Reducing Your Packaging's Carbon Footprint to Lower Costs
John Blake, Gartner’s senior director analyst, uses the analogy of a paper map to navigate a long car journey pre sat-nav to explain the importance of data. Back then, you were limited to the information available when the map was created. Now you can simply enter your destination into a phone at the start of your journey to get real-time feedback on traffic, stay informed of any unanticipated disruptions and even get suggestions for alternative routes. The power of data gives us real-time information so we can make informed and impactful decisions. We need to make this same technological leap in the packaging industry and approach our sustainability initiatives as we would a long road trip - pick the destination, map the journey and our processes using data and use the latest tools and technologies to make informed decisions about design and development. In order to reduce your carbon footprint, you first need to be able to measure it and once you measure it, you need to be able to manage it. A data-driven approach will enable you to digitally transform your processes. It will allow you to be smar and empower you to make more informed decisions. A packaging assessment tool or a lifecycle light tool can help to measure your carbon footprint. It must be robust, have a solid, validated data source and use the latest scientific methodology.