Ahead of Net Zero Week, Heather Nixon at Bio-D is calling for a shift in how the industry approaches packaging and its role in decarbonisation. Heather suggests that while progress has been made within operations, the next phase of Net Zero must look beyond the factory gate.
Bio-D has achieved Net Zero for its Scope 1 and 2 emissions but for many manufacturers, packaging remains one of the most significant contributors to a product’s overall carbon footprint. If the sector is serious about Net Zero, the conversation needs to evolve.
For many consumer goods manufacturers, the majority of emissions sit within Scope 3, including raw materials, packaging and transportation, making these areas increasingly important as businesses work towards Net Zero.
Moving beyond the plastic question
For years, the sustainability debate around packaging has centred on reducing plastic. While this has driven progress, it has also simplified a more complex issue. Focusing solely on material type risks overlooking the full lifecycle impact of packaging.
Rethinking the role of materials
Plastic has become the focal point of this debate, yet the material itself is not inherently unsustainable. The greater issue lies in how it is used. Packaging designed for single use carries a higher environmental cost than packaging designed to be reused, refilled or kept in circulation. Equally, recyclable packaging only delivers benefits if it is effectively collected and processed.
Asking better questions
If packaging is to support Net Zero ambitions, the industry needs to ask more meaningful questions. How many times can packaging be used? What is its lifecycle carbon footprint? Where has it been manufactured, and how far has it travelled? How easily can it be reused?
Challenging common assumptions
Viewed through this lens, some assumptions begin to shift. Glass can perform well within some reuse systems, but where it is manufactured for single use it can carry a relatively high carbon footprint because it requires high manufacturing temperatures and is heavier to transport than many alternative materials. Similarly, many refill pouches are made from laminated materials that are difficult to recycle and are often imported, adding to their carbon footprint before reaching UK shelves.
Packaging as a Net Zero lever
For manufacturers, achieving Net Zero requires a broader perspective. Renewable energy is essential, but it must be complemented by packaging strategies that reduce emissions across the chain. Refillable formats, closed-loop systems and the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials all help reduce reliance on virgin resources.
The role of collaboration
Progress cannot be driven by manufacturers alone. Effective circular systems depend on collaboration across the supply chain, supported by policy, infrastructure and consumer behaviour. Without this, even well-designed solutions risk falling short.
Designing for a Net Zero future
Ultimately, the future of sustainable packaging lies not in categorising materials as ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but in designing systems that prioritise carbon reduction, resource efficiency and longevity. Real progress will come from looking beyond individual materials and focusing on how packaging can support a truly circular, low-carbon future.