The current situation is crucial for establishing a global response to the climate emergencies of recent years.

Carla Bartolomé, Fruela Pérez and Cristina González - ITENE

 

In this sense, the European Union's objective is to reduce emissions by complying with the measures established in legislation: the European Green Deal, the European Climate Law, and at a national level the 7/2021 Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition. The latter establishes the obligation to calculate the carbon footprint for certain companies. Do you know how this affects packaging? Keep reading this article, in which we will give the main keys.

 

 

What is the European Green Deal? The Green Deal, or European Green Pact, is an initiative presented in December 2019 by the European Commission. The main objectives of this agreement are to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, boosting the economy and improving citizens' health and quality of life.

To achieve the commitment to climate neutrality by 2050, the European Union proposes a series of measures with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and achieving a transition to a more sustainable economy.

 

The main aspects are:

 

· Climate action: the aim is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

· Energy efficiency: the aim is to significantly improve the energy efficiency of buildings, industrial processes or transport, thereby optimizing energy use and emissions.

· Renewable energy: the use of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy, is promoted in order to achieve greater energy independence and thus reduce emissions.

· Mobilising industry towards a clean and circular economy. The green deal covers all sectors of the economy.

· Sustainable mobility: promoting the use of sustainable modes of transport, such as electric vehicles and efficient public transport to reduce emissions from the transport sector.

 

It should be highlighted that, the Green Deal is not limited to the EU, but aims to promote climate action at the global level. The European Union is committed to leading the way towards sustainability and to working with other countries and regions to jointly address climate challenges.

 

Key European and national climate change targets

Considering, among others, the objectives of the European Green Deal, the threat of climate change and the 2018 special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the European Parliament adopted in 2021 the Regulation 2021/1119, known as the European Climate Law. Like the Green Deal, this law establishes, among other things, the following objectives:

 

• Climate neutrality in the Union by 2050.

· The Commission will have the power to issue recommendations to Member States whose actions are not consistent with the objective of climate neutrality, and Member States will be obliged to follow them or justify why the actions have not been taken.

· Require Member States to formulate and implement adaptation strategies to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

 

At the national level, the same developments as for the European Climate Law have given rise to Law 7/2021 on climate change and energy transition.  This law aims at the decarbonisation of the Spanish economy and its transition to a circular model. The specific objectives are in line with the European Green Pact and the European Climate Law:

 

• By 2030: reduce GHG emissions of the Spanish economy as a whole by 23% compared to 1990 levels, presence of renewable energies in final energy consumption of at least 42%, an electricity system with 74% generation from renewable energies.

• Spain must achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

 

Another of the measures highlighted in Law 7/2021 is the obligation for certain companies to calculate their carbon footprint, although the definition of the type of companies affected that must calculate and publish their carbon footprint is still pending. In addition to this carbon footprint calculation, companies will have to draw up a GHG emissions reduction plan.

 

Companies obliged to calculate the organisation's carbon footprint must register the result obtained, as well as the reduction commitments in the ministry's organisational carbon footprint register, through the Carbon Footprint, Offsetting and Carbon Dioxide Absorption Projects Register, created with Royal Decree 163/2014, of 14 March. This registry aims to collect and manage information on GHG emissions generated by companies and organisations in Spain. This registry is under the responsibility of the Spanish Climate Change Office (OECC)) of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITERD).

 

In this sense, in certain autonomous communities it is already compulsory to register the carbon footprint, as in the Balearic Islands. As indicated in Decree 48/2021, on the Balearic carbon footprint register, a company would be obliged to register its carbon footprint if it has workplaces located in the Balearic Islands, and if it meets a series of requirements associated with the sum of the number of employees in the workplaces and the annual turnover or balance sheet of the fiscal headquarters.

 

Implications of calculating the carbon footprint of packaging on climate change

The legislation discussed above covers all sectors of the economy, including the packaging sector. On the one hand, the carbon footprint of the organisation can be calculated, as mentioned above, but on the other hand, the carbon footprint of the packaging and the product can also be calculated. Knowing the carbon footprint of packaging and products and in which stages the highest GHG emissions occur allows companies to establish criteria for the reduction of emissions and even focus on eco-design. In this way, through reductions in packaging, companies will be in line with overall GHG emission reduction targets, both at national and European level.

 

The legislation discussed above covers all sectors of the economy, including the packaging sector. On the one hand, the carbon footprint of the organisation can be calculated, as mentioned above, but on the other hand, the carbon footprint of the packaging and the product can also be calculated. Knowing the carbon footprint of packaging and products and in which stages the highest GHG emissions occur allows companies to establish criteria for the reduction of emissions and even focus on eco-design. In this way, through reductions in packaging, companies will be in line with the overall GHG emission reduction targets, both at national and European level.

 

In general terms, as defined by the UNE-EN ISO 14067:2019 standard, the carbon footprint is an environmental indicator that reflects the sum of GHG emissions and removals, expressed as CO2 equivalent and based on life cycle assessment using the climate change impact category.   According to ISO 14040:2006, the life cycle is the set of stages of a product, from the extraction of raw materials, production, marketing, transport, use and maintenance, to the final management, when it reaches its end-of-life.

ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) establish that a carbon footprint study must be carried out in four phases: definition of objective and scope, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation of results.

 

Tips for calculating the carbon footprint of packaging

The first phase of the calculation of the carbon footprint of packaging, the definition of objectives and scope, is fundamental, as it establishes the basis for the calculation. On the one hand, the objective must be defined taking into account the reasons for conducting the study, the application of the study and the target audience. On the other hand, the scope defines the extent of the study.

 

The second phase, Life Cycle Inventory Analysis, is related to the collection and quantification of the inputs and outputs of a product from the different stages included in the scope of the study.

The third phase, Life Cycle Impact Assessment, aims to assess the magnitude and significance of the potential environmental impacts of the product system throughout its life cycle and the stages included in the study.

 

Finally, the interpretation of results is the last stage of the LCA and consists of combining the results of the life cycle impact assessment with the data from the life cycle inventory analysis. From this phase, conclusions, limitations and recommendations can be drawn, such as measures to establish improvements in the product, focusing on the stages that produce the most GHGs.

 

Benefits of calculating the carbon footprint of packaging

Calculating the carbon footprint of packaging has become crucial for assessing the environmental impact of products and promoting sustainable supply chain management, so that organisations and/or individuals who carry out such calculations gain a number of benefits as detailed below:

 

· Measuring environmental impact: Calculating the carbon footprint of packaging provides an accurate measure of the environmental impact associated with the production, distribution and final management of packaging. This includes estimating GHG emissions, energy consumption, water use and waste generation. With this information, companies can identify areas for improvement and set concrete targets to reduce their environmental impact.

· Decision making: Calculating the carbon footprint provides companies with a solid basis for making informed decisions regarding packaging design, choice of materials and production methods. By knowing the environmental impact of each option, it is possible to select more sustainable alternatives that minimise emissions and resource consumption.

· Regulatory compliance and market requirements: Increasingly, governments and markets are requiring companies to report and reduce their carbon footprint. Calculating the carbon footprint of packaging enables compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, avoiding penalties and improving the company's image and reputation with consumers or potential investors.

· Competitive advantage and differentiation: Organisations that manage to reduce the carbon footprint of their packaging gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, as consumers and companies are increasingly showing preference for sustainable products and packaging, as shown by the study published in June 2020 by the Office of the Consumer (OCU) which mentions that 56% of consumers are willing to buy products whose packaging has a lower environmental impact. Therefore, calculating and communicating the carbon footprint of packaging demonstrates the company's commitment to sustainability, which can lead to increased customer trust and loyalty.

 

 

At ITENE, we perform life cycle analysis (LCA) to know the environmental impacts associated with the stages of the life cycle of a product, process or service and we quantify the carbon footprint.

In addition to the carbon footprint, another very interesting tool to know the environmental impacts of a packaging is the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), a standardised and internationally recognised system that provides transparent and verified information on the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. It consists of a technical document that summarises and communicates in a quantitative and qualitative manner the relevant environmental impacts associated with the manufacture, use and disposal of a specific product.

 

The EPD is governed by Environdec (also known as The International EPD System), an international programme that provides a framework for the creation and verification of reliable and standardised Environmental Product Declarations. ITENE is an official verifier authorised by Environdec for the review of these Environmental Product Declarations and we can verify them if an LCA is already available for your product.

 

The current moment is crucial to address global climate emergencies, which is why the European Union has set the European Green Pact as its main objective. This agreement aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, improving the economy and citizens' quality of life. To achieve climate neutrality, measures such as reducing GHG emissions, boosting energy efficiency, the use of renewable energies, the transition to a circular economy and the promotion of sustainable mobility have been established. At the national level, laws have been adopted such as the Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition in Spain, which seeks the decarbonisation of the economy and the transition towards a circular model. In this sense, calculating the carbon footprint of packaging is essential to assess its environmental impact and promote sustainable supply chain management, providing benefits such as informed decision-making, regulatory compliance, competitive advantage and market differentiation.

 

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