ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PACKAGING INDUSTRY THROUGH CIRCULAR ECONOMY, 3R PRINCIPLES, AND EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY

The packaging industry plays a vital role in protecting products and enabling global commerce, yet it remains a major contributor to resource depletion and environmental pollution. Implementing circular economy principles, the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) provides a transformative approach to addressing these challenges. This article explores how these frameworks can be applied across sectors to reduce waste, enhance material efficiency, and drive sustainable innovation while reinforcing the critical role of packaging in product quality preservation.

- ByAJITH U.K. ATHUGALA SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, IEPSL FELLOW & CHARTERED ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONAL

Packaging is indispensable to product safety, preservation, branding, and transport. However, the linear model of “take-make-dispose” has rendered much of the global packaging stream unsustainable, with massive resource loss and post-consumer waste accumulation. Based on the most recent data available, packaging continues to be the largest application of plastics globally. According to Plastics Europe’s “Plastics the Facts 2023” report, packaging accounted for approximately 40% of total plastic demand in 2022. This significant share underscores the critical role of packaging in the broader context of plastic production and waste management. The high consumption rate of plastics in packaging highlights the importance of implementing sustainable practices, such as the principles of the circular economy, the 3Rs, and EPR, to mitigate environmental impacts and promote resource efficiency. By focusing on these strategies, industries can work towards reducing the environmental footprint of packaging, enhancing recyclability, and fostering a more sustainable approach to plastic use.