Environmental management systems for sustainable packaging production

The topic of sustainability is increasingly dominating many branches of industry. This also applies to the packaging industry. The latter sees itself as having a self-imposed obligation to make packaging production more sustainable.

This involves a whole range of organizational processes and structures. An environmental management system ensures that corporate environmental protection is given an organizational framework. At the same time, common environmental management systems offer certification.

In this way, companies can prove that they are committed to sustainable packaging production. We have compiled further interesting information on the subject of environmental management systems in packaging production in this article.

Basically - What is an environmental management system?

Environmental management means dealing with environmental protection in an organization in a regulated manner and using certain structures. Behind the term stands first the component management system.

A management system in a company aims to implement corporate objectives in a specific area in a systematic and planned manner.

Consequently, an environmental management system provides the structure necessary to achieve various environmental goals. Among other things, an environmental management system is about:

Responsibilities in corporate environmental protection
Processes and procedures for more sustainable production
Routines
Documentation requirements
timing.

The environmental management system also documents environmental goals, operational audits and certifications in the area of environmental protection, as well as hazard calculations for potential environmental hazards and control systems.

Certified environmental management systems with defined standards are offered by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and a comprehensive audit system at European level (EMAS), among others.

Common environmental management systems I: ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is a well-known environmental management system. The standard is recognized worldwide. The original version of the standard dates back to 1996, with current adaptations following at regular intervals. This was most recently the case in 2015.

This environmental management system is divided into various larger sections: With planning, implementation, control and improvement, the essential sub-areas of an operational environmental management are mapped.

ISO 14001 provides tools for establishing an environmental management system in a company.

ISO 14001 can be applied to organizations of a wide range of sizes, industries and cultural backgrounds. It is also frequently used by packaging companies as the basis of an operational environmental protection system. Around 300,000 organizations worldwide have opted for ISO 14001 for their environmental management.

The organizational structure and process organization play a special role in the implementation of ISO 14001. The organizational structure defines the structure for the fulfillment of environmental tasks. This primarily concerns the personnel framework and responsibilities.

The process organization is about the "how" in environmental management. In general, the PDCA cycle is the standard:

Planning - Plan
Implementation - Do
Control - Control
Improve - Act

Each PDCA cycle is intended for the achievement of a specific goal. Once the organization has achieved the goal, a new goal is set and a new PDCA cycle begins. All these elements characterize ISO 14001.

Common environmental management systems II: EMAS

The abbreviation EMAS stands for Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. The European environmental management system takes ISO 14001 as one basis. The voluntary instrument of the European Union is available to all companies regardless of industry and company size. Furthermore, it can be applied worldwide.

With the achievement of the goals and auditing by EMAS, a seal of quality is awarded. In depth, EMAS goes beyond the requirements of ISO 14001. It is expected that user companies exceed legal standards and involve their employees in environmental management.

A series of audits accompanies the entire EMAS process. At the beginning, there is a comprehensive inventory within the framework of a major environmental audit, which is supplemented again and again via subsequent individual environmental audits.

The company develops a comprehensive environmental program and documents the respective processes. Independent and state-certified environmental auditors act as auditors for the EMAS program.

An important component of EMAS is the disclosure of the environmental situation in the company within the framework of an environmental report. Here, the public as a whole is informed about the respective environmental efforts of a company.

An EMAS register records the participating organizations. This also gives companies an overview of who is involved in EMAS in Germany and Europe. The members of the EU agree on the auditing procedures and the contents of the EMAS program. This ensures uniform quality standards throughout the EU.

The packaging industry is in the public eye as a system-relevant key industry. Packaging is ubiquitous, which is why the call for more environmental protection and sustainability is particularly strong in this industry. We cannot do without packaging in the private and also in the industrial environment.

Nevertheless, valuable resources flow into packaging. The more sustainable use of these resources is a social task that is also increasingly affecting the industries involved.

This is not just about the image of individual packaging companies. Packaging companies can save costs if they produce more sustainably. In times of rising energy prices and raw material shortages, this is the order of the day.

Today, no packaging company can do without environmental protection to ensure its competitiveness. Individual activities here and there have long since ceased to be sufficient. Environmental management in the packaging industry requires structured and systematic processes.

These must be documented in such a way that they can be communicated to representatives of the authorities and the public. Furthermore, certifications such as the EMAS seal are also marketing instruments for each individual participating company.

If a packaging company undergoes certification according to ISO 14001/EMAS, the company clearly demonstrates that it is able to plan and implement environmental protection in a structured manner. Overall, this speaks for an excellent situation at the organizational level of the company.

Such factors are becoming increasingly important in competition with other companies. They show business partners and customers that this company is reliable and optimally structured . An environmental management system rubs off positively on other areas.

Likewise, compliance with environmental management standards shows that participating companies are willing and able to invest in environmental protection. If you will, sustainability is increasingly becoming a competitive factor.

Environmental management in the packaging industry is no longer a luxury. Here, it is no longer a question of perhaps being able to implement environmental protection in the company. Anyone who wants to be fit for the future on the market can no longer avoid environmental management in a structured form.

This applies at both the national and European level, but increasingly also worldwide. The careful use of resourcesrecycling and sustainable production processes are increasingly becoming mandatory requirements in the packaging industry.

Environmental management in the packaging industry is increasingly becoming a tough competitive factor.

Conclusion/Outlook

Environmental management systems such as ISO 14001 and EMAS will become even more important in the packaging industry in the future. Various crises in the recent past, some of which are still ongoing today, make sustainability a must in packaging production. Otherwise, the rising costs of energy and raw materials can no longer be managed.

Environmental management systems are also necessary in the packaging industry because environmental protection in packaging production can only be implemented in a structured manner. Implementing an occasional individual measure according to the watering can principle does not lead to success in the medium and long term.

Above all, such individual actions are not convincing to competitors and the public. What is needed is for the environmental seals to be systematically audited and verified. Management systems have long played a key role in many other areas as well in order to set a company apart from its competitors.

Companies actively advertise, for example on their website with corresponding seals. This is no different with environmental management systems. If anything, the significance and weighting are even greater here because sustainability and environmental protection are now major issues in many countries.

The focus is no longer only on conformity with environmental legislation. Packaging companies must do more to stand out from the crowd.

You can therefore look forward to seeing how the topic of environmental management will develop in the packaging industry in the future. Producing packaging now also means producing sustainably. Hardly any company can get around this anymore.

FAQ

Do companies in the packaging industry have to install an environmental management system?

At present, there is no specific legal obligation. However, more and more companies are giving more importance to the topic of environmental protection for image reasons as well as for economic reasons. Here, a structured environmental management system documents one's own efforts and can be used in the marketing area at the same time.
Why does environmental management play an important role for packaging companies in particular?

As a system-relevant branch of industry, the packaging industry is always in the public eye. Since mass-produced cartons are involved here, for example, the entire industry also quickly comes under criticism.

This is not always fair, because their activities depend primarily on the demand side. Here, for example, recent growth in online shipping has also led to an increase in packaging. Packaging companies are held to a moral obligation by society to make their production sustainable and environmentally compatible.
Is it recommended for any packaging company to undergo certification in an environmental management system?

This question cannot be answered unequivocally at present. However, it can increasingly become a competitive advantage to have a certified environmental management system installed. The current development is heading in this direction. At present, environmental protection and sustainability are being discussed throughout society.

Here, packaging companies, like other key industries, can hardly be left out if they want to remain competitive. Another aspect should not be neglected: companies can save costs in the long term if they produce more sustainably.