As part of its CSR strategy, Verpack has developed a collaborative tool enabling it to inform its customers about the environmental impact of a case or box, with a view to identifying areas for improvement right from the design stage.
EcoLab was launched before the summer, following a lengthy engineering project led by the Group's CSR department. It didn't take long for the first optimization studies to make their mark.
This was demonstrated by the repacking of a cardboard case (the changes made to the cardboard, grammage, lamination and decoration reduced the impact on climate change by 40 %).
A sophisticated process for conclusive analyses
Based on a holistic approach, EcoLab makes it possible to assess the potential impacts of a case or box from design to end-of-life. It incorporates referenced environmental parameters, invaluable for the eco-design and innovation process.
Backed by the international Eco Invent database (choice of materials, means of transport, material extraction, etc.), EcoLab is based on forecasts for up to 100 years.
The life cycle assessment process identifies and quantifies the physical flows of material and energy associated with the human activities that a product is likely to generate at each stage of its life. It assesses the potential impacts and interprets the results in the light of stated objectives. The Eco Invent database contains significant life-cycle inventories covering energy (fossil or renewable), materials (chemical or natural) and waste treatment (incineration, disposal, sanitation, modes of transport). The tool calculates the product's impact on 14 identified criteria, such as ozone depletion, climate change, human toxicity or marine and terrestrial ecotoxicity. This study enables the brand to make its choices.
"In line with the Group's CSR commitment, we have chosen to use an LCA tool tailored to the constraints of our businesses. It is based on an advanced analysis method and constantly enriched data. The results obtained enable us to support our customers in their choices of design, materials, decorations, wedges, etc., in line with their environmental and cost objectives". explains Géraldine Delaval. Group CSR Manager.
