CPT Packaging Sustainability & Environmental Impact 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The How2Recycle label program in the US is managed by which organization?
- GreenBlue / Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) (Correct answer)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)
- Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
Correct answer: GreenBlue / Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC)
GreenBlue's Sustainable Packaging Coalition administers the How2Recycle standardized labeling system for on-pack consumer recycling guidance.
Question 2: When conducting a comparative LCA between glass and PET bottles for beverages, which life cycle phase typically dominates glass's environmental footprint?
- Raw material extraction and manufacturing (high energy melting) (Correct answer)
- End-of-life disposal
- Distribution and transportation to retailers
- Consumer use phase
Correct answer: Raw material extraction and manufacturing (high energy melting)
Glass production requires extremely high furnace temperatures, making the manufacturing phase the largest contributor to its energy and emissions burden.
Question 3: Which resin identification code (RIC) is assigned to polypropylene (PP) and is relevant when assessing curbside recyclability?
- #5 (Correct answer)
- #1
- #2
- #4
Correct answer: #5
RIC #5 identifies polypropylene; while recyclable, its curbside acceptance varies widely by municipality.
Question 4: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification on paperboard packaging assures consumers that:
- The fiber was sourced from responsibly managed forests meeting social and environmental standards (Correct answer)
- The board is 100% post-consumer recycled content
- The packaging is compostable in home compost systems
- The product meets carbon-neutral shipping criteria
Correct answer: The fiber was sourced from responsibly managed forests meeting social and environmental standards
FSC certification traces fiber through the supply chain to verify it comes from forests managed for ecological, social, and economic sustainability.
Question 5: A packaging engineer wants to reduce ocean plastic pollution risk. Which design strategy is most directly targeted at this outcome?
- Eliminating unrecyclable multi-material laminates that contaminate recycling streams (Correct answer)
- Increasing package shelf life to reduce food waste
- Switching from corrugated shippers to reusable plastic totes
- Adding UV-stabilizers to extend outdoor durability
Correct answer: Eliminating unrecyclable multi-material laminates that contaminate recycling streams
Multi-material laminates cannot be recycled and are more likely to persist in the environment; eliminating them improves recyclability and reduces litter risk.
Question 6: In sustainability reporting, Scope 3 emissions for a packaging manufacturer would MOST likely include:
- Emissions from suppliers' raw material extraction and customers' end-of-life disposal (Correct answer)
- Energy consumed at the company's own production facilities
- Fuel burned by the company's owned delivery fleet
- Refrigerant leaks from the company's HVAC systems
Correct answer: Emissions from suppliers' raw material extraction and customers' end-of-life disposal
Scope 3 covers indirect value chain emissions — both upstream (suppliers) and downstream (customers, consumers, end-of-life) — outside the company's direct control.
Question 7: Which property of packaging material is assessed by the 'recyclability' metric in the APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability?
- Whether the packaging can be effectively processed through existing US MRF and reclamation infrastructure (Correct answer)
- Whether the packaging will biodegrade within 90 days in soil
- Whether the packaging contains any recycled content
- Whether the packaging can be reused at least 10 times
Correct answer: Whether the packaging can be effectively processed through existing US MRF and reclamation infrastructure
The APR Design Guide evaluates packages against real-world US sorting and reprocessing capabilities to determine practical recyclability.
CPT Packaging Sustainability & Environmental Impact 3
The How2Recycle label program in the US is managed by which organization?