The need for packaging

Whilst packaging often receives poor publicity, most packaging users understand the importance of protecting goods and their handlers from harm during storage and transportation. In addition, packaging is used to provide important information, security and compliance with government regulations relating to the product's packaging and labelling.

Packaging and the Environment

Packaging is a good investment as it minimises wastage through breakage, spoilage and contamination. Macfarlane Packaging's 3 R's Principle gives you three simple principles to help reduce the impact that packaging has on the environment:

1. Reduce

Macfarlane and their suppliers are constantly improving their techniques and technologies to create more efficient packaging products. Part of this development of "lightweighting technologies", has been used to make cardboard boxes stronger whilst using less resources. As a result, box for box, corrugated packaging is both stronger and lighter today than it was 20 years ago.

2. Reuse

Re-using a product to prolong its life makes good sense. However, it is not always the most practical or best environmental option based on life cycle thinking. Therefore, recycling can be a better option over reuse.

3. Recycle (or Compost)

When a product cannot be reused, recycling it is important because it saves energy, reduces rubbish in landfill sites and cuts the cost of waste disposal.

Environmentally-friendly packaging solutions

At Macfarlane Packaging we work closely with all suppliers and manufacturers to enhance our product range to provide you more environmentally friendly packaging products to help you do your bit for the environment.

Over 85% of our products are made from recyclable materials.

Our Environmental store has a range of products aimed at helping everyone to follow the 3 R's principles including:

• Recycling Bins
• Biodegradable Bubble Wrap
• Biodegradable Loose Fill
• Reusable Eco Bags
• Biodegradable Carrier Bags
• Recycled Polythene Refuse Sacks
• Gummed Paper Tape
• 100% Recycled Plain Labels

Minimising our impact on the environment

At Macfarlane Packaging, we recognise our responsibility to ensure that through our business operations we have a positive impact on society. In order to achieve this we have a series of programmes focused on environmental care. We have identified a range of measurements relating to the environment which we monitor and measure on a regular basis.

CO2 Emissions

We aim to reduce our carbon footprint through a proactive approach to all aspects of the business. Energy and fuel consumption is centrally managed, which enables us to target reductions in carbon emissions. During 2009 for every £1,000 of product sold, we reduced our CO2 emissions by 7% compared to 2008.

Energy Usage

We aim to minimise the amount of energy used across the group during the manufacture and delivery of our products. Our total energy consumption per £1,000 of sales reduced in 2009 compared to 2008.

Fuel Usage

We use a software solution that collates customers’ delivery requirements on a daily basis and calculates the most efficient means of delivering products. Throughout 2009 our fuel consumption was reduced by 2% per £1,000 of sales.

Waste Management

A key element of reducing environmental impact is waste management. At Macfarlane Packaging, we work with Cory Environmental to implement initiatives that result in more products being recycled and therefore less being sent to landfill. For example:

• Packaging used to deliver packaging to our customers

We can deliver packaging products to our customers, and later collect the packaging waste. We are authorised to backload corrugate waste from selected Regional Distribution Centres to our Manufacturing site in Grantham. The site uses baler systems to produce mill sized bales. These bales of waste paper packaging are returned to the manufacturers or mills for recycling.

• Office supplies

All our offices have recycling bins to separate paper plastic and metal waste. We use a range of bespoke waste disposal solutions from paper collection points within the offices to fully integrated solutions.

ISO 14001

Macfarlane Packaging is committed to achieving ISO 14001 registration at all sites. ISO14001 is an internationally accepted standard that defines the requirements for establishing, implementing and operating an environmental management system and the supporting audit programme.

ISO 14001 provides a framework for the development of an environmental management system and the supporting audit programme. Macfarlane Packaging is a responsible packaging supplier that is registered to, and operates in accordance with ISO 14001 Environmental Management standards. For further information about ISO 14001, please contact us.