Editing Packaging (section)

===Environmental considerations===
{{main|Packaging waste|sustainable packaging}}
[[File:Kg of waste generated from packaging in Europe in 2021.svg|thumb|Kg of waste generated from packaging in Europe]]
[[File:Waste hierarchy rect-en.svg|right|thumbnail|The [[waste hierarchy]]]]

Package development involves considerations of [[sustainability]], environmental responsibility, and applicable [[Environmental policy|environmental]] and [[recycling]] regulations. It may involve a [[life cycle assessment]]<ref>{{cite journal |last= Zabaniotou|first=A|author2=Kassidi |year=2003 |title= Life cycle assessment applied to egg packaging made from polystyrene and recycled paper |journal=Journal of Cleaner Production |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=549–559 |doi= 10.1016/S0959-6526(02)00076-8 |bibcode=2003JCPro..11..549Z}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |last        = Franklin
 |title       = Life Cycle Inventory of Packaging Options for Shipment of Retail Mail-Order Soft Goods
 |date        = April 2004
 |url         = http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/sw/packaging/LifeCycleInventory.pdf
 |access-date  = December 13, 2008
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081217063517/http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/sw/packaging/LifeCycleInventory.pdf
 |archive-date = December 17, 2008
 |df          = mdy-all
}}
</ref>
which considers the material and energy inputs and outputs to the package, the packaged product (contents), the packaging process, the [[logistics]] system,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/smartway/transport/documents/faqs/partnership_overview.pdf|title=SmartWay Transport Partnerships|access-date=December 22, 2008|publisher=US Environmental Protection Agency }}</ref> [[waste management]], etc.  It is necessary to know the relevant regulatory requirements for point of manufacture, sale, and use.

The traditional "three R's" of reduce, reuse, and recycle are part of a [[waste hierarchy]] which may be considered in product and package development.
* Prevention – [[Waste prevention]] is a primary goal.  Packaging should be used only where needed. Proper packaging can also help prevent waste. Packaging plays an important part in preventing loss or damage to the packaged product (contents). Usually, the energy content and material usage of the product being packaged are much greater than that of the package. A vital function of the package is to protect the product for its intended use: if the product is damaged or degraded, its entire energy and material content may be lost.
* Minimization (also "source reduction") – Eliminate [[overpackaging]]. The mass and volume of packaging (per unit of contents) can be measured and used as criteria for minimizing the package in the design process. Usually "reduced" packaging also helps minimize costs. Packaging engineers continue to work toward reduced packaging.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_197233456.html |title=The Incredible Shrinking Package |access-date=July 16, 2007 |last=DeRusha |first=Jason |date=July 16, 2007 |publisher=WCCO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717171902/http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_197233456.html |archive-date=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
* Reuse – [[Reusable packaging]] is encouraged.<ref>{{Citation
| title =Use Reusables: Fundamentals of Reusable Transport Packaging
| publisher =US Environmental Protection Agency
| year =2012
| url =http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/smm/web-academy/2012/pdfs/smm812_Lehrer.pdf
| access-date =June 30, 2014
| url-status =dead
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150114164418/http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/smm/web-academy/2012/pdfs/smm812_Lehrer.pdf
| archive-date =January 14, 2015
| df =mdy-all
}}</ref>  Returnable packaging has long been useful (and economically viable) for closed-loop logistics systems. Inspection, cleaning, repair, and recouperage are often needed. Some manufacturers re-use the packaging of the incoming parts for a product, either as packaging for the outgoing product<ref>[http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/94feb/feb94a8.pdf "HP DeskJet 1200C Printer Architecture"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607103049/http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/94feb/feb94a8.pdf |date=June 7, 2011 }}. (PDF). Retrieved on June 27, 2012.</ref> or as part of the product itself.<ref>[http://newsroom-magazine.com/2009/critical-thinking/footprints-in-the-sand/ "Footprints In The Sand"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826072137/http://newsroom-magazine.com/2009/critical-thinking/footprints-in-the-sand/ |date=August 26, 2010 }}. Newsroom-magazine.com. Retrieved on June 27, 2012.</ref>
* Recycling – [[Recycling]] is the reprocessing of materials (pre- and post-consumer) into new products.  Emphasis is focused on recycling the largest primary components of a package: steel, aluminum, papers, plastics, etc. Small components can be chosen which are not difficult to separate and do not contaminate recycling operations. Packages can sometimes be designed to separate components to better facilitate recycling.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bickford |first1=Michalina |title=Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology Recycling, Packaging |journal=Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology |date=2009 |doi=10.1002/0471238961.recypack.a01}}</ref>
* [[Energy recovery]] – [[Waste-to-energy]] and [[refuse-derived fuel]] in approved facilities make use of the heat available from incinerating the packaging components.
* Disposal – [[Incineration]], and placement in a sanitary [[landfill]] are undertaken for some materials.  Certain US states regulate packages for toxic contents, which have the potential to contaminate emissions and ash from incineration and [[leachate]] from landfill. Packages should not be [[litter]]ed.

Development of [[sustainable packaging]] is an area of considerable interest to [[standards organization]]s, governments, consumers, packagers, and retailers.

Sustainability is the fastest-growing driver for packaging development, particularly for packaging manufacturers that work with the world's leading brands, as their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) targets often exceed those of the EU Directive.