The production process plays a key role in the sustainability of packaging. Throughout the production process, manufacturers can make conscious choices that help to reduce waste and pollution. This is often referred to as the circular economy. While the circular economy encompasses all stages of the product lifecycle, from design and sourcing of raw materials, to collection of material recovery through waste management processes, this approach aims to minimise waste to keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible.
Why is working directly with the manufacturer of products, like Detpak, important?
Many packaging suppliers source their products from third-party manufacturers. This means packaging suppliers have limited control over the manufacturer’s sustainable practices such as carbon reduction, waste diversion or standard compliance certifications.
By working directly with the manufacturer, you’ll have a better understanding of where your packaging comes from and how it’s produced. Detpak have control over the design and raw material sourcing and related environmental and social sustainability performance outcomes. This allows us to develop products that consider whole-of life-cycle impacts, in addition to customer requirements.
How do I know if my packaging supplier is accredited for food packaging?
As a food business, you must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, including Standard 3.2.2, which relates to food safety practices, and more specifically, packaging. As part of your responsibilities, you must:
● Use packaging material that is appropriate for its intended purpose.
● Select materials that are unlikely to cause food contamination.
● Ensure there is no risk of food becoming contaminated during the packaging process.
With this in mind, it’s essential to check that your packaging supplier holds food packaging certification.
Packaging made under a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) framework will ensure global food safety standards and risks have been managed. The most common GFSI initiatives include BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS and SQF.
If your packaging supplier holds another certification you don’t recognise, you can check if it’s been issued by a reputable accreditation body via trusted organisations, like the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
The Detpak difference
At Detpak, we own and operate our own manufacturing facilities. This allows us to set clear sustainability targets related to waste diversion, carbon disclosure and ethical trading, carbon emission reduction, renewable energy, material sourcing, product design and waste management.
We’re proud to maintain one of the most widely regarded global standards for food safety and consistent quality. All of our packaging products are manufactured in a food packaging grade environment, so you can rest assured that they’re produced in line with the highest quality standards.
We observe strict standards across all our facilities, which are accredited by several independent organisations. Not to mention, our operations undergo regular audits by some of the world's largest brands and global accreditation bodies multiple times each year.
Detpak makes available evidence of all certifications, including:
● ISO 9001:2015 - Quality Management Systems
● BRCGS - Global Food Safety Standard
● Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) - Social Accountability
For more information about our quality accreditations and how this impacts your packaging, please get in touch with the Detpak team.
