Global packaging production and consumption have skyrocketed over the last few decades, especially for plastic packaging. This first-of-its-kind study shows that beyond its widely recognised impact on our natural environment, the production, consumption and disposal of packaging also has a considerable climate impact.
A staggering 2.21 million tonnes of packaging is consumed every day in London, responsible for 4.1 million tonnes of CO2eq per year – equivalent to half of all transport emissions in London. Accounting for half of all packaging emissions, plastic packaging is the biggest contributor to London’s packaging footprint and has the equivalent carbon impact of London’s entire fashion sector.
To better understand the dynamics at play in the capital, London’s packaging footprint maps material flows across the city’s packaging supply chain and assesses the impact that consumption and disposal of packaging – plastic, paper, glass and other materials – have on London’s greenhouse gas emissions. The results demonstrate an urgent need for systemic change and highlight opportunities to lower the city’s carbon emissions across the supply chain.
Whether through incorporating more recycled content into our packaging, introducing more reusable and refillable options across the city or collecting and processing more used packaging for recycling – and ideally a combination of all three – cities have the power to reduce the footprint of packaging use.
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