Packaging assessment developed

Initiated by Emballasjeforsk and the Federation of the Norwegian Fishing Industry, the aim of the Marinepack project was to identify environmental, economic and resource efficient packaging solutions for seafood. To-date there has never been such an independent, in-depth study done on bulk packaging methods used to transport fresh fish.

The intention of the project was to enable a comparison of the environmental and economic performance of seafood bulk packaging products by agreeing on a set of Product Category Rules (PCRs). The life cycle analysis included all life cycle steps – from raw material extraction of packaging to the ultimate recycling or land fill impact. The study also took in the whole value chain, from seafood packing plant to end customer, into account.

The method was formalised in Product Category Rules (PCR) for seafood transport packaging in the Norwegian Environmental Declaration Scheme administered by EPD Norway. The work was coordinated with the project aiming at developing a Norwegian Standard and PCR for seafood, which was financed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs and the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund.

A PCR enables companies to generate an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which is a widely-recognised, credible form of environmental documentation. 

According to Erik Svanes at Ostfold Research, who was involved with the project: “Over the years we have observed significant differences in environmental performance between different packaging products. At the same time the seafood experts in the research institute Nofima, with whom we are cooperating in Marinepack, have found that the ability to preserve the products quality is relatively similar between the products. 

“However, we have lacked a set of common rules for comparing the environmental performance. The PCR provides such rules. The Norwegian Environmental Declaration is a neutral, 3rd party certification scheme has a high credibility in the market. 

“We hope that seafood producers will start to require such documentation from packaging suppliers so that they will be able to choose the systems that have a low environmental impact.”

One company that was involved with the project, PPS East Limited, has openly committed to supporting the recommendations and has since produced a verified EPD.

A spokesperson for PPS East Limited, commented: “PPS are extremely happy with the result of this research study. We now have proof for our customers about reusable fish packaging and the low amount of energy it uses. We look forward to openly comparing our EPD with other forms of seafood packaging and would urge seafood suppliers, processors and retailers to ask their seafood packaging manufacturer to produce their EPD. It is important to know the total carbon emission and energy output of their product.”