International product and supply chain standards setter GS1 has added packaging sustainability to its raft of data tracking capabilities, announcing it has joined The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) and released a new standard, the Global Protocol for Packaging Sustainability (GPPS).
The new GPPS standard, developed in cooperation with the global Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), includes more than 40 environmental, economic and social indicators for packaging sustainability.
The CGF is a body bringing together the CEOs and senior management of over 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders across 70 countries.
Data gathered under the GPPS metrics will now be part of a trade item's product information available via GS1's Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN).
GS1 Australia's GM – Industry Engagement, Marcel Sieira, said the standard would provide brand owners and packaging converters with a common language to discuss and assess packaging sustainability.
He said they would be able to use the standard to garner such benefits as cost efficiencies, reduced environmental impact, improved consumer perception, better decision making and extended influencing.
"It has been a real pleasure to collaborate with the CGF to deliver an open global standard for an efficient and cost-effective way of exchanging vital data about packaging to optimise the resources used to protect consumer goods," Sieira said.
"This project is a real example of partnership working to meet a critical need, and I believe that it augurs well for addressing product sustainability in a similar manner."
He said it would also assist design companies to adopt a holistic approach to packaging design in order to optimise overall environmental performance.
In addition, the new standard could help resolve consumer complaints about over-packaging and a lack of consistency in information.
Meanwhile, as part of the TSC team, a member-based organisation with 40 years of experience in over 110 countries driven by over a million user companies, GS1 will be involved in the organisation's Retail and Measurement Science Consortium working groups, engaged in enhancing the communication of information throughout the supply chain as well as to suppliers.
"We are looking forward to participating in the working groups to ensure that sustainability best practices and measures can be easily converted into global standards," Sieira said.
"This will ensure that sustainability data on products, packaging and services can be exchanged electronically between business partners using business solutions and service based on GS1's open, global standards."
