Greener Package Database FAQ
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Disclaimer
For suppliers who volunteer to submit their data for review by Greener Package's authorized third-party reviewers, the reviewers take a look at supplier documentation to check that it supports the claim, but make no attempt to verify or review documentation submitted for technical accuracy. Therefore, third-party reviewed claims do not constitute a statement of compliance with any laws or regulations, or a legal opinion as to the compliance of the language used in any claims or an approval or endorsement of product or services by Greener Package or the third-party. A review of materials by Greener Package and the third-party should not be used as a substitute for doing your own due diligence regarding supplier claims or seeking comprehensive professional advice about your particular packaging/product environmental claims. The Greener Package Third Party Review is a basic document review, not an audit or certification.
Who submits data to the database, and who uses the database?
What kind of data can companies submit?
What kinds of packaging are we talking about?
How comprehensive is the database?
Does it cost anything to use the database?
Does anyone review the data for accuracy or greenwashing?
What are the benefits to using this database?
What are the benefits of submitting data?
What's the Walmart connection to this database?
Why don't you have renewable resources as a data point?
What about packaging machinery?
Who submits data to the database, and who uses the database?
Suppliers of raw materials (resin, film, etc.) AND converted packaging (containers, pouches, closures, etc.) should submit data. Companies that are looking to source such materials--manufacturers who are specifying materials to package a particular product--should use the database to search out new materials.
What kind of data can companies submit?
Data on raw materials, converted packaging, packaging services, company profile information, and manufacturing locations. To download a list of the actual questions, click here and here.
What kinds of packaging are we talking about?
All kinds, both raw material and converted, for all applications and all markets.
How comprehensive is the database?
In terms of the depth of the data we're asking for each individual entry in the database, it's pretty thorough. For each material, we have 27 detailed questions pertaining to packaging performance, and 12 additional questions pertaining to sustainability. It's all the basic stuff you'd ask when qualifying suppliers and then some. We spent months talking with the Greener Package Expert Network to come up with the right questions to ask.
In terms of breadth, we have detailed data on 130+ raw materials, 330+ converted packages, and 150+ packaging services from 700+ suppliers. And we have partial information on hundreds more materials.
Does it cost anything to use the database?
At the current time, it does NOT cost anything to use the database. Submitting data is also free. Suppliers can pay an optional fee of a few hundred dollars for third-party review, or they can pay for an enhanced listing. But these fees are optional.
Does anyone review the data for accuracy or greenwashing?
No one reviews the data for accuracy or greenwashing unless the supplier pays for a voluntary third-party review. In such cases, the supplier is required to furnish specific backup documentation to support any sustainability claim. The reviewer does not review the packaging-performance-related data.
What are the benefits to using this database?
1. There is finally ONE place to look at to find information verified by a third party judging all entries by the same set of standards hammered out by peers and experts.
2. This saves an incredible amount of time in the preliminary research phase. While it is not meant to substitute for in-depth research, it is a great first-pass filter.
3. Reviewed listings are a built-in insurance policy against greenwashing, the greatest enemy of packaging sustainability.
4. Users will have the power to dispute questionable claims made on non-reviewed listings, forcing suppliers who make the claims to have the entry either reviewed or withdrawn from the database.
5. A user-friendly search engine that is highly specific to packaging sustainability allows users to search by raw material, converted package or component, sustainability criteria, and food-contact compliance.
What are the benefits to suppliers for submitting data?
1. Disseminate your product information to a targeted audience of package development engineers, packaging R&D engineers and package designers, all of whom influence directly or indirectly the buying decision.
2. Consolidate your feedback to the market about the environmental aspects of your products in one place. Instead of providing answers to individual prospects each with slightly different information or answers, answer ONE set of questions for the entire market.
3. Expand the audience for your product. This database will draw a critical mass of package development engineers, packaging R&D engineers and package designers who will use it to conduct research to discover new materials they didn't know about—including yours.
4. Submit as many products as desired. There is no limit.
5. There is no charge to submit data at the current time.
What's the Walmart connection to this database?
Greener Package has teamed up with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Sustainable Packaging Scorecard Modeling Software technology provider ECRM to incorporate its Packaging Marketgate database and link up with the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Sustainable Packaging Modeling software.
ECRM's Packaging.Marketgate database of supplier products was merged into the Greener Package Database. Data in the Greener Package database will be visible within the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Sustainable Packaging Scorecard Modeling Software so that buyers and specifiers will be able to conduct what-if scenarios with sustainable packaging alternatives right within the modeling software. However, only third-party-reviewed entries will be visible within the Scorecard software. Non-reviewed entries will not.
The Greener Package database will be the central point for packaging suppliers to enter their sustainability data. ECRM will remain in partnership with Greener Package, enabling the link to the Sustainable Packaging Scorecard Modeling Software modeling software, which ECRM continues to develop, support and enhance.
Packaging suppliers who attend Walmart's annual Sustainable Packaging Expo are also required to enter data into the Greener Package database.
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Why don't you have renewable resources as a data point?
It is expected that the FTC will provide guidance on what constitutes a renewable resource in the next version of the Environmental Marketing Claims guidelines, which is projected to come out in 2010. Once they have provided guidance, this claim will be added to this database and the third-party review process.
What about packaging machinery?
While machinery is no doubt part of the sustainability conversation, this particular database is focused on packaging materials and services only.
