How Packaging Contributes
to Net Zero Emissions
Net zero refers to reducing carbon emissions to minimal residual levels, which can be absorbed and stored by natural processes (e.g., forests, grasslands, oceans, wetlands) and other carbon dioxide removal measures, resulting in zero net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere.
Many CPG companies are redesigning their packaging as a key strategy to meeting their sustainability and net zero emissions goals. Packaging contributes to achieving net zero emissions through the use of sustainable and circular materials (e.g., refill/reuse, recycled content, recyclable, compostable), renewable energy, lean manufacturing, local sourcing and supply chain optimization to reduce transportation emissions, and carbon offset programs.
Why Net Zero Matters
Scientific evidence indicates that to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change and maintain a habitable and healthy planet, the global temperature rise must not exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Currently, the Earth is approximately 1.2°C warmer than in the late 1800s, with emissions still on the rise, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Emissions must decrease by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 to adhere to the Paris Agreement's goal of capping global warming at 1.5°C.
Climate change is associated with more severe weather, reports the IPCC. Reducing GHG emissions can help mitigate the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, heatwaves, droughts, and floods. Climate change also poses a threat to ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs), biodiversity (e.g., habitat loss), and the global economy (e.g., reduced agricultural output), according to the IPCC.
Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions
To help measure GHG emissions, companies classify these gases as Scope 1, 2, or 3. Scope 1 refers to emissions produced by or within a company's direct control, such as burning fossil-based fuels in its vehicle fleet or boilers. Scope 2 is indirect emissions associated with a company's business activities, such as emissions from generating electricity used in the company's facilities. Scope 3 is emissions along the company's value chain, such as from its suppliers and customers.
Berlin Packaging Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Scope 1 & 2)
Compared to our 2022 baseline, Berlin Packaging has reduced Scope 1 emissions by 21% globally and Scope 2 emissions by 6% globally through several initiatives: energy efficiency, transportation network optimization, and inventory management. By 2030, our goal is to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% through additional energy-efficiency initiatives and procurement of renewable energy credits and to decrease Scope 3 emissions by 25%.
Net Zero Packaging Strategies
Berlin Packaging partners with our customers to find ways to lower the carbon footprint of their packaging while maintaining functionality, performance, and brand impact. We start with a life-cycle assessment (LCA) of their current packaging, which quantifies a product's environmental impact (i.e., GHG emissions, water use, mineral resource use, and fossil fuel use) throughout its entire life cycle, from sourcing and manufacturing to distribution and end-of-life.
LCA offers comparisons between potential packaging solutions and provides alternatives for the most sustainable package based on a set of requirements and constraints. It enables brand owners to make informed decisions and articulate their commitment to sustainability to their target consumers.
We worked with online retailer Naked Wines to create glass wine bottles that are 29% lighter than comparable products. Our LCA tool uncovered significant reductions in CO2 emissions (−986 tons eq), fossil fuel use (−3,375 tons), water usage (−321,553 m3), and glass usage (−1,901 tons).
We also helped natural-cleansers brand Branch Basics with a flexible pouch for their Oxygen Boost product. The stand-up pouches weigh 71% less than plastic containers and hold twice the amount of product. This packaging solution avoids 14.6 tons of CO2 emissions annually in shipping.
Explore related topics: Life-Cycle Assessment, Ocean-Bound Plastic, PCR Content, Container Deposit/Refund Programs, Refillable & Reusable Packaging, Mechanical and Advanced Recycling, Compostable Packaging, Circular Packaging Strategies, and Bioplastic