The domestic packaging industry was first introduced to issues of sustainability with the release of the Wal-Mart Scorecard in 2006. For the first time in history, packaging was being assessed not only on aesthetics, quality, efficiency and cost, but “sustainability.” Initially understood as a catch all phrase for all things considered “environmentally friendly,” the dialogue quickly became more sophisticated as many packaging producers began implementing sustainability initiatives in hopes of reducing the burden that the packaging they produce has on the environment; and in doing so, reducing the overall cost of the packaging manufactured.

The dialogue continued to evolve and reached new heights with the formation of the Global Packaging Project from the Global CEO Forum and other industry associations in 2008. This working group of packaging stakeholders looked to create a global language for assessing the sustainability of a package. Released in the summer of 2010, the GPP’s metrics for packaging sustainability contained 52 separate indicators, which provides the most holistic, life-cycle based approach to understanding packaging and sustainability to date.

That which is unique about the GPP’s metrics is its emphasis on the integration of the social, economic, and environmental when attempting to quantify the “sustainability” of a package or packaging system. For instance, when evaluating the sustainability of a given package, the metrics of the GPP encourage assessment of the feedstock procurement, consideration of the working conditions in which said packaging is produced, and critique of the environmental profile of manufacturing and disposing of said packaging throughout its life cycle. Only when we embrace an integrated approach to assessing the sustainability of a package—one that draws on the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability—will we truly create sustainable packaging supply chains.

Dordan Manufacturing considers itself an expert on issues pertaining to sustainable packaging by understanding the current trends that dominate the market. After devoting a considerable amount of time to research (see Dordan Sustainability Research), Dordan is proud to announce its new sustainability goals, which draw on the conception of sustainability endorsed by the GPP; that is, one of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Visit the links below to learn about Dordan’s environmental and social sustainability efforts. We believe that the best way to engineer positive change is to approach our industry’s obstacles with honesty; in doing so, we are able to isolate the problems and develop innovative solutions.

Dordan Social Sustainability Efforts: Click here to learn about our approach to social sustainability and our new social sustainability initiatives!

Dordan Environmental Sustainability Efforts: Click here to learn about our approach to environmental sustainability and our new environmental sustainability efforts!

August 1, 2010:
How Green Products can win the Battle on the Retail Shelf


Soon, we will live in a world where Walmart lists a product's environmental "score" next to its price on the shelf ... where consumers will scan bar codes with their smart phones and learn exactly how green a product - and the company that makes it - really is.Until then, it's up to manufacturers to tell their environmental story, and the best place to do that is right on the product label....