Climate Case | Benefits | Take Action | Get Support & Get Involved
The Climate Case
On average, packaging accounts for about 5% of the energy used in the life cycle of a food product making it a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. And for some products, the packaging used has an even bigger impact on climate change than the fuel used to ship it to market.
Here is one example of how packaging compares with other areas of greenhouse gas emissions:
The Benefits
Circular economies are those that design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems [1]. Designing product packaging for circularity and investing in the materials and processes to close resource loops can benefit your company’s bottom line and increase brand reputation and leadership.
The World Economic Forum estimates that through harnessing improvements in both design and end-of-life systems, 50% of the world’s plastic packaging can see economic opportunity even after its initial use, which works out to $2-3 billion annually across OECD countries (including the US) [2]. In recent years, consumer surveys have repeatedly shown US consumers’ preference for companies that take stands on social and environmental issues (43-65% according to 2020 Forbes research) [3].
Packaging communicates more than just a product’s contents; it’s an opportunity to share your company’s values and impact on people and the planet.
Take Action
Companies will implement practices to reduce the GHG emissions associated with their packaging to the greatest degree they deem possible. There are many ways to reduce the climate impact of packaging including reducing materials a.k.a. “source reduction”; replacing virgin materials with post-consumer recycled content; replacing traditional plastics made from fossil fuels with biopolymers; re-designing packaging to use materials more efficiently to cut down on the GHG emissions required for transport and storage; and recycling at end of the packaging’s life to name just a few practices.
Simply adopting practices like those listed above is a great first step. Using a tool (see the resources section below) to measure the GHG impacts of your packaging can also help you design the negative climate impacts out of your packaging supply chain.
While climate is the focus of the Climate Collaborative, we realize that many factors go into packaging decisions including consumer preference, product shelf-life, price, performance and convenience. Additionally there are multiple environmental considerations including packaging end-of life and circular systems, toxicity, litter, water pollution, marine eco toxicity and more. The ideal is to achieve climate reductions while simultaneously addressing other key factors that your company may value.
Companies committing to reduce climate impact of packaging will be expected to complete an annual online questionnaire updating the Climate Collaborative on progress made toward the commitment. The questionnaire will be short and should not be burdensome to complete.
Get Support & Get Involved
The Climate Collaborative will provide webinars, workshops and networking opportunities for companies to learn ways to reduce the climate impact of their packaging. We will also highlight the best practices of companies who are leading the way with their packaging. Do you have a best practice to share? We’d love to hear about it – contact us.
The Climate Collaborative is currently in conversation with several organizations that provide software tools for measuring the GHG emissions from packaging. These tools can be used to create a baseline for your packaging climate contribution and to evaluate potential packaging changes. We expect to negotiate discounts for the use of the software for companies that have made a packaging commitment with the Climate Collaborative.
Resources
Our Packaging Resources page highlights case studies, videos, tools, and other resources from our partners for organizations interested in diving into the climate impact of their packaging.
For those looking for thought leadership opportunities and material solutions for compostable and bio-based packaging alternatives, OSC2 is available to help!
Coming soon, companies sharing their stories! Got a best practice to share? Contact us.
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Companies Committed
Abe's Eats
Alter Eco
Amavida Coffee Roasters
American Licorice Company
Amy's Kitchen
Ancient Nutrition
Annie's
Annmarie Skin Care
Aslan Brewing Co
Atlas Bars, Inc.
Au Naturale Cosmetics
Aurora Organic Dairy
Avocado Green Brands
Back to the Mother Microbrewed Kombucha
Back to the Roots
Backpacker's Pantry & Chef Soraya
Banyan Botancials
BAR-U-EAT
Be Well Nutrition/ Drink Iconic
Ben & Jerry's
Bestowed Essentials
Bhakti Chai
BHC Studio
Bhoomi
Big Tree Farms
Bio-Botanical Research, Inc.
Biotic Beverages
Blue Bus Cultured Foods
Black River Hemp Co
Blue Evolution
Blue Henry
Blue Moon Goodness
Bluebird Botanicals
Bob's Red Mill
Booda Organics
Bread Alone
Bread SRSLY
Brew Dr. Kombucha
Bright Future Foods
Broth Baby
Brother Bru Bru's
Brothers Drake
Buchi Kombucha
Bumbleroot Foods
Burt's Bees
Busy Izzy
Califia Farms
CannaCraft
Cappello's
Casa Sanchez Foods
Catalyst Creamery
Cha's Organics
Chico Bag / To-Go Ware
Choquiero Chocolate
Chuao Chocolatier/ Wild Joy Goods
Clear Conscience Pet LLC
Clif Family Winery
Clover Sonoma
cocokind
The Coffee Barn
Community Grains
Conscious Container
Cooper Mountain Vineyards
Cure Hydration
Cusa Tea
Daiya Foods
Davidson's Organic Tea
Deklo Technologies
Desert Shadow
Dr Hops Kombucha Beer, LLC
Dr. Brite
Dr. Bronner's
Dress It Up Dressing
Earth Science Naturals
Eat the Change
Ecco Bella
Eco Gloves
Eco Lips
Eco Terreno Wines and Vineyards
Eco-Bags Products, Inc.
ECOlunchboxes
EFFI Foods
Eden Foods
Endorfin Foods
Enjoy Life Natural Foods
EO Products
Essential Formulas
Ethical Bean Coffee
Fare Elements
FeelGoodz
Fernweh Food Company
Fetzer Vineyards
Foggy Bottom Boys
Forager Project
Founding Foods
Fruit d'Or
Fungi Perfecti
Future Proof Brands LLC
Gaia Herbs
Gather Nuts
General Mills
gimMe Snacks
GnuSante Creations
GoGo Quinoa
GoMacro
Good Food For Good
Good Spread
Goodbuy Sugar
Goodlight Natural Candles
Grace's Goodness Organics
Great Sun Trading Co., Inc.
Greenplicity
Guayaki
Happy Family
Happy Moose
Harmless Harvest
Harper Macaw Chocolate Makers
Herbal Healing
Herbaland Naturals Inc
Herbalist & Alchemist
Hilary's
Hippie Snacks
Homefree, LLC
Honest Tea
Hoplark Hoptea
House of Word Coffee
Humble Snacks Inc.
Humboldt Herbals
I and Love and You
Imagine Baking
Imlak'esh Organics
INDIGENOUS
Joolies
Justin's
Keap
Keen One Foods LLC
Khala Cloths
Kikoko
Koally
Kube Nice Cream
Kuli Kuli Foods
La Vie
Le Parfait America
LesserEvil
Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Liquid I.V.
Lotus
Loving Earth
Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss
Lundberg Family Farms
Manzana Products Co., Inc.
Maple Wellness Foods
Martin Bauer Group
Marty's Meals/Shine
Meati Foods
MegaFood
Meliora Cleaning Products
MELT Organic (Prosperity Organic Foods)
Mindful Proteins
MiniBrew
Miyoko's Kitchen
Mom's Modern Mixes
Moon Valley Organics
Mother Kombucha
Mountain Mels
Moyee Coffee
Nana Joe's Granola
Natreve Wellness
Natural Factors
Natural Force
Nature's Path
Navitas Organics
Nettle & Rose
New Barn
Ninglement Inc
No Evil Foods
Nomad Dumplings LLC
Numi
NuNaturals
Nutiva
Nutraceutical
Nuun & Company, Inc.
Oakland Coffee Works
Ocean's Halo
OLIPOP
Olita Inc
OlyKraut
One Village Coffee
One With Nature
OneForNeptune
Onyx HeartBeets
Oregon's Wild Harvest
Organic India
Orpheus and Lyre
Outdoor Herbivore
oVertone
Pacha
Pacific Herb
PATHWATER
PDX Empanadas
Peak State
Perfect Supplements
Pharmanza Herbal
Pines International, Inc.
Pipsnacks
Plum Organics
Prana Biovegan
Pratt Standard
Preserve
Prima
Prosper Juice
Psilocu
Pukka
Pulp Pantry
Pure Kindness LLC
Pure Organic Foods and Fiber, Inc.
PurelyB
Quinn
Rawdacious Desserts
REBBL
Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery
The Refill Shoppe
Reformation
ReGrained
Repurpose
Revive Kombucha
Rif Care
ROAR Beverages
Rogue Creamery
Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha
Rviita Inc.
Sambazon
Scratch and Peck Feeds
SeaSnax
Sekoyia
Serenity Kids
Seven Sundays
Seventh Generation
Shanbally Herb Dispensary
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
SIMPLi
Simply Straws
Skagit Valley Malting
Soupergirl
Spinster Sisters, Inc.
Stardust Sustainables
The Steeping Room
Stonyfield
Straus Family Creamery
Sun & Swell Foods
Sun Genomics
SunLeaf
sunomi switchel
SunRidge Farms
The Synergy Company
Teadora Beauty
Teatulia Organic Teas
tentree
Thanksgiving Coffee
The GFB: Gluten Free Bar
The Happy Beast
The Philosopher's Stoneground
The Run-A-Ton Group Inc/Wholly Wholesome
The Spare Food Co.
Theo Chocolate
Three Trees
Tony's Coffee
Torajamelo
Tribe Skincare
Trickling Springs Creamery
True Purpose Brands
Twrl Milk Tea
U Konserve
Uncle Harry's Natural Products
Uncle Matt's Organic
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
Vegan Heavenly Delights Inc.
Vital Choice Seafood
Vital Plan
W.S. Badger Company
Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water
Wandering Jew Old World Remedies
Welly Bottle
White Leaf Provisons
Wildway
Wise Bar
WishGarden Herbs
WN Pharmaceuticals LTD
The Wonderful Company
WooBamboo
World Centric
Yellowbird Sauce
YumEarth
7 Stars Holistic Healing Center
Alameda Natural Grocery
Antonelli's Cheese Shop
Ashland Food Co-op
Basil Bandwagon
Billings ReFill Shoppe
Bi-Rite Family of Businesses
Blue Apron
Boise Co-op
BriarPatch Cooperative
Bryd's Filling Station
Burgerville
Café Gratitude
Canyon Market
Chatham Marketplace
Co+opportunity Market & Deli
Common Crow Natural Market
Community Food Co-op
Community Market
Cornucopia Natural Foods
Cornucopia Natural Market & Deli
Crunchy Mama Box
Cured
Deep Roots Market
EarthHero
East End Food Co-op
Eatsie.us
Figgs Ordinary
Friendly City Food Co-op
Good Earth Natural Foods
Good Eggs
Green Life Market
Green Zebra Grocery
Grove Collaborative
Healthy Way Market
Hive Brands, Inc.
INFRA
Jimbo's Naturally
Just Salad
Kimberton Whole Foods
LifeSource Natural Foods
MaMa Jean's Natural Market
Maple City Market
MOM's Organic Market
Narrative Food
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Natural Health Center
New Pioneer Food Co-op
New Seasons Market
No Bones Beach Club
Okina
Oryana Food Cooperative
Other Avenues Grocery Cooperative
Outpost Natural Foods
Palace Market
PCC Community Markets
Portland Food Co-op
Pure Fresh & Organic
Quincy Natural Foods Coop
Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets
Rising Tide Co-op
Rising Tide Natural Market
Roots Natural Foods
Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
Slo Natural Foods Co-op
Spud.ca
Sunflower Natural Foods Market
Terra Health & Wellness Market
The Brooklyn Kitchen
The Durham Co-op Market
The Merc Co+op
The Sugar Beet Co-op
Thrive Market
Viroqua Food Co-op
Weaver's Way Cooperative Association
West Village Market and Deli
Wheatsville Food Co-op
Whole Earth Center
Winter Ridge Natural Foods
Ypsilanti Food Co-op
Zingerman's Community of Business
Coke Farm
Dennick FruitSource
Eco Quality Solutions LLC
Hummingbird Wholesale
Jac. Vandenberg, Inc.
YES!Apples
Adaptations Inc
Ciranda
Danone North America
Eco Gloves
Faves
Fresca Foods
Giusto's Specialty Foods
GloryBee
Hercules Food Co
Hub Labels
JM Smucker Company
Jungle Project
King Arthur Flour
La Manta Foods
La Tourangelle, Inc.
Left Coast Naturals
Maple Valley Cooperative
Michigan Herbal Remedies
Mountain Rose Herbs
Nature's Yoke
New England Natural Bakers, Inc
Nimco Corporation
Notas al Aire SLU
Nutricare USA
OPTYVA
Organically Grown
Planet FWD
Pure Ground Ingredients
PurePlus+
Rich Nuts
Siddha Labs
SunOpta
Sustainable Sourcing LLC
Sweet Additions
Tribe 9 Foods
Twin River South
Yellow Emperor
40 Acre Co-op
Bee Grateful Farm
Global Family Farms
Kol Foods
Timeless Food
Wilcox Family Farms
1908 Brands
About and For Sustainability
Active Wisdoms Corporation
ADinfinitum, Inc
Advantage Capital
Agreventures
Associated Labels and Packaging
Beneficial Results LLC
Blake Reid Consulting
B-Line Urban Delivery
Bliss Network
Brand Secrets and Strategies
BRINGiT
Canteen One
Change Finance, PBC
Cheer Pack NA
Christie & Co
Climate Dads
Climate Positive Consulting
Cold Creek Compost
Comercio Competitivo Inc.
Community Planet Foundation
Compass Natural Marketing
Covet PR
Craft Brew Alliance
DIRTT Environmental Solutions
Down to Earth Organic & Natural
eco18.com
Ecodeo
Elevate Packaging
Elk Packaging
Evergreen Innovations
Fosterra, LLC
Fresh Ideas Group
Garcoa, Inc.
GreenSeed Contract Packaging
Hela Bima Rice Project
Hemp Press
Infield Market
Jendela desa Indonesia
Kinarya Coop
The Label Link
Legacy Vacation Resorts
Locus Agricultural Solutions
Lovevery
Makeena
Mango Materials
Marin Restorative Communications
Merika Limited
Metta Earth Institute, Inc.
Meyer Family Enterprises
Mindful & Good
Modern Species
MxG Fiber
Natural Network
New Hope Network
New Leaf Paper
Nia Impact Capital
Organic & Natural Health Association
Planet+Purpose Solutions
Planted Cuisine
PSI
Pure Strategies
r.Cup
ReGen Partners LLC
Roplast Industries Inc
Rutherford & Meyer
Singer Sustainability
Soil & More Impacts
Spirited Artisan Collaborative
Storyroot
Studio Airstream
Sustainable Concepts Studio
SusTrue
SYNAPTIC Packaging
The Determined
The HERD Foundation
The Naturalist
Triage Limited
Tribal Code
überDesigns
Vanguard Renewables
WesTech
Wright Consumer Partners
ZEGO