While it may sound obvious, to correctly evaluate the environmental impact of packaging, the process needs to follow the full lifecycle from seed to shelf and beyond, says Matthew Miller, Managing Director of CorrBoard. As a business that has won awards for its sustainability credentials, including its partnership with an anaerobic digestion facility that produces over 90% of its electricity, the company explores ways that it can continuously improve its own performance.
Since April 2019, qualifying companies have had to submit streamlined energy and carbon reporting (SECR). These reports share data that reflects the annual energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of a business. Matthew comments: When consumers look at the sustainability of packaging they commonly default to two positions: what is it made from and is it recyclable or not. What they dont consider is the manufacturing process to produce it and the transport needed to make and distribute it from seed to shelf and beyond.
Following consultations between the UK government and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), UK based businesses that are eligible will need to submit UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) from accountancy period 2026/27.
Matthew concludes: We can no longer focus on our own emissions and energy usage. This reporting could provide our sector with an opportunity to become a benchmark for best practice when it comes to sustainability reporting within the UK and across the globe.
