The Sustainable Dictionary
5-R - The five Improvement directions
The Sustainable Packaging Sector Plan (in Dutch) offers the Garden sector the opportunity to actively contribute to a circular economy. The following themes are used for making packaging and / or packaging materials more sustainable:
Rethink: redesigning product / packaging combinations to reduce environmental pressure.
The product design has a direct impact on the recyclability and reusability of packaging.
- Reduce: use less packaging material.
By applying less (plastic) packaging material, less (plastic) packaging waste is created after use. This reduces the burden on the environment.
- Resource: deploying materials with a lower environmental impact (FSC / PEFC certified paper and cardboard, recycled and biobased materials).
The use of more recycled plastics limits the dependence on fossil fuels for the production of new plastics and reduces CO2 emissions (European Commission, 2018).
- Reuse: research into the possibilities for reusing (refill) packaging.
Packaging or parts thereof can be designed in such a way that they can be used multiple times, for example with a return system or refill packaging.
- Recycle: quality, sortability and recyclability (Design for Recycling)
Packaging must be processed correctly. It is therefore essential that packaging can be separated, sorted, and recycled in current collection systems. The KIDV has developed a Recycle check to support companies in the development of sustainable packaging.
Source: https://www.rethinkplastics.nl/ (in Dutch)
Rethink: redesigning product / packaging combinations to reduce environmental pressure.
The product design has a direct impact on the recyclability and reusability of packaging.
- Reduce: use less packaging material.
By applying less (plastic) packaging material, less (plastic) packaging waste is created after use. This reduces the burden on the environment.
- Resource: deploying materials with a lower environmental impact (FSC / PEFC certified paper and cardboard, recycled and biobased materials).
The use of more recycled plastics limits the dependence on fossil fuels for the production of new plastics and reduces CO2 emissions (European Commission, 2018).
- Reuse: research into the possibilities for reusing (refill) packaging.
Packaging or parts thereof can be designed in such a way that they can be used multiple times, for example with a return system or refill packaging.
- Recycle: quality, sortability and recyclability (Design for Recycling)
Packaging must be processed correctly. It is therefore essential that packaging can be separated, sorted, and recycled in current collection systems. The KIDV has developed a Recycle check to support companies in the development of sustainable packaging.
Source: https://www.rethinkplastics.nl/ (in Dutch)
Waste hierarchy / Lansink's ladder
Defined in the EU Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC on waste). Requires that EU Member States dispose of waste according to the waste hierarchy at five levels: prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, other recovery and disposal.
Bio-based/ Bioplastic
A material is made on the basis of the residual flows of renewable, natural resources such as potatoes, corn or cane sugar. These are renewable raw materials, which are currently not recycled separately. How does that work? You can read an explanation of Milieucentraal here.
Biological
Of biological origin, grown or kept without the use of chemical pesticides and antibiotics.
The extent to which a substance can be broken down in nature. Bacteria often play an important role in this.
Circular
A recurring system where there is no start and end by reusing products and materials.
Circular economy
Source: Het Kennisinstituut Duurzaam Verpakken KIDV
An economic system that is intended to maximize the reusability of products and raw materials and to minimize value destruction. Unlike the current linear system, in which raw materials are converted into products that are destroyed at the end of their life.
A process whereby vegetable residues and food residues are broken down into fertile soil (humus) in the presence of oxygen for reuse in parks and gardens.
Cradle to cradle
(C2C or cradle-to-cradle) is a design philosophy based on the principle that waste equals food. Every raw material and every material must be able to be fully reused without losing its value.
Long lasting, good for people and nature. Use an area in such a way that natural resources do not run out. So for example not only felling trees, but also planting them again.
Ecological
Environmentally friendly with regard to the economy.
Fair Clothing
Clothing made with care for people and the environment, fair wages and sustainable production.
Fair-Trade
Trade whereby producers in third world countries are paid a price that is considered fair. Stricter environmental requirements are imposed on fair trade products.
Greenwashing
Term for companies that claim sustainability, but do not take actual action.
Renewable
Products made from renewable raw materials are made from vegetable material that can grow again in nature, such as sugar cane or corn.
Hydropaper
Water-resistant paper that is compostable. Is collected in the old paper. Koen Pack has developed a number of sleeves with this material, especially for plants. But much more for flowers.
Quality mark
Mark as proof of inspection and / or indication of a certain quality.
This logo is printed on packaging that must be thrown in the garbage can. It only composts after 12 weeks in a special composting machine. In practice, organic waste is only in such a machine for 1 to 2 weeks and pieces of plastic are left behind in the compost. See also OK Compost.
Kraft paper
Kraft paper is a very strong type of paper made from wood chips from coniferous wood. The wood chips mainly come from tree species such as spruce and pine, because they have a long fiber. This long fiber ensures the strength and high quality of the paper. During the processing of wood fiber into paper pulp, the natural binding agent lignin is separated from the cellulose, resulting in a very pure product. The kraft paper used for our products is unbleached and has a natural brown color. The paper is wet-strong and, due to its pure composition, very suitable for recycling and composting. Because the material is made from fast-growing tree species, the product is also very durable.
Linear economy
A system in which raw materials are converted into products that are destroyed at the end of their lifespan.
Micro beads
Tiny plastic balls that are used in beauty products such as toothpaste, day cream and shower gel.
Environment
The whole of the atmosphere, soil and water that affect plants, animals and people.
Corporate Social Responsibility, an organization that focuses on sustainability and new business models. More information about MVO Nederland.
Natural
Product whose ingredients come from nature, such as tree bark, pine cones or birch bark.
NGO
Non Governmental Organisation, examples are foundations such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International.
The Belgian quality mark OK Compost is printed on bags, covers and trays made of compostable plastic. The advice is to throw bioplastic with the OK Compost logo in the trash bin. It only composts after 12 weeks in a special composting machine. In practice, organic waste is only in such a machine in the Netherlands for 1 to 2 weeks and pieces of plastic are left behind in the compost. This is not desirable.
PET
Polyethylene Terephthalate, is used for plastic drinking bottles. Because there is deposit on it, the recycling process is well designed for this material.
Polylactic Acid, a bioplastic made from renewable sources such as corn, this is not at the expense of food because the stems and leaves are used for production. It is a compostable raw material when it can remain in a professional composting installation for more than 10 weeks. In the Netherlands the process is shorter, so it is preferable to throw it in the gray bin.
Plastic
It consists of chemical compounds produced by non-natural chemical processes. The raw material is often hydrocarbon, which comes from petroleum, a fossil fuel. Some examples are PP, PET, PS, LDPE and HDPE. Nowadays there are also plastics made from renewable materials such as PLA.
Plastic Pact
A lot of plastic floats in the sea, from large pieces on the water to almost invisible pieces of microplastics under water. This is called the plastic soup. There are various organizations active in combating this. If you want to know more about this, take a look at Plastic Soup Foundation.
Plastic soup
The Plastic Pact NL has been signed by a crowd of parties from the plastic chain. The ambitions of the Plastic Pact NL certainly do not lie. To give an example: by 2025, all single-use plastic products and packaging must be 100 percent recyclable. The amount of plastic that we use in the Netherlands must have fallen by 20 percent in the same year and 70 percent of one-off plastic products must be recycled in high quality by that time.
To achieve those objectives, a chain approach is required, the Pact states. In other words: important steps can be taken during the design, use and recycling phase. The pact emphasizes the importance of a simplified chain, so that plastic products and packaging can be recycled more efficiently and with higher quality.Source: Duurzaam Bedrijfsleven.
To achieve those objectives, a chain approach is required, the Pact states. In other words: important steps can be taken during the design, use and recycling phase. The pact emphasizes the importance of a simplified chain, so that plastic products and packaging can be recycled more efficiently and with higher quality.Source: Duurzaam Bedrijfsleven.
Recycling / recycling / recyclable
Waste that cannot be returned separately may be disposed of with the residual waste. In the Netherlands this is the gray click or garbage bag, but to choose which waste belongs to which bin, a handy Waste separation guide is available.
Starch
A raw material used for, for example, biodegradable covers and bags.
Litter
Waste on the street, on the roadside or in ditches and lakes. It is annoyance number one and is also bad for nature, people and animals.
Quick links to other pages
HomeSustainable packaging and the difference between organic and compostable
Koen Pack Waste policy and processing techniques
The environmental impact of packaging, do you opt for paper or plastic?
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