 | Jocelyn ButeauUsername: jbuteau |
Location
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Role
ConsultantJob Title
Owner & CEOCompany
biopaqc www.biopaqc.comRecent Discussions
Your experiences with Streamlined LCA software
I would like to have your input regarding the streamlined LCA softwares available on the market. I have a strong knowledge base in LCA applied in packaging solutions and in order to be more effective and provide more integrated solutions (the triple bottom line i.e. economic-environnemental-social) I am looking at the business solutions available. I read about the following ones: COMPASS, PIQET, Walmart Sustainable scorecard (developed for the Walmart business needs), SavvyPack, ASSET, Eco-It, GaBi...
Posted November 19, 2009
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A new incentive for the consumer
A week ago I was discussing with friends about what CPGs would look like in ten years from now. One of my friends said that we might have to pay an extra tax called "the sustainable tax" that would take in account the carbon footprint of each packaged good that, for instance, would be bought at the grocery store. That way, the consumer would be forced to select goods that have less carbon footprint as per the product label, all unit price and quality being equal. Then, this could be called a "natural selection process" for producers since they will have to design more sustainable containers for their goods; some of them won't... If such a continuous improvement process ever takes place, it would not be good for your business though! In fact, all the residual packaging material would be recyclable throughout the existing recycling infrastructure, meaning that your business would run out of "raw material"! Well, I don't think that it would be a threat for your business in ten years from now since I'm convinced that you will have evolved in order to adapt to the market changes. All the best to your tremendous business!
ROI based on the triple bottom line
It is starting slowly but surely ! In fact, the manufacturing companies (at least the ones that I have worked with during the past year or so), are not only taking in account economical criterias to justify their investments but also the social dimension (feedback / perceptions from the consumers, market shares changes...) and the environmental dimension ( the carbon footprint of their packaging solutions). However, this third dimension is the one that companies are not in their confort zone since it is a quite new language for them. One of them, who is a Walmart supplier, has just started the process of gathering data to update the sustainable packaging scorecard. They still see it as the "flavor of the month" instead to see it as a business opportunity. Based on one of my recent experience, the evolution that will have to take place is that ROI will have to be expected on a longer term vs short term; then these companies will be allowed to clain for sustainable development. Fortunately, that last project that I have completed with a local SME in the food proceessing industry can claim for a sustainable achievement ! So yes, the mind sets are starting to evolve but it will take time.
It's a matter of common sense
... And it is true in the packaging world too! I agree that compostable/biodegradable bags are more greenwashing than a real green solution. There are applications where compostable/biodegradable products would make sense to use. Examples: in the horticulture industry and fresh fruits/vegetables production (in both sectors, using compostable pots or liners mean huge productivity gains). Personally, it did take me a couple of months before I got used to bringing my reusable bags to the grocery store. Again, the consequences of not having our own bags is not big enough. In fact, in Quebec, one bag costs 5 cents... In Germany, it is 1€! So believe me, you don't forget your bag at home or in your car...! To me, there 4 decision criteria why compostable/biodegradable packaging products should be used: 1) the raw material is renewable 2) the energy consumed to process it should be less than conventional packaging products 3) the impact of the full life cycle should be positive greenwise and, the most important one 4) the long term impact on consumers/converters should be changed behaviors/practices overall. I also agree that due to this criteria, it doesn't discourage society’s throw-away mentality as you have mentioned. And finally in Quebec, the infrastructure is not in place to close the loop as far as life cycle is concerned in regards to compostable/biodegradable packaging. The one and only sustainable strategy is the 3 Rs: reduce waste at the source, reuse (re: reusable bags) and recycle! It is true in our day-to-day life as well as in any step of a supply chain. Jocelyn Buteau BIOPAQc jbuteau@biopaqc.com www.biopaqc.com
Feedback on Greenshield solution
Being a packaging consultant with the mission to optimize packaging processes (innovation-productivity-sustainable development), your solution does meet most of my clients' expectations (food processing co. including sea foods and fish). One of the main paradigm to eliminate with that type of solution is about the mechanical properties (strength) of that type of box vs the specific storage conditions. Once that the fact based results are available in order to demonstrate that it does meet these requirements, any food processing co. will buy into that solution. Do not hesitate to share testimonials and success stories that you will have down the road so I can do the same on my side. Jocelyn Buteau President BIOPAQc Inc. www.biopaqc.com