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Simplified Environmental Impacts Analysis

How Can Flexible Packaging Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?

With environmentalism on the rise, consumers and companies alike are looking for more eco-conscious packaging solutions. With our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. Flexible bag-in-box and pouch packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 82%.

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 1.5L BIB vs 2-.75L Bottles

Simplified Environmental Impacts Analysis

Innovation in the environmentally-conscious packaging arena starts with understanding waste management and continues beyond focusing efforts on better material management. Here at Scholle IPN, we are continuously analyzing flexible and rigid packaging in various markets to identify areas in which environmental impacts can be minimized. The Simplified Environmental Impacts Calculator, created by Allied Development for Dow Chemical, is a tool used for direct comparisons of various packaging formats and serves as a baseline for further lifecycle analysis.

What is the Simplified Environmental Impacts Calculator?

US EPA logoThe Simplified Environmental Impacts Calculator (SEIC) uses a combination of databases* to perform a comparative analysis on energy usage, post-consumer solid waste, and greenhouse gas emissions produced by various packaging formats. The calculation produces vetted results for comparison without conducting a time-intensive lifecycle analysis. Using a cradle-to-gate analysis, raw material contributions to energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the production life cycle are computed based on material weight. In addition, recycle rates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are used to help determine the post-consumer solid waste margin.

How Does the SEIC Work?

Upon request, Scholle IPN is happy to conduct an SEIC analysis for a large range of packaging types in comparison to flexible packaging. The material composition of each item is carefully identified by the Materials Science Lab. This information, along with recycle rates and material weights or densities, are entered into the system. Results are given for each of the following categories: energy consumption, process greenhouse gases, and post-consumer solid waste. Each value is given in terms of grams per 1,000 liters, or a specified measurement. The values are also quantified into percentage comparisons for each category.

*Swiss BUWAL SRU Rn. 250, 1998, Environmental Defense, papercalculator.org, “Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Inventory of Nine Plastic Resins and Two Polyurethane Precursors,” prepared for the Plastics division of The American Chemistry Council by Franklin Associates, a division of Eastern Research Group, Inc., Prairie Village, Kansas, December 2007, Life Cycle Analysis, Plastics Europe, November 2007, Ethylene and Vinyl Acetate Life Cycle Inventory Data, Plastics Europe, November 2007

How Does Your Package Compare?

443.6mL (15oz) Glass Jar vs Spouted Pouch

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 15oz Glass Jar vs 8oz Spouted PouchWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a 15oz glass jar, our 8oz spouted pouch can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86% and energy in production by up to 63% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 93%.

0.95 L (1 Quart) Bottle vs Spouted Pouch

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 1Qt Plastic Bottle vs 1Qt PouchWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a quart bottle, our 1 quart spouted pouch packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 53% and energy in production by up to 64% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 68%.

156.7mL (5.3oz) Cups vs Bag-in-Box

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 5oz Plastic Cup vs 2G Bag-in-BoxWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a 5.3oz cups, our 2 gallon flexible bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86% and energy in production by up to 85% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 85%.

310.5mL (10.5oz) Glass Bottle vs Bag-in-Box

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart Glass Bottle vs 96oz Bag-in-BoxWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a 10.5oz Glass Bottle, our 96oz bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% and energy in production by up to 88% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 93%.

500mL (16.9oz) PET Bottle vs Bag-in-Box

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 500 mL Plastic Bottle vs 10L Bag-in-BoxWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to 500mL PET Bottles, our 10L bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 36% and energy in production by up to 69% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 9%.

0.95 L (1 Quart) Bottle vs Bag-in-Box

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 1Qt Plastic Bottle vs 6G Bag-in-BoxWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a quart bottle, our 6 gallon flexible bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 65% and energy in production by up to 65% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 37%.

1L (33.8oz) Spouted Carton vs Bag-in-Box

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 1L Spouted Carton vs 8L Bag-in-BoxWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a 1L Tetra Pak, our 8L flexible bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 63% and energy in production by up to 55% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 75%.

1.89L (64oz) Bottle vs Bag-in-Box

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 64oz Plastic Bottle vs 2L Bag-in-BoxWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a 64oz PET Bottle, our 2L bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 72% and energy in production by up to 63% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 65%.

Four .75L (25oz) Bottles vs Bag-in-Box

3L Glass Bottles vs 3L Bag-in-Box SEIC

With our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to four standard wine bottles, our bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 88% and energy in production by up to 86% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 93%.

3.79L (128oz) F-Style Jug vs Bag-in-Box

With our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a 128oz F-Style Jug, our bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 67% and energy in production by up to 75% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 66%.

4.5L (152oz) Pillow Pouch vs Bag-in-Box

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 4L Plastic Pouch vs 8L Bag-in-BoxWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a 4.5L pillow pouch, our 8L flexible bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 7% and energy in production by up to 19% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 13%.

19L (5 Gallon) Pail vs Bag-in-Box

Scholle IPN SEIC Chart 5G Plastic Pail vs 5G Bag-in-BoxWith our total flexible packaging solutions, not only can you reduce product waste, but also packaging waste. When compared to a 5 gallon pail, our 5 gallon flexible bag-in-box packaging can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by up to 52% and energy in production by up to 81% when normalized over 1,000L. Additionally, this provides great source reduction with the opportunity to reduce your total material weight by up to 10%.