Packaging Working Group Adopts Global Packaging Project Sustainability’s (GPPS) Metrics and Indicators

The Packaging Working Group adopted the Global Packaging Project Sustainability’s (GPPS) metrics and indicators to be integrated in the TSC’s Sustainability Measurement Reporting System (SMRS). It is the intention of the Packaging Working Group that the GPP will guide the other sectors in a way that will consistently measure and report product sustainability for packaging consortium wide.

The GPPS was a collaborative effort of the Consumer goods forum GPP Committee that lasted over 2 years and was based on scientific research. It was set up by the Consumer Goods Forum to meet the needs in the consumer goods and packaging industries for a common language to allow for intelligent and informed debate between and within companies on sustainability. The GPPS is a very broad set of indicators and metrics that fall into three categories: Environmental, Economic and Social. The metrics provide a common language that allows for communication about the sustainability of packaging systems, and identification of ways to improve them.

Some 84 stakeholders have contributed to the project, including manufacturers, retailers, packaging converters, trade associations, academics and consultants, with core input from ECR Europe, The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN), the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC).

The Packaging Working Group will be meeting soon to discuss the next steps and goals following this adoption. The adoption of the GPPS demonstrates a clear goal of this working group to align and harmonize with the packaging industry.