This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Flex Pack Mag logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Flex Pack Mag logo
  • News
    • News
    • Food Safety
    • Q&A
    • Technology
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Editions
    • Archives
    • FP Buyer's Guide
  • Products
    • New Packages
    • Hot Products
  • Supply Chain
    • Extrusion Equipment
    • Slitting & Rewinding
    • Web Guiding & Tension Control
    • Converting
    • Films / Substrates
    • Bag / Pouch Making
    • Labeling & Narrow Web
    • Coating & Laminating
    • Printing
    • Inks / Color Management
  • Special Features
    • FPA Awards
    • Top 25 Converters
    • FPA Update
    • Executive Forecast
    • State of the Industry
    • People in Packaging Submissions
  • Top 25
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • Events
    • Global Pouch Forum
    • Converters Expo
    • Converters Expo South
    • Industry Calendar
  • More
    • eNewsletter Archives
    • Packaging Group
    • Classifieds
    • Market Research
    • Industry Studies
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • Contact
    • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
    • eNewsletter
    • Online Registration
    • Customer Service
Home » Stand-Up Pouches for Laundry Pods Offer Sustainability
FPA UpdateFlexible Packaging NewsSupply ChainSustainable PackagingInks/Color Management
FPA Update

Stand-Up Pouches for Laundry Pods Offer Sustainability

Stand-Up Pouches for Laundry Pods Offer Sustainability
August 14, 2019
KEYWORDS digital packaging printing / electron beam curing / Energy Curable inks / energy-curing technology / flexible packaging trends / packaging inks
Reprints
No Comments

The Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) report, A Holistic View of the Role of Flexible Packaging in a Sustainable World, highlights the sustainability benefits of flexible packaging. FPA commissioned PTIS, LLC to provide a holistic view on the sustainability benefits that flexible packaging offers; provide foresight into future sustainability implications for flexible packaging; and develop six Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) case studies comparing flexible packaging to other packaging formats across a range of products.

The LCA case studies were developed using the EcoImpact-COMPASS® LCA software, which allows for quick life cycle comparisons between different packaging formats. The results from the case studies show that flexible packaging has more favorable environmental attributes for carbon impact, fossil fuel usage, water usage, product-to-package ratio, as well as the amount of packaging material going to the landfill when compared to other packaging formats for the same products.

The use of single-dose pods has become a popular method for packaging laundry detergent, replacing liquid or powdered detergent with pre-measured packets. For this LCA study, two common packaging formats for pods were evaluated for their holistic environmental impact: a flexible stand-up pouch with a zipper and a rigid PET container.

Water consumption of the two package formats is driven by differences in packaging weight as well as the use of water to cool molds during the injection molding process for the rigid PET container. The rigid PET container’s water footprint is 660 percent larger than the flexible stand-up pouch.

When considering the greenhouse gas emissions of the two primary packaging types, the flexible stand-up pouch has a significant advantage largely due to using much less material and a less energy intensive laminating process. Injection molding for the rigid PET container results in additional energy used in the process, leading to higher overall emissions (+726 percent).

The flexible stand-up pouch comes out favorably in fossil fuel consumption, driven largely by the lightweight nature of the pouch and the energy or conversion efficiency in the manufacturing process. The injection molding process of the rigid PET container’s manufacturing stage is much more energy-intensive than the laminating process used by the flexible stand-up pouch. The rigid PET container has a fossil fuel usage nearly 504 percent greater than that of the flexible stand-up pouch with zipper, and the package weight is 6X heavier.

When considering current recycling rates, the rigid PET container results in nearly 4X more material ending up in municipal solid waste than the flexible stand-up pouch. In order for the PET container to have the same level of municipal solid waste as the flexible stand-up pouch, the recycling rate of both the rigid PET container and lid would need to increase from the current rate of 30 percent to more than 80 percent.

The results of the laundry pod case study show that the flexible stand-up pouch has a number of sustainability benefits (fossil fuel usage, carbon impact, water consumption, and municipal solid waste) over the rigid PET container, even when taking the current recycling rate of the rigid PET container into consideration.

For More Information

For more information on the case study and the sustainability benefits of flexible packaging, visit www.flexpack.org or www.pefectpackaging.org, or contact fpa@flexpack.org or 410-694-0800.

Subscribe to Flexible Packaging Magazine

Related Articles

Stand-up Bags For Cat Litter Offer Sustainable Benefits

Stand-up coffee pouches offer environmental benefits

FPA Report Examines Pouches for Detergent Pods

Flexible Drink Pouches Offer Sustainability Benefits

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Franz Bakery

Franz Bakery To Use Eco-Lok Bag Closures

FP-IndustryInsights-900x550.jpg

Four Challenges Facing Flexible Packaging

Glenroy

Pick Your Pouch: Premade or F/F/S?

Recycling

Bimbo To Make Bakery Packaging Recyclable

Nova Chemicals

Nova Chemicals Debuts Recyclable PE Resins

2019 flexible packaging achievement awards




People in Packaging submissions

Events

February 12, 2020

Converters Expo

Converters Expo logoOver 850 professionals from CPG companies, retailers, converters, trade groups, consulting and research firms, and packaging materials, machinery, and service providers are expected to attend.

April 29, 2020

Converters Expo South

Converters Expo South logoOver 400 professionals from CPG companies, retailers, converters, trade groups, consulting and research firms, and packaging materials, machinery, and service providers are expected to attend.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Cannabis in the Flexible Packaging Industry

Cannabis looks to be one of the fastest growing markets for converters/printers. How is it impacting your business?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Handbook of Paper and Paperboard Packaging Technology, 2nd Edition

Handbook of Paper and Paperboard Packaging Technology, 2nd Edition

The definitive industry reference on the paper and paperboard packaging sector.

See More Products
Upcoming Events

Flexible Packaging

FP1219_Cover-144px.jpg

2019 December

Among the articles in the December 2019 issue of Flexible Packaging Magazine, read about PPC Flexible Packaging's growth strategy, the latest news from the flexible packaging industry, read the newest excerpt on imports & exports from the FPA State of the Flexible Packaging Industry Report, and much more!

View More Create Account
  • More
    • List Rental
    • New Packages
    • Want More?
    • Connect
    • Packaging Brands
    • Polls
    • Survey And Sample
    • Partners
    • Privacy Policy
    • Subscribe

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing