you can use for items that would otherwise go to landfill.

TerraCycle is a global recycling scheme that has a presence in 21 different countries. The company is partnered with municipalities, manufacturing plants, and brands around the world and is dedicated to recycling items that are traditionally thought of as impossible to recycle.

One of their schemes is the Zero Waste Box. The idea is that the consumer buys a selection of boxes within a certain waste stream (e.g. beauty products). The boxes are delivered and the consumer gradually fills them up with unrecyclable cosmetics waste – when the boxes are full, they can be shipped back to TerraCycle using pre-paid postage. The items inside will be specially broken down and recycled by TerraCycle.

Countries involved with TerraCycle include the US, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, China, and Japan.

Find brands that offer refills or in-store recycling schemes

An alternative to recycling your beauty packaging is buying from brands or stores that allow you to reuse containers by refilling the product.

Brands that offer refills on creams, cleansers, lipsticks, eyeshadows, and other beauty and skincare products include:

• Fenty Beauty
• Charlotte Tilbury
• Dermalogica
• M.A.C
• REN

There are also plenty of brands that offer in-store recycling, where you can bring in your empty containers – often in exchange for products or store points.

Some brands, including Kiehl’s and Maybelline, are partnered with TerraCycle and in certain regions have recycling tubs in their stores where you can drop off your empties. The American department store Nordstrom has also partnered with TerraCycle to offer an in-store recycling scheme.

Other brands run their own recycling schemes. M.A.C runs the “Back to M.A.C” scheme in some locations, giving customers the opportunity to receive a free lipstick in exchange for six empty packaging containers being returned to the store. Lush also offers incentives for returning used containers.

Shop with brands creating sustainable and recyclable packs

When it comes to reducing cosmetics waste, the best thing you can do is shop with brands who specifically manufacture sustainably sourced and easy-to-recycle packaging. To achieve this, many brands are now partnering with experienced packaging manufacturers like GPA Global. Read on to find out more.

GPA Global and sustainable cosmetics packaging

If you’ve been following GPA Global since the early days you’ll know that sustainability is in our DNA. Having started life as Green Packaging Asia, we’ve held on tight to our green roots over the years, and today we’re one of the leading global providers of eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Sustainable materials

At GPA Global we love to push innovative new methods and materials. We use eco-friendly alternatives to plastic, such as sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, tin, and papers. We’ve also developed our own material, GreenBlister, a type of trapped blister packaging which is made from recycled and recyclable paperboard and plastic.

Fully recyclable packs

Creating a fully recyclable pack isn’t just about the base material – it’s also about the printing and embellishments. Some of the fully recyclable packs we’ve crafted in the past have featured soy inks, and have been created using recycled materials to create even less waste.

Reusable packs

We also reduce waste by creating packs with more than one use, or packs that are so beautifully constructed as to be a keepsake. This approach has been embraced by the team in our luxury department, where there is more capacity and budget to create truly exceptional packs.

One fantastic example is the pack we manufactured for the KITH x Estée Lauder Generational Beauty Kit. Our team crafted a clear, acrylic case to hold the makeup – with the fitment removed, it doubles as a stylish clutch purse.

International locations

As a global company, we’re able to manufacture and distribute from multiple locations, meaning we can reduce the polluting effects associated with international fulfilment and shipping.

A careful approach

When we create our sustainable packs, we’re careful to weigh up the materials and processes involved to ensure the best outcome for both the client and the environment. That means we don’t automatically opt for the material which, on paper, seems to be the eco-friendliest.

While some materials may be less polluting than plastics in the long-term, in the short-term the extensive manufacturing processes may lead to an increased carbon footprint.

To find out more about our green expertise, or to brief us about a packaging project, get in touch today. We have a skilled team working across the globe with expertise in almost every sector.

The post Getting rid of your cosmetics packaging: a guide to recycling your make-up appeared first on GPA Global.

We’ve been sponsoring Sunshine Academy’s Benefit Fair since 2014.

Sunshine Academy is a Chinese NGO based in Bao’an, Shenzhen. It was established in 2007 to provide opportunities for orphaned children living in government-run Social Welfare Centers. The Academy’s mission is to help educate, socialize and nurture vulnerable children living within these Centers, to ensure they go on to have fulfilled and productive lives.

Sunshine Academy programs include schooling, home-based activities, and outdoors adventures. Caregivers also run a Sunset Hours program where they provide an evening routine within a safe home environment, complete with snacks, bathing and bedtime. Additionally, Sunshine Academy runs a Vocational Education School for older students, and has recently employed a Special Education and autism expert to work with special needs children.

The aim is for Sunshine children to go on to public school, and ultimately be connected with a “forever family”.

The Annual Benefit Fair Fundraiser

Since 2008 Sunshine Academy has been hosting a Benefit Fair to raise funds. They encourage local companies and families to participate and donate, and channel income made from the sale of food, drink and activities into their various programs.

All administrative costs associated with the Benefit Fair are underwritten by Sunshine Academy’s founders, Emily and Brad Bauer. This ensures that 100% of donations are channeled directly into the charity programs. Over the years, funds raised through the event have allowed Sunshine to grow and grow. Having started out with just three employees working in two Centers, the Sunshine team now consists of eight staff members working across 12 Centers.

Since 2014, GPA Global has been involved with this amazing cause, supporting them with considerable financial donations, but the GPA team rolls up their sleeves and participates in so many activities directly related to this cause.

This year the Benefit Fair will be held on November 2nd from 10am to 3pm at the

Buena Vista Concordia International School (BCIS) in Bao’an, Shenzhen. Fixtures include an international food court, bazaar, kids’ carnival, talent show, lucky draw and silent auction, making it the ideal place for a fun family outing.

Having attended this fantastic event several years in a row, and seen the excellent work that Sunshine Academy does, our team would like to encourage other individuals, families and companies to get involved too.

The post Our work with Chinese NGO Sunshine Academy is making a world of difference appeared first on GPA Global.