CPP CPP Environmental Sustainability & Packaging 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'source reduction' mean in sustainable packaging?
- Reducing the amount of packaging material used at the design stage (Correct answer)
- Sorting packaging waste at the source facility
- Eliminating packaging suppliers from the supply chain
- Reducing the number of packaging printing colors
Correct answer: Reducing the amount of packaging material used at the design stage
Source reduction means minimizing the quantity of packaging material used during the design phase to reduce waste generation.
Question 2: Which organization administers the How2Recycle label program widely used on US consumer packaging?
- US EPA
- GreenBlue (Correct answer)
- The Recycling Partnership
- ASTM International
Correct answer: GreenBlue
GreenBlue, through its Sustainable Packaging Coalition, administers the How2Recycle label program to standardize recyclability claims on US packaging.
Question 3: Which of the following is the correct order of the EPA's waste management hierarchy from most to least preferred?
- Recycle → Reduce → Reuse → Recover → Dispose
- Reduce → Reuse → Recycle → Recover → Dispose (Correct answer)
- Reuse → Recycle → Reduce → Dispose → Recover
- Dispose → Recover → Recycle → Reuse → Reduce
Correct answer: Reduce → Reuse → Recycle → Recover → Dispose
The EPA's waste hierarchy prioritizes source reduction first, then reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and finally disposal as the least preferred option.
Question 4: What is 'design for disassembly' in packaging sustainability?
- Designing packaging that collapses flat for retail display
- Designing packaging so components can be easily separated for recycling (Correct answer)
- Designing packaging that disintegrates quickly in landfills
- Designing packaging that is assembled by the consumer
Correct answer: Designing packaging so components can be easily separated for recycling
Design for disassembly means engineering packaging so its components (labels, closures, films) can be easily separated to maximize recyclability of each material stream.
Question 5: Which term describes packaging that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?
- Eco-efficient packaging
- Sustainable packaging (Correct answer)
- Biodegradable packaging
- Compostable packaging
Correct answer: Sustainable packaging
Sustainable packaging is defined using the Brundtland Commission's sustainability principle — meeting present needs without compromising future generations.
Question 6: What does ASTM D6400 certify in the US packaging industry?
- Industrial compostability of plastics (Correct answer)
- Recycled content percentage in packaging
- Biodegradation rate in marine environments
- Carbon neutrality of packaging production
Correct answer: Industrial compostability of plastics
ASTM D6400 is the standard specification for labeling plastics designed to be aerobically composted in municipal or industrial facilities.
CPP CPP Environmental Sustainability & Packaging 1
What does 'source reduction' mean in sustainable packaging?