Environmental impact study confirms cartons
compare favourably with reusable glass bottles
already offers customers innovative options, where available for a particular
products that are linked to up to 100% market, are used as the reference system
renewable content.” for comparison.
Rigorous assessments for
informed decision-making Based on an in-depth analysis of all three
SIG is a member of the German
Beverage Carton Association FKN, which
commissioned the LCA study to support
informed decisions on packaging by food
A state-of-the-art environmental lifecycle
assessment (LCA) has confirmed that single-use
beverage cartons compare favourably with
reusable glass bottles – and outperform single-
use PET bottles – across the fresh milk, juice and
UHT milk market segments.
producers, consumers and policymakers
based on a robust scientific comparison
of environmental impact.
The LCA was conducted by the
Institute for Energy and Environmental
Research (IFEU) in accordance with the
recognised ISO 14040/44 international
market segments – fresh milk, juices and
UHT milk – the beverage carton performs
at least as well, or in the case of fresh
milk, even better than reusable glass
bottles. The latest study also confirms
that both beverage cartons and reusable
glass bottles outperform PET bottles for
fresh milk, juice and UHT milk. Where no
re-usable system is installed, beverage
cartons are clearly advantageous.
Cartons perform significantly better than
the alternatives on climate change – the
category given highest ecological priority
A state-of-the-art environmental lifecycle standards. It is the first study to meet assessment (LCA) has confirmed that the new requirements stipulated by the single-use beverage cartons compare German Federal Environment Agency favourably with reusable glass bottles – (UBA) for beverage packaging life cycle and outperform single-use PET bottles – assessments in Germany. than reusable glass bottles for fruit juices
Benedikt Kauertz, Scientific Director at milk (for which no reusable options are
across the fresh milk, juice and UHT milk
market segments.
IFEU said: “IFEU supported the UBA in
by the UBA. The climate impact results
for cartons are 78% lower than reusable
glass bottles for fresh milk, 37% lower
and 71% lower than PET bottles for UHT
available).
The results of the critically reviewed LCA developing its minimum requirements study are based on an in-depth analysis for LCAs for beverage packaging. The The high proportion of renewable material
of the German beverage packaging study commissioned by FKN is the first used to make beverage cartons – 75%
market, with expert review and oversight to implement these requirements and on average – contributes to their strong
by the German Federal Environment adopt such a robust approach. The results environmental performance, together with
Agency (UBA). show that beverage cartons for milk their highly efficient design which reduces
and juice are advantageous compared impacts from transport and distribution.
with single use PET bottles. For milk, The favourable results are underpinned
beverage cartons are even better than the by the industry’s commitment to sourcing
reference system, reusable glass bottles, from responsibly-managed forests.
The conclusions are globally relevant and
support the findings of previous critically
reviewed LCAs that beverage cartons
offer environmental advantages to
alternative forms of packaging for liquid
dairy and juices.
SIG Chief Executive Officer Rolf Stangl
commented: “The latest LCA confirms
and for juices beverage cartons perform
on a par with the reference system. For
UHT milk, where no reusable packaging
option is available, beverage cartons
perform better than the single-use PET
once again that beverage cartons are bottle alternative.”
the preferred environmental choice Environmental advantages of
cartons confirmed
for milk and juice packaging. The high
proportion of renewable content in
LCAs support responsible
product innovation
LCA is fundamental to SIG’s robust
approach to product responsibility and
informs the focus of the company’s
product innovation. These innovations
are part of SIG’s commitment to go Way
Beyond Good by putting more into society
single-use beverage cartons puts them Reusable packaging options, such as on a par even with glass bottles that can glass bottles that are returned to food or be reused multiple times. These results beverage producers to be used again, are FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SIG’S JOURNEY
are based on standard beverage cartons often assumed to be the best option for WAY BEYOND GOOD: https://www.sig.
that are around 75% renewable and SIG the environment. That is why reusable biz/en/responsibility/way-beyond-good
and the environment than it takes out.
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