When less is more: Insights to using less packaging

Bob Lilienfeld, who heads Use-less-stuff.com, has championed source reduction as the key to packaging sustainability for more than a decade. Here's his take on overpackaging, the Wal-Mart scorecard, and related topics.

How does a reduction in the amount of packaging today compare to 10 to 15 years ago?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of packaging has not really been reduced. Between 1990 and 2005, packaging generated in the U.S. has increased from 64.5 to 76.7 million tons, and has remained at approximately 31% of all waste generated. The good news is during this time period the amount of packaging that's being discarded has been reduced slightly, dropping from 47.8 to 46.2 million tons, due largely to recycling efforts.

What is packaging's role in the waste stream?
Packaging waste is the single biggest component of solid waste heading to our landfills. This is why consumers and the media are upset by it. In reality, our major environmental problems are not caused by packaging waste, but rather by the material and energy usage related to both the packaging and the products it protects. Once it's in the ground, it's benign. It's what happens before it gets into the ground that's important.
In reality, packaging is not the main problem, but derivative from the true forces that seriously affect the environment: population growth, and consumption of materials and energy. But since packaging holds no emotional value for people, is quite visible, and is somewhat of a nuisance when used up, it's easy for the average person to criticize.

While what you say makes sense, we may not agree with you about the lack of emotion for packaging! Seriously, does the problem of overpackaging rest more with marketers and consumer packaged goods companies or with consumers' demands?
It's a never-ending cycle. Consumers want convenience and value. Marketers, consumer packaged goods companies, and even converters are trying to provide it to them or to stay one step ahead of them. The marketplace is a hostile environment. When given a choice, consumers pick the product and the package combination that fits their psychological and physiological needs. The others fail.

This sounds like a dilemma. Is there any solution possible?
The primary solution from my perspective is simply to design and use packaging that minimizes weight. Doing so obviously reduces materials usage, but at least as importantly, it reduces production, transportation, and storage energy usage throughout the supply chain. My motto is simple: “Light makes right.”

What is your reaction to the Wal-Mart scorecard announcement that benefits sustainable and efficient packaging?
I give Wal-Mart great credit for three efforts. First, they decided to try something that was both economically and environmentally positive. Second, they developed a tool by which to make decisions. And third, they made that tool transparent by publishing it. My two concerns are:
1. That they build in enough flexibility to make changes to the scorecard as new and better information emerges – which it will, and
2. That their buyers understand how to properly use the data in order to make purchasing decisions.

What trends concern you?
I see two trends that fly in the face of reduced packaging. The first is the single-serving phenomenon, which has the potential to significantly increase packaging discards. The problem is that everyone in the supply chain loves it. Consumers are eating more on the go and by themselves, so it fits their lifestyle. Converters love the extra , Unilever, Coke, and Pepsi. I was very impressed with both their personal and corporate commitment to create more sustainable products and processes.