Life cycle map points the way forward

• An audit, as part of an EU-funded project, reveals where packaging can be rationalised at paint company
• Life cycle map highlights shipping and distribution improvements, saving money and emissions

Choosing to minimise the amount of packaging and the material used made a big difference for Eskaro, a central European supplier of paint and related products. Eskaro joined the European EDECON project to study ways to improve its packaging, assisted by a consultancy firm and the local chamber of commerce. 

Together, they looked at how to minimise the amount of packaging needed, choose a material that is environmentally friendly without affecting the quality or lifespan of the product, package goods in the right quantities to eliminate products going to waste, and to explore if they could make packaging re-usable. This so-called life cycle analysis (LCA) is a good first step to identify environmental impacts of product packaging. It analyses the relationship between the materials used, the packaging itself, and its effectiveness in the eyes of the consumer, and the amount of waste it results in.

Together with the consultants, the company created a life cycle map for one of the products, which allowed all employees to review the environmental impact, beginning with the choice of raw materials, production, packaging, painting and ending with waste.

Key results

Following this exercise, Eskaro planned to create similar maps for other groups of products and apply the principles of eco-design to them.

Moreover, a detailed audit took place during the programme, which resulted in the decision to make a change in shipping and distribution of products. Reducing the package weight helped to lower truck loading and costs of transportation. The lower the transport costs, the lower the energy consumption, air pollution and CO2 emissions. Packaging costs were also notably reduced.