Packaging sustainability consultancy Aura has launched a new eBook and webinar, designed to help US and global brands and retailers to navigate the challenges and complexities of carbon emissions reporting – particularly Scope 3.

Launched at the PLMA’s 2023 Private Label Trade Show and available for download here, the eBook, Essential Packaging Guide to The Paris Agreement – Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions, provides much-needed clarity over what businesses will have to measure, manage, and report on when it comes to their product packaging.

This is to meet their current obligations under the 2015 Paris Agreement. The COP 28 event, happening soon in the United Arab Emirates, is also likely to see more discussion on climate change targets for businesses going forward.

Created to help simplify a highly complex topic, the eBook examines several key factors around packaging sustainability:

• What the Paris Agreements is and how we are doing so far when it comes to meeting climate change targets
• Identifying what Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions reporting entails
• All the categories that fall under Scope 3 GHG reporting, from upstream to downstream, including transportation and distribution, business travel, the use and end-of-life treatment of sold products, and even investments
• Different global legislative and regulatory requirements for packaging
• How to measure carbon emissions and the benefits of doing so
• Case studies of brands like Apple, Walmart, and Amazon.

Aura’s experts will also be hosting a webinar on 14th December 2023 at 3.00pm GMT (11.00am EST) – sign up here – to provide a step-by-step introduction to packaging legislation including Scope 3 and where to start with regards to carbon reporting on packaging.

Gillian Garside-Wight, consulting director at Aura, said: “Scope 3 emissions typically account for 70-90% of a business’s entire carbon footprint and that is far too big a number to ignore. This eBook and our webinar have been designed to provide manageable chunks of a hugely complex subject.

“Measuring your business’s emissions and adopting an effective carbon accounting strategy does not just have to be a box-ticking exercise. It is an opportunity for many businesses to really delve into the finer details of their operations, focus on which areas need improvement and fully embed positive change within their business.

“Measuring your Scope 3 emissions also enables you to take a holistic look at your packaging, giving you the opportunity to re-design it with more sustainable virgin materials and more recycled content, to create packaging that is optimized and sustainable.”

She adds: “Brands and retailers need to take this opportunity to design packaging that is recyclable, with end-of-life labels on-pack informing consumers how to properly dispose of the packaging, or reusable so they can limit their CO2 emissions.

“After all, legislation is coming that could impose taxes on high carbon-emitting businesses, so organisations need to ensure they’re in the spotlight for all the right reasons.”