Packaging

1. Purpose

The "Packaging" form helps you calculate the environmental impact associated with the various packaging materials used by your company. This includes assessing the impact of materials like cardboard, different types of plastic films and foils, and paper.

2. Entering Your Packaging Data

• Scope: Choose whether you want to calculate the impact for the calendar year or a specific month.
• Year: Select the year for which you want to calculate the packaging impact.
• Month (if applicable): If you chose "Month" in the "Scope" field, select the specific month.
• Packaging Usage:
• Click "+ Add New" to add a row for each type of packaging material used.
• Packaging: Select the specific packaging material from the dropdown list. This list should include common packaging materials with known environmental impacts.
• Amount: Enter the amount of the packaging material used. The unit of measurement (e.g., kg, pieces) might vary depending on the material, so pay attention to any instructions or units specified.

3. How the Calculation Works

The tool uses the entered data on packaging types and amounts, along with emission factors associated with the production, transportation, and disposal of each material, to calculate the total impact. This impact is calculated in kilograms of CO2 equivalent (kg CO2-eq), which allows for comparison and aggregation of the impacts of different materials.

4. Understanding the Results

• Impact (kg CO2-eq): This column displays the calculated environmental impact for each type of packaging material in kilograms of CO2 equivalent.
• Impact share (%): This column shows the percentage contribution of each packaging material to the total packaging impact. This helps you identify which materials have the most significant environmental impact.

5. What Happens Next?

Once you've entered all the necessary data, click "Submit." The tool will automatically calculate the total impact of packaging and display it on the right side of the form. This data will be incorporated into your overall environmental footprint report, accessible through the "Results Dashboard." You can then use this information to identify areas for improvement, such as reducing packaging use, switching to more sustainable materials, or increasing the use of recycled content.