Development of a preliminary framework for the reduction of plastics in packaging

Abstract

Plastic packaging causes much waste, and its sustainability is receiving increasing attention. Companies have made efforts to mitigate the environmental impacts of packaging; however, plastic waste from packaging remains a big issue. This study builds a framework of factors that are important in helping companies reduce the amount of plastic in their packaging. The framework is based on findings from a literature review and five interviews with practitioners. The study found that to achieve a reduction of plastic in packaging, seven factors are imperative in the fuzzy-end stage of packaging design and development.