SPC's COMPASS comparative design tool launches
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In development since 2005, the new COMPASS (Comparative Packaging Assessment) online software application from the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (www.sustainablepackaging.org) is now available for license by packaging professionals. To launch the new program, SPC project manager Minal Mistry demonstrated the application to attendees during three workshops at the SPC’s Spring Meeting 2009 on March 23 in Chicago.
“COMPASS will help packaging designers make more informed material selections early in the development process,” said Mistry. “By reporting credible information on a range of environmental criteria, it allows users to understand the tradeoffs of material selection and select design options that best fit their company’s sustainability objectives.”
The application uses a life cycle approach to assess packages on resource consumption, emissions, and packaging attributes such as material health, recycled or virgin content, and solid waste. The life-cycle phases calculated by the software include sourcing, manufacturing, conversion, and end-of-life. The distribution and use phases are not a part of the COMPASS tool, Mistry explained.
The application’s metrics and methodologies were developed by experts from across the packaging supply chain and reviewed by a range of stakeholders, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Users can select U.S. or European data sets and can compare four packages side-by-side. “Copy” and “Search” functions enhance the software’s ease of use.
Notes the SPC, the COMPASS development process has included a significant data collection effort, as the coalition continues to work with various trade associations to collect the most up-to-date industry-average life-cycle inventory data for common packaging materials. The software also includes the latest recovery figures from the EPA and the European Union to assess the recyclability of packages.
One thing the software does not do however, Mistry clarified, is assign any “scores” to packages or materials. “It leaves the ‘scoring’ up to the user depending upon their own priorities for sustainability,” he told audience members.
The software is available through an annual license, which costs $500 for SPC members and $750 for nonmembers. Each license allows for up to five users and allows for collaboration within design teams.
For a free trial of the COMPASS software, visit the Web site at www.design-compass.org.
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The SPC COMPASS (Comparative Packaging Assessment) online software application is going to quickly become a favorite tool of packaging designers and other professionals to compare and consider material choices in an unbiased manner. I envision packaging companies compiling databases of material information which they can share with their customers to promote sales and sustainable packaging.
The SPC COMPASS tool has been years in the making. It will provide a simple, easy, and effective way for package designers to compare various options for the same package design. It should help simplify the environmental choices that package designers have to make on a daily basis much like TOPS or CAPE simplified pallet design.
This is an excellent article. We were happy to help Minal and his group in the development of the COMPASS application.
- Ryan
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Ryan Adams
Intalgent
Director of Business Development
www.intalgent.com
The SPC's new COMPASS (Comparitive Packaging Assessment) tool offers users the ability to better understand how the sourcing and material decisions that they make early in the package design process impact the overall sustainability of their final product. The one thing that COMPASS does not do however, is tell the Package Designer or Engineer what the right package is for their application. Ultimately the right package for any product involves making a decision about which factors are the most important in a company's push for the development of a more sustainable product range. Carbon foot print, water use, energy consumption, potential impact on human health, numerious factors impact the decision that a company must make about the direction to pursue. COMPASS is designed to provide the imformation required to make an educated decision about the sustainability of a package under development, but it is still up to the Designer or Engineer to make the best choice to minimize their company's environmental impact and to preserve the earth and it's resources for future generations.
It would be useful to have COMPASS include some figures on the emissions/footprint during the distribution phase as well since studies have consistently shown that this phase does contribute quite heavily (in many cases, most heavily) to the overall emissions tally.
The value proposition of COMPASS is amazing. There are years of development and rigorous testing that is behind this tool. The price point can't be beat for the functionality it offers.
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