The first fully complete version of the Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard is now available for use after four years of beta testing, user feedback, and iteration. Built by the Single-Use Material Decelerator, a collaboration of food service leaders, non-governmental organizations, and technical experts, this free, science-based online tool helps users comprehensively assess and compare foodware and food packaging for their impacts on human and environmental health to support informed decision-making.
The UP Scorecard applies standardized life cycle assessment methods and novel scoring approaches to measure the impacts of foodware and food packaging from production to disposal across six key metrics: plastic pollution, chemicals of concern, recoverability, climate impact, sustainable sourcing, and water use. These metrics are compiled into an aggregate score that makes it easy to compare the sustainability of foodware and food packaging products.
“Foodware and food packaging fulfill important functions,” said Etienne Cabane, Engagement Director at the Food Packaging Forum, which hosts the UP Scorecard. “They offer convenience to customers, allow for transportation, protect food from spoiling, and support communications and marketing. However, they also have significant human and environmental health impacts. The UP Scorecard helps users assess the complex landscape of foodware and food packaging options using a science-based approach to encourage more sustainable choices.”
“The UP Scorecard enables sustainable packaging decision-making by providing science-based, easy to understand scores across key categories,” said Sevrine Bethy, Head of Responsible Sourcing with Sodexo North America. “This allows users to prioritize action areas such as climate, health, or recoverability, understand trade-offs across categories, or consider the overall impact of packaging choices. Sodexo is pleased to support the tool's development and enable operators to navigate the complexities of packaging to make the best choices possible for our clients.”
Unlike other life cycle assessment tools, the UP Scorecard takes into account chemicals of concern within foodware and food packaging materials. This metric has been improved in the new version of the UP Scorecard and now uses peer-reviewed data from the Food Packaging Forum that considers thousands of chemicals with known health hazards and evidence for consumer exposure or migration from food contact materials into food. With this information, the UP Scorecard uniquely helps the food service industry stay ahead of legislation while providing valuable knowledge for other stakeholders.
Other additions in the latest version include new materials, containers, geographic regions, and an interactive user guide as well as the ability to compare entire portfolios of products to each other. More information on all the new features and updates can be found in the UP Scorecard’s change log or the complete methodology.