What are the 3Rs (for the environment)? Reduce, reuse, recycle

Whether you are a business looking to reduce the environmental impact of your packaging or a consumer concerned about the environment, you may have wondered, “What are the 3 Rs?”

The 3 Rs are ‘reduce’, ‘reuse’, and ‘recycle’. Many believe the term dates back to the 1970s, when people first became aware of the problems caused by waste and pollution. It is possible to apply the 3 Rs to many applications, including packaging use. An extended 7 Rs also includes ‘remove’, ‘renew’, ‘read’, and ‘revenue’.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with further detailed information on precisely what the 3 Rs are. We’ll also cover how you can apply them to your packaging (and other products or materials that may impact the environment), along with their origins and background information.

Secondly, partly due to the event’s success and the growing clamour for improved environmental practices, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established later in the same year.

Finally, in 1976, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was passed by the US Congress. It is at this time that many believe the 3 Rs were created.

It is often possible to reduce the amount of packaging that you use; for example, you can potentially replace polystyrene with cardboard fittings. Specialist bags, such as those which are ESD-safe, can be eliminated by using anti-static boxes (such as Corstat). Often, when you analyse your packaging, you can begin to identify additional items that are not always necessary.

However, ‘reduce’ can also mean examining the amount of material used in your packaging. Working with an experienced packaging designer on a value engineering brief can often reveal that you can use lighter-weight material without affecting the performance. Similarly, it may be possible to introduce different pack designs that are more efficient in their material usage.

Besides the environmental benefits of reducing your packaging (or material) use, there are several other business advantages.

These typically include reducing your ongoing costs by purchasing fewer materials and items, improving packing times by eliminating certain products, lowering transport costs due to lighter weights, and facilitating easier recycling for your customers.

Many businesses and individuals believe that recyclable packaging is the most sustainable option. While recycling packaging is essential (particularly for corrugated packaging), surprisingly, reusable packaging can often be more environmentally friendly in the long term.

The energy and cost involved in recovery, sorting, recycling, and manufacturing new packaging materials can often have a considerably greater environmental impact than simply using the same packaging over multiple trips.

As such, it is essential to consider whether reusable packaging, such as Correx tote containers or Euro containers, would be the most sustainable option for your business.

Besides environmental improvements, reusing your packaging can also reduce mid- to long-term costs. As they are often made from plastics or more durable materials, returnable tote containers are typically more robust and durable, thereby better protecting their contents. You can generally enhance your reusable packaging with various dividers and inserts.

Suppose it is not possible to reduce your packaging use or switch to reusable packaging. In that case, ensuring your packaging is recyclable and ideally recycled is crucial.

For example, using corrugated cardboard fittings instead of plastic-based inserts can significantly ease the recycling process for your customers. Incidentally, this is also likely to improve customer satisfaction.

Using recycled and recyclable packaging can also help to avoid the Plastic Packaging Tax and potentially reduce any fees you may incur as part of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation.

If recyclable packaging is the best option for your product or application, then communicating this is vital. Including recycling symbols on your packaging, such as those from OPRL, RESY, or the PAP 20 symbol (for cardboard packaging), improves clarity for your end users (and therefore recycling rates) and highlights your eco-credentials.

Taking the concept of the 3 Rs further, Wal-Mart identified the “7 Rs of Sustainable Packaging” to further minimise their environmental impact. Many now reference these as the model for corporate sustainability beyond just packaging.

But what are the 7 Rs?

Including the original 3 Rs, the seven identified strategies are as follows:

• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle(able)
• Remove
• Renew
• Revenue
• Read

‘Reduce’ sees businesses use correctly sized packaging (reduced size) and optimising strength and design to ensure you use minimal material whilst remaining fit for purpose.

Refer to the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations for guidance on designing compliant packaging.

All transit and supply chain packaging, including pallets and delivery containers, should be reused wherever possible.

Packaging should use materials with the highest possible recycled content. Recycled material should include post-consumer recycled content where appropriate. Packaging should also be easily recyclable by consumers, specifically within kerbside collections.

Unnecessary packaging, such as multiple layers, should be eliminated where its absence will not compromise protection during transit. You should also remove harmful or difficult-to-recycle materials from your packaging.

Refer to the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations for guidance on designing compliant packaging.

Materials used to manufacture your boxes, bags, or other items should be from renewable sources, such as FSC-certified packaging. Wal-Mart also suggests renewable resources are measured using ASTM D6866, and biodegradable materials should meet ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868.

All of the strategies within the 7 Rs should be achievable at the same or reduced costs. It is essential to take a long-term perspective when considering this (e.g., switching to returnable containers will have a short-term impact on costs but will ultimately lower them over the mid- to long-term).

Ultimately, it is crucial to educate yourself on what constitutes genuinely sustainable packaging and stay informed about emerging materials, new developments, and evolving consumer expectations.

GWP takes pride in aiming to be one of the UK’s leading sustainable packaging companies.

As such, we always look to take a holistic approach to minimising the environmental impact of your packaging. What is also often overlooked is that even minor, incremental improvements in your packaging can result in immediate and significant benefits to your business.

By enabling you to reduce both the overall level and amount of materials you use in your packaging, it also allows for greater cost savings. This benefit is seen not only in the packaging itself but also in its transportation and disposal.

You can work with a team of designers who have received industry recognition for their sustainable packaging designs, offering the full spectrum of reusable, recyclable, and even biodegradable packaging options. You can also be sure that any advice you receive is genuinely impartial and unbiased.

Whilst it is simple to answer the question of what the 3 Rs are, implementing the ideas into your business can prove more difficult.

So, if you would like to improve the sustainability of your packaging, GWP can help. Please speak with one of our experts today for an initial consultation and take the first step on your journey to truly sustainable packaging.