Sustainability Terms Quick Guide
It’s difficult for even the most dedicated of us to keep up with the ever-growing glossary of sustainability terms, whether specific to the packaging industry, healthcare packaging or eco-responsibility in general. As regulations and compliance requirements change and evolve worldwide, so does the vocabulary that comprises the language of sustainability. Feel free to memorise, print, pin, present or even recycle our list of currently relevant terms and definitions:
1
Bio-based
Packaging that is made wholly or partially from renewable resources (such as sugar cane, corn, wood) as opposed to finite, fossil-based raw materials (such as oil or coal). In the case of plastics, bio-based plastics can offer the same properties as virgin resins. Read more about bio-based plastics.
2
Biodegradable
A material capable of breaking down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass by the natural action of microorganisms over an unspecified length of time and in undefined conditions. Biodegradability does not necessarily mean the material will degrade quickly in all environments.
3
Carbon Offsetting / Carbon Credit
Carbon Offsetting / Carbon Credits
The practice of compensating for greenhouse gas emissions by funding projects that reduce or remove emissions elsewhere, such as reforestation or renewable energy. This is done through the purchase of carbon credits, where one credit typically represents one tonne of CO₂ equivalent avoided or removed.
The practice of compensating for greenhouse gas emissions by funding projects that reduce or remove emissions elsewhere, such as reforestation or renewable energy. This is done through the purchase of carbon credits, where one credit typically represents one tonne of CO₂ equivalent avoided or removed.
4
Chemical Recycling (Advanced Recycling)
Uses advanced processes to break down plastic and polymer waste into its original molecular building blocks (i.e. monomers) to create new, virgin quality plastics. Unlike mechanical recycling, it can handle mixed or hard to recycle plastics and enables circularity for sensitive products such as food and healthcare packaging.
5
Circularity
Designing and managing systems to minimise waste and maximise resource reuse throughout a product’s lifecycle, aiming for a closed-loop system.
6
Compostable
A specific type of biodegradable material, designed to break down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass within a specific timeframe and under specific conditions. It can be achieved through industrial conditions, or home composting conditions. Compostable material can be either bio-based or fossil-based and must be demonstrated through recognised standards.
7
EPP: Environmental Preferable Purchasing
Procurement of goods and services that have less environmental impact than competing products.
8
EPR: Extended Producer Responsibility
Payments that brand owners pay to help cover the costs of collecting, disposing and recycling of the packaging they place in the market. Fees are calculated based on the weight and type of packaging used and applies to all packaging materials (e.g. plastic, paper, glass etc.)
9
ISCC: International Sustainability and Carbon Certification
An independent, global organisation that manages and verifies sustainable and traceable supply chains for industries like packaging, chemicals, food, and bioenergy. ISCC PLUS is its voluntary certification scheme for plastics and packaging to certify the use of renewable and recycled raw materials. Often applies the mass balance approach. Learn more about what it means to be ISCC Certified.
10
LCA: Life Cycle Assessment
A data driven method to measure the environmental impact of each stage of a product’s life cycle. Identifies, quantifies, and assesses sources of environmental impact throughout a product’s life, from raw material extraction, logistics, manufacturing, and disposal or re-use.
11
Lightweighting
The process of optimising packaging so that it still fulfils the required function but does so with the least amount of material needed.
12
Mass Balance
A chain of custody method used to track the flow of recycled or renewable materials through complex production systems. Ensures that the amount of sustainable input entering the process is proportionally allocated to the outputs. Enables claims such as “contains X% recycled content” or “bio-based material” Read more about mass balance.
13
Mechanical Recycling
Uses physical processes such as collecting, sorting, cleaning, and reprocessing plastic waste into flakes or pellets that can be used to make new products. Since the material’s chemical structure does not change, quality can degrade over multiple cycles, and use is often limited in sensitive applications such as food and healthcare packaging.
14
Mono-Material
A product composed of a single material, fibre, or polymer type, rather than multiple layers of different materials. This design generally makes recycling easier because the composition does not require separation. Overall recyclability can still depend on how the material is used in the final package.
15
PPWR: EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
A new European Law that entered into force in February 2025. Aims to reduce packaging waste and pollution and promote a circular economy. It applies to all packaging materials placed in the EU market, regardless of material type or industry. It introduces stricter requirements for recyclability, recycled content, reuse, waste reduction, and clear labelling of packaging. Wondering how you can prepare for this regulation? Read here.
16
PCR: Post-Consumer Recycled Content
Recycled material that originates from products or packaging discarded by consumers and collected through recycling systems.
17
PIR: Post-Industrial Recycled Content
Recycled material that originates from production scrap or waste generated by industrial processes, before products reach consumers.
18
Recyclable
Packaging that can be successfully collected, sorted, and reprocessed into new materials using today’s recycling infrastructure, at scale and in practice.
19
Recycled Content
The proportion of a material or product that is made up from recycled inputs, either post-consumer (PCR) or post-industrial (PIR).
20
Recycle-Ready
Packaging intentionally designed to be compatible with existing or emerging recycling systems. However, it may not currently be recyclable in all regions or collection systems.
21
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, process, organisation or product. A reduced carbon footprint means fewer emissions are generated across its life cycle compared with an alternative. This reduction is typically measured using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
22
Responsibly Sourced
Materials that are obtained in a way that considers environmental, social, and ethical impact ensuring traceability, fair labour practices, and reduced harm to people and the planet through a chain of custody e.g. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for paper
23
SBTi: Science-based Target Initiative
A global organisation that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets, in line with climate science. Independently validates that corporate climate goals are consistent with limiting global warming.
24
Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions
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- Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (e.g., factories, vehicles).
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy (e.g., electricity)
- Scope 3: All other indirect emissions across the value chain (e.g., suppliers, transport, product use, end-of-life).
As sustainability continues to evolve in our industry, so will the terms and definitions we use—this is a quick list to get you started. Let us know in the comments what terms you would like to see defined in part two of this article.
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