The first beta version of the Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard was released today and is now available freely for use. The UP Scorecard is a new online resource that measures commonly used foodware and food packaging products with a single yardstick to offer companies the first-ever, free, and comprehensive tool for making sustainable purchasing decisions.
Sustainably minded buyers have to evaluate a blizzard of competing product claims to be compostable, recyclable, low-carbon, non-toxic, etc. This is further complicated by the large number of materials and material combinations in food packaging and their various environmental and health impacts. The UP Scorecard has enormous potential for helping food industry professionals and others make informed decisions about the sustainability and human health impacts of foodware and food packaging products they buy.
Attended by stakeholders from across the food packaging supply chain, the UP Scoreard’s Introduction Event provided meaningful insights into the development and motivation for the tool, as well as offered an outlook on plans for future development. The event was opened by a performance from Grammy-nominated recording artist Keb’Mo. Various members of the Single-Use Material Decelerator (SUM’D), the multi-stakeholder group behind the UP Scorecard, then gave presentations outlining the motivation, methodology, and next steps. In particular, a focus was placed on presenting the novel Chemicals of Concern (CoC) score within the UP Scorecard, and a role play demonstrated the use of the tool for procurement professionals in a practical way. The full event was recorded and is available to watch below.
We are looking forward to the journey ahead for the UP Scorecard and hope you will join us for it.
