Moving Automotive Supply Chain Plastic Packaging Toward a Sustainable Circular Economy
The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) provides a forum for global automotive manufacturers and their suppliers to work together toward a shared vision of an automotive industry with positive environmental impact. SP’s Sustainable Packaging Work Group was established as a platform for companies from across the automotive value chain to collaborate to minimize automotive packaging waste and address barriers to packaging recyclability and/or reuse.
SP commissioned RRS, a sustainability and recycling consulting firm, to conduct a feasibility study and develop a recommended approach for increasing recycling of internal plastic dunnage and packaging. Fisher Packaging was also a part of the team providing expertise in packaging design and plant operations. This report offers comprehensive guidance on implementing programs to manage plastic packaging in the automotive supply chain. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration to consolidate plastic waste, allowing for more efficient recycling solutions at scale.
The accompanying playbook provides an approach and framework for individual plants to evaluate opportunities that fit their circumstance considering economic, environmental, and behavioral aspects, and outlines common barriers across the supply chain.
Moving Automotive Supply Chain Plastic Packaging Toward a Sustainable Circular Economy: Full Report
Published October 2024
This report reflects the outcomes of a study conducted by RRS and Fisher Packaging and is designed as a guidance document to support programs for managing packaging in the automotive supply chain, while approaching partnerships to consolidate those plastics to meet economies of scale. This guide describes many actions that can be taken through a complex system within plants, across plants, and along the material recovery value chain to divert plastic waste and access recycling markets that reflect the highest, best use of those materials.
Moving Automotive Supply Chain Plastic Packaging Toward a Sustainable Circular Economy: Playbook
Published October 2024
This playbook provides a practical framework for developing a plastic diversion program in original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and Tiered supplier plants. It includes a stepwise checklist for researching, planning and executing a program and presents priority opportunities, conditions needed for success, and challenges that are often confronted.
Acknowledgements: SP commissioned RRS, a sustainability and recycling consulting firm, to conduct a feasibility study and develop a recommended approach for increasing recycling of internal plastic dunnage and packaging. Fisher Packaging was also a part of the team providing expertise in packaging design and plant operations. These documents are based upon work supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, with matching grant funding provided by Magna.
Disclaimer: This document sets forth various findings based on information available to the authors at the time of issuance. These findings are not intended to set forth any industry rule, requirement or standard. Each company should independently determine its own processes and practices, including, without limitation, levels, measurements, vendors, materials, equipment, energy sources, energy use, emissions, and recyclability.
This document should not be considered to contain legal advice. SP and its member companies make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document, and they will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The authors of this document reserve the right to change it at any time, as they deem appropriate within their sole discretion. SP and its member companies will not be liable for any losses, injuries or damages that may result from the use of the information contained in this document. It is the sole and exclusive responsibility of every company designing and sourcing packaging materials to undertake individual, unique analysis as it pertains to their own specific application and production process, as well as to understand and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, and individual customer requirements.
Contact: Please submit any feedback on this guidance or suggestions for future improvements to info@supplierspartnership.org.