Packaging good practice

Even if the packaging regulations do not apply to you, it is a good idea to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging. This can save your business money and reduce your waste disposal costs.

Producing packaging

Use the minimum packaging required for safety, hygiene and consumer acceptance. Where possible use packaging that can be reused, recycled or recovered.

When designing and manufacturing packaging, if it cannot be recovered or reused, make sure it will have a minimal impact on the environment. If packaging waste has to be incinerated or disposed of at a landfill, make sure any hazardous substances are minimised.

Minimise the impact that your products have on the environment throughout their lifetime

If you sell packaging, tell your customers about the return, recovery and collection facilities available to them.

Use recyclable or biodegradable materials to package your products

Shred old paper to reuse as packaging filling.

Keep old bubble wrap or polystyrene to reuse as packaging.

Reuse packaging such as wooden pallets, cardboard boxes or jiffy bags

Reduce, reuse and recycle your packaging waste. Separate different types of packaging for recycling; this will reduce your recycling costs.

Cover any material stored in skips to prevent pollution and to minimise wind-blown dust and litter.

If packaging is intended for reuse, make sure you have documented the systems for supply, return, re-use and re-fill.

If there is a risk that the packaging could have been contaminated during its use, you must ensure it is kept dry and that any run-off doesn’t pollute water or land. Ensure your site drainage system is connected to the sewer system.

Buy a compactor or baler, which crushes packaging into blocks. This will allow you to transport larger volumes of packaging, which will reduce your recycling or disposal costs.

Buy goods in bulk to reduce packaging. For example:.

• buy paint in one 5 litre drum, instead of buying five individual 1 litre drums
• buy bigger jars of coffee, instead of regularly buying smaller jars.

Create guidelines for packaging for your staff to follow when buying goods for your business. These should set minimum standards so that all packaging you buy complies with the regulations

Make sure the packaging you buy complies with the Essential Requirements Regulations. For each packaging component you use, get written evidence from suppliers that:

• it is within the heavy metal limits
• there are no hazardous substances
• it is suitable for incineration, composting or recycling.

Buy from suppliers that use recyclable or biodegradable packaging.
Only buy products that use the minimum amount of packaging necessary for protection and hygiene. If you buy your goods pre-packaged, speak to your suppliers to encourage them reduce their packaging.

Set up an environmental management system (EMS) to manage your environmental responsibilities and show that you comply with the packaging regulations.

You can use the packaging legislation list as a starting point when you write your legislation directory for your EMS.

Further Information

The Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN) has produced a number of publications and fact sheets on packaging.

Search the waste directories to find a licensed waste site to recycle or dispose of your business waste.

• Find your nearest waste site

In this guideline