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ECOBILAN Life Cycle Analysis of Fish Boxes in three materials across three EU countries

January 2012   |   Executive Summary

Executive Summary – the background to the study

The aim of this independently-assessed life cycle analysis was to obtain reliable and up-to-date information on the environmental performance of EPS packaging for fresh fish and seafood products compared with other materials being offered.

The analysis is based on the comparison of three packaging solutions – EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) boxes, corrugated cardboard boxes and polypropylene boxes) and to ensure relevance to actual market circumstances across Europe, the study used real market scenarios using actual operating conditions from Spain, France and Scandinavia.

Executive Summary – overall conclusions

This study used expert knowledge and data from a number of sources including input from ANAPE, EcoPSE, EUMEPS, several industry partners and the leading international consultancy Price Waterhouse Coopers Consulting.

It has revealed important conclusions.

EPS is a highly competitive and provably sustainable packaging material for fresh fish with demonstrably better (or at the least comparable) LCA performance results across most of the environmental indicators used in the markets tested.

The LCA also shows that the excellent performance of EPS has even further potential for improvement through reduced energy usage in manufacture and better recycling options in the future.

Executive Summary – objectives and methodology

Key Objective:

Assessment of the true environmental impacts of EPS packaging.

Methodology / Data collection:

“Cradle-to-grave” Study, reflecting the full life cycle of each packaging system

Comparative study for three alternative fish box solutions

Expanded Polystyrene

Corrugated Polypropylene

Waterproofed Cardboard

Reference Scenarios for Spain, France, Scandinavia

4kg fresh fish from local harbour in France to local fish market

6kg fresh fish from local harbour in Spain to local fish market

20kg fresh fish from local fisheries in Denmark to international fish market

Executive Summary – key data

Executive Summary – EPS performance by market scenario

7/87/8

On the French market of the 8 environmental indicators, EPS performed better than cardboard in 4 and was at least comparable in 3. EPS also performed better than Polypropylene in 2 indicators and was at least comparable in 5.

7/86/8

For Spanish Market of the 8 environmental indicators, EPS performed better than cardboard in 5 and was at least comparable in 2. EPS also performed better than Polypropylene in 3 indicators and was at least comparable in 3.

4/87/8

For the Scandinavian market of the 8 environmental indicators, EPS performed better than cardboard in 3 and was at least comparable in 1. EPS also performed better than Polypropylene in 1 indicator and was at least comparable in 5.

Executive Summary – further significant potential for EPS

The LCA indicates that two main stages of the life cycle of fish boxes have the greatest impact upon the environment:

Production of raw material

Production of finished packaging

By continuing its energy reduction efforts, the EPS industry has the potential to further improve its advantages over other materials.

An optimised end of life recycling effort would also offer the potential for further LCA advantages.

Edited and summarised from the original EuMEPS study by the EPS Group of the British Plastics Federation