Packaging is a cost to the supplier of goods. It is in his interests to keep it to a minimum consistent with achieving its purpose. Self service shopping, which keeps down the price of food, would be impossible without packaging.

For recent information and current issues click here.

Follow the links below for fact sheets about corrugated:

• Corrugated Packaging - Key Facts
• Corrugated Recycling and Landfill Prevention
• The Case for Corrugated

UNWRAPPED - PACKAGING IN A MARKET ECONOMY
The British Brands Group, which provides the voice for brands and also has some of the country’s most important consumer packaged goods companies in its membership, recognises the need to bring greater knowledge and insight to policy making.  It has commissioned three significant new studies, contributing to that goal:

1. Using current academic, government, industry and other sources, Norwich Business School provides a comprehensive picture of the consumer, competition and economic importance of packaging, bringing together for the first time in one place a holistic picture of the crucial commercial role it plays;
2. Through original consumer research, using techniques that indicate actual consumer response (not how consumers say they might respond), Mountainview Learning demonstrates how different sizes of distinctive brand elements affect consumer behaviour and the effect where choices include packs of similar design;
3. To what extent are government policy, actual consumer behaviour and judicial practice aligned in ensuring markets work well? Speechly Bircham in its report addresses this question, focusing in particular on consumer confusion, how it is identified in the Courts and the tests that are applied. Our ambition is for these three reports to make a meaningful and constructive contribution to public policy, encouraging the many functions of packaging to be considered whenever it falls under scrutiny.

CPI is pleased to support BBG in their work.  Informed policy will in turn lead, we hope, to a proportionate, evidence-based and effective approach.  This can only be positive for consumers, policymakers and the environment for packaged products in the UK.

Packaging in a Market Economy: The Economic and Commercial Role of Packaging Communication

Unwrapped - The hidden power of packaging: A three-in-one report summarising three significant studies into packaging and consumer behaviour

PARTNERSHIP AND PACKAGING: Working together to optimise environmental performance
This booklet has been produced by the Packaging Resources Action Group (PRAG). PRAG is a multi-stakeholder group that enables constructive dialogue between central and local government, manufacturers and retailers, waste management companies and reprocessors.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PACKAGING - PACKAGING IN PERSPECTIVE
This publication has been produced to provide facts about the much discussed subject of packaging recovery and recycling. It aims to provide the public and others with an outline of what the UK has achieved and what is being done.

FEFCO LCA DATABASE
Since 1994 FEFCO has produced an LCA Database for the corrugated industry, which has a good reputation with the European and National Authorities and proved to be extremely valuable in recent years. The data provides a credible source for environmental calculations and have been used in legal cases to refute inaccurate figures from competing materials as well as in the calculation of the carbon footprint.

FEFCO is now seeking to update the database, working with an independent consultant, Lars Olsson, to ensure confidentiality. Members are encouraged to complete the associated questionnaire which can be submitted to CPI at abarmetson@paper.org.uk or mailed directly to Lars Olsson: laaol@telia.com

Questionnaire (Excel)

PACKAGING AND THE INTERNET - INCPEN guide to packaging for online sales
The Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN) has published a guide for companies involved with online sales. Packaging and the Internet: A guide to packaging goods for multi-channel delivery systems provides advice on designing packaging that will make these new delivery systems as resource-efficient as possible.

Conscious that many consumers now shop online for a wide range of goods, and that this presents different challenges, the guide has been developed with local authority Trading Standards Officers to give guidance to manufacturers and retailers on choosing appropriate packaging.

CPI is pleased to support the guide, which provides a good summary and clearly lays out the important role that packaging plays. A copy of the report can be downloaded below:

Packaging and the Internet