GDR 8: Reduce Virgin Plastic Use in Business-to-Business Plastic Packaging

Reduce the use of virgin plastic in business-business (B2B) plastic packaging¹ in a way that is environmentally beneficial by:

  1. Eliminating unnecessary plastic (defined as unnecessary if it can be removed without compromising supply chain/operational efficiencies)
  2. Using post-consumer recycled content (where plastic is necessary)
  3. Switching to reuse models or alternative materials
  • This segment of the packaging market generally does not require food-grade plastics or barrier properties so can be well suited to the use of recycled plastics or substitute materials
  • Reusable alternatives to single-use packaging are available (See EMF Upstream Innovation Guide for examples of reuse models for this packaging segment)
  • Reducing the use of virgin plastic through elimination, use of recycled content and reuse models could lead to a lower environmental impact from both a waste and GHG emissions perspective if done in an environmentally net beneficial way

The intended scope of this rule is to cover all plastic packaging that does not reach the consumer (as distinct from rule 4 on overwraps). This means all packaging that does not end up either in the household waste stream or is disposed of by consumers during consumption outside the home. This could include, but is not limited to:

  • Packaging that is additional to the consumer packaging, and that may be used for protection and collation of individual units during storage, transport and distribution, and to display primary packs on shelf;
  • Transportation packaging, including pallets, slip sheets, and stretch wrap used for the shipment and distribution of goods.

Read more detail in the Resources section of this website.

 

1) The intended scope of this rule is to cover all plastic packaging that does not reach the consumer, as distinct from rule 4 on overwraps. This means all packaging all packaging that does not end up either in the household waste stream or is disposed of by consumers during consumption outside the home