![]() However, it is also important to point out that the internal environmental measures we have put in place as a responsible manufacturer will have had a significant bearing on the final results within the LCA”. He commented, “Using our bottles in the analysis is undoubtedly an excellent way to illustrate the environmental impact of a Spectra product. Jonathan was also at pains to stress that when looking at the manufacturing stage of an LCA, not all manufacturers will necessarily be the same. That said, it was essential for us to be honestly transparent about how one of our standard bottles would fair against industry average competing materials”. He said, “One could argue that the LCA has actually been kind to glass and aluminium insofar as they both contain significantly higher levels of recycled content due to their advantageous recycling infrastructures over the past twenty years or so. However, as Jonathan was quick to point out, the glass and aluminium containers contain significantly higher levels of recycled content, which, based on industry averages, are currently 67% for glass and 75% for aluminium. ![]() On the face of it, the use of 30% recycled HDPE and PET bottles in the analysis may appear to give the plastic materials an unfair advantage over the other materials. Within these six key stages, the analysis delves into the environmental impacts on five measurement levers: namely, greenhouse gas emissions, non-renewable energy, freshwater consumption, land use, and ecosphere impacts. The comparative scenarios in the analysis looked at the six key stages of each of the product’s lifecycle, including material extraction, packaging, manufacturing, distribution, usage and end of life. However, for many Spectra customers, the opportunity to see an average example, in this instance, a 300ml bottle in the four materials, is probably the closest they will get to real-case scenario evidence to help them in their decision-making process. Indeed, there are many LCA’s to be found online for those searching for environmental impact data on plastics and other materials. Conversely, we wanted a warts-and-all report that also highlights those key areas where plastics needed to do better over the other materials”. He added, “It was hugely important that the LCA was untouched by us and undertaken by a third party. ![]() So, in the end, we decided to commission our own independent analysis”. Instead of relying on feelings or hidden agendas to arrive at the evidence, we wanted to remove any emotion from the process by taking a wholly independent scientific approach. Jonathan commented, “We were keen to find a meaningful report that would cut through many of the misconceptions surrounding the various materials to provide accurate, real case scenario data. As such, Medoola’s findings were based on Spectra’s new PCR30 standard. In readiness for the UK Governments upcoming Plastics Packaging Tax, due in April 2022, Spectra is now including 30% recyclate in all HDPE and PET bottles by default. The unbiased independent LCA was undertaken by Medoola, industry specialists in analysing sustainable packaging, retail, and supply chain processes. Medoola’s modelling tool assessed like-for-like environmental impacts for 300ml containers made from Spectra’s standard 30% recycled HDPE and PET plastic and the same capacity options in both glass and aluminium. We see this as another example of us taking the lead as a responsible manufacturer”. He said, “We believe the findings from the report will provide the clarity needed and give customers the tools to make informed choices when looking for what materials are environmentally best suited for their product packaging. It’s why Spectra sought a holistic, rounded analysis to establish where plastics sat with other materials when looking at all the stages of its lifecycle and not just one, according to the firm’s Sales Director, Jonathan Powell. There has been an enormous amount of misinformation regarding the impact of plastic compared to other materials, yet nearly all of the focus has been on its end-of-life impact. Over recent years, plastics have come in for considerable negative scrutiny, which in many cases has been misleading and, at worst, false. The detailed LCA dispels some of the myths surrounding the environmental impact of plastic compared to other packaging materials and shows that in many cases, it is still the most suitable material when considering a products entire lifecycle.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |