SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING MATERIALS POLICY STANDARD

Transcription

1 SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING MATERIALS POLICY STANDARD Approved by: Group Executive Approval date: 31 August 2016 Version: 2016 v1 Number of pages (exc. 4 annexures) Policy owner: Chief Customer Officer and Chief Offer and Supply Chain Officer Document for the attention of: All employees and individuals acting for and on behalf of Kingfisher Next review date: August 2017 Related Policy Document: Policy Circulation: Sustainable Packaging Materials Policy Statement Packaging Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) For internal management and external use (e.g. Kingfisher website, vendors) 1

2 SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING MATERIALS POLICY STANDARD 1. INTRODUCTION Packaging plays a crucial role in protecting manufactured products and perishable items. It is often our customer s first interaction with our products. Well-designed packaging can provide environmental and commercial benefits in terms of reduced business costs (e.g. raw materials and transportation efficiencies), production protection and brand enhancement. The Unified and Unique programs adopted by Kingfisher will help us all to deliver the best packaging for our products across all trading regions and sales channels. Packaging will be centrally specified and measured against these specifications. It will become increasingly common for Kingfisher to allocate a packaging supplier for a category. These suppliers will have been assessed and audited to ensure consistent quality and environmental compliance. This Group Policy Standard provides the framework for meeting our commitments and associated legal obligations for the sourcing of sustainable packaging materials. It should be read in conjunction with the appendices. 2. OUR ASPIRATION Kingfisher aims to minimise the amount of packaging it uses and, where packaging is unavoidable, to reduce the impact of its use by maximising use of Reusable and Recyclable Materials and using substances and materials which represent a low risk to human health and the environment. This is in line with our vision for a circular economy to create and use products which waste nothing. We are committed to achieving the following sustainability targets by 2020: All packaging used in connection with Own-Brand, Exclusive Brand and Unbranded products conforms to Kingfisher s Packaging Sustainability Standards (see next section); and All timber and paper used in all packaging sourced for sale and use within the business is responsibly sourced in line with our Group Wood and Paper Policy Standard. 3. OUR PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS General Criteria Kingfisher will ensure that unavoidable packaging used in connection with products: Is legally compliant with all relevant legislation and all necessary safety, hazard and health warnings are clearly marked. Is safe, optimised, appropriate for the product and fit for purpose. Is traceable, at a minimum, to the Packaging production location and meets the requirements of the Group Ethical Sourcing Policy and Supplier Workplace Ethical & Environmental Assurance (SWEEA) Policy Standard. Maximises the use of Verifiable Reused and / or Recycled Content wherever possible and is clearly marked as such. 2

3 Maximises the use of Reusable and / or Recyclable Materials wherever possible, are easily separable and appropriately labelled to make it easy for customers to Reuse or Recycle. Represents a low risk to human health and the environment and meets the requirements of the Group Chemicals Policy Standard and, where relevant, Kingfisher s Chemicals of Concern List (e.g. is free from heavy metals, such as cadmium, hexavalent chromium, mercury and lead). Meets Material Specific Criteria (see below). Material Specific Criteria Kingfisher will adopt the specifications in Appendix 2 for the commonly used packaging materials / formats and requirements for printing and labelling. This includes the requirement for all timber and paper used in packaging to be responsibly sourced in line with the Group Wood and Paper Policy Standard. 4. RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES The rationale and objectives for this Group Policy Standard are: To ensure that Kingfisher meets its sustainability commitments and targets, quality and safety standards, and legal obligations; To act as a baseline for establishing principles, mechanisms and systems that ensure that, progressively, unavoidable packaging is fit for purpose, optimised, and meets Kingfisher s Packaging Sustainability Standards; and 5. POLICY SCOPE This policy applies to all packaging materials that are specified, designed and sourced to serve a packaging purpose within the business and is in Kingfisher s direct control and influence. 6. IMPLEMENTATION General Obligations Kingfisher Group will ensure that responsibilities are assigned and operations are planned to enable: Identification of national or regional legislation of relevance to packaging which impacts, or has the potential to impact, business activities and implementation of appropriate compliance and communication arrangements which extend to the supply chain. Strategies and plans to be developed and implemented to address significant operational and downstream (customer) impacts associated with packaging. Appropriate plans to be developed and implemented to ensure that we meet our sustainability targets for 2020: o o All packaging used in connection with Own-Brand, Exclusive Brand and Unbranded products conforms to Kingfisher s Packaging Sustainability Standards (see above and Appendix 2); and All timber and paper used in all packaging sourced for sale and use within the business is responsibly sourced in line with our Group Wood and Paper Policy Standard 3

4 Collaborative working with suppliers and partners to improve supply chain transparency, encourage innovation and eliminate or reduce packaging wherever possible. Marketing and Labelling Kingfisher will ensure that packaging is clearly marked with the appropriate recycling information to make it easy for customers to Reuse or Recycle (e.g. the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) Code in the case of plastics) (refer to the Kingfisher Information Rulebook for further guidance). The use of certain third party logos (e.g. FSC, PEFC, and TFT) is strictly controlled so the necessary licenses or permissions shall be obtained from the corresponding certification or licensing body prior to their use on Packaging. Where required the appropriate trademark symbol (e.g. ) shall be used alongside third party logos (e.g. FSC ). Reporting and Assurance Kingfisher will maintain records of packaging supplied, sold and used. As a minimum the following shall be recorded: Certification scheme or third party Verifiable Pre-Consumer and Post-Consumer Reused or Recycled Content Volume (m 3 ) or metric tonnes of Packaging Material Dimensions of packaging Records associated with other Group Policy Standards (e.g. Timber, Chemicals, Ethical Sourcing, and so on). It is the responsibility of the vendor to make all data required for legal and sustainability compliance available upon request. Kingfisher will put in place appropriate governance mechanisms and define an appropriate audit and assurance programme to monitor compliance with this Group Policy Standard. This Group Policy Standard comes into immediate effect from the date of when it was first approved. Kingfisher will take appropriate action where relevant packaging is found not to be compliant with its requirements after this date. 7. KEY CONTACTS For any queries about this policy, please contact Group Packaging and Compliance Manager, Group Commercial Sourcing. 8. OTHER POLICY STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND TOOLS The following should be read in conjunction with this policy standard: Wood and Paper Policy Standard Chemicals Policy Standard Ethical Sourcing Policy Statement and Supplier Workplace Ethical & Environmental Assurance (SWEEA) Policy Standard Kingfisher Information Rulebook Packaging Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) 4

5 APPENDIX 1 DEFINITION OF TERMS CAS Number: Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) maintains the most comprehensive list of Chemical Substances. Each Substance registered in the CAS Registry is assigned a CAS Registry Number. The CAS Registry Number (commonly referred to as CAS Number) is widely used as a unique identifier of Chemical Substances. Certified: Assessed by an independent third party to have achieved standards of conformity defined by the corresponding standard (e.g. forest management). In some cases Kingfisher may choose to apply additional verifications should the credibility of a certificate be in doubt or to obtain further assurances that the source complies with its aims. Note: timber and paper items are only considered to be Certified if they are eligible to carry an on-product claim, i.e. carry the FSC, PEFC, or TFT logo. Chain of Custody: Process for tracking Certified material from the forest to the final product to ensure that the wood contained in the product or product line originates from Certified forests. Only FULL Chain of Custody is acceptable to Kingfisher. If there are breaks in the chain then they would need to be fixed to be accepted. For example, if the factory was handling Certified material but was not Certified in its own right this would be classified as a broken Chain of Custody. Note: items are only considered to be Certified if they are eligible to carry an on-product claim, i.e. carry the FSC, PEFC, or TFT logo. Chemical: A distinct Substance or Mixture which is usually represented by a single CAS Number where one has been assigned. Endangered or Vulnerable Species: Kingfisher will regularly update a reference list which summarises the Species listed on Appendix I, II, and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) or classified as Endangered or Vulnerable by the International Union of Conservation Networks (IUCN). Exclusive Brand: Branded products made exclusively for Kingfisher or its Group Companies for sale in stores either indefinitely or a defined period of time. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC ): Organisation promoting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world s forests. Origin (Country of): This does not refer to the country of manufacture but the country of origin where the timber was originally harvested. Where possible (and specifically where high risk imports are concerned) information about the region within the country or even the specific concession or forest. Own-Brand: Brands owned by Kingfisher or Group Companies (e.g. Diall, Mac Allister, B&Q etc) and have the name of the brand on the product and / or packaging. Manufacturer / Vendor Brand: branded products not unique or exclusive to Kingfisher or its Group Companies (e.g. Black & Decker, Bosch, and so on). Material: Solid matter (e.g. metals and alloys, ceramics and glasses, organic polymers, textiles, and so on) which is made or composed of Substances and Mixtures. Mixtures: Mixtures (or preparations) are defined as a mixture, mixtures or solutions composed of two or more Substances (e.g. lubricating oils). Packaging: Materials used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and preservation of goods from the producer to the user or consumer and can be further classed as follows: 5

6 Primary or Sales Packaging: Packaging which forms a sales unit for the user or final consumer, for example, a box containing fertiliser. Normally disposed of by the customer. Secondary or Group Packaging: Packaging which contains a number of sales units. Normally disposed of in store. Transit or Tertiary Packaging: Packaging that is used to group Secondary Packaging together to aid handling and transportation and prevent damage to the products. For example, pallet and shrink wrap used to transport a large number of large boxes containing boxes of masking tape. This does not include road, ship, rail or air freight containers. Normally disposed of in the distribution centre. Home Delivery Packaging: Extra consumables added in the Distribution Centre to enable the product to be delivered via mail or courier. Normally disposed of by the customer. Post-Consumer Material: Material generated by households or by commercial facilities in their role as end-users of the product that can no longer be used for its intended purpose. This includes returns of materials from the distribution chain. Pre-Consumer Material: Material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. Excluded is the reutilisation of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it. Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC): Organisation dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent third-party certification. It is an umbrella organisation which endorses national forest certification systems developed through multi-stakeholder processes and tailored to local priorities and conditions. Recyclable Material: Materials that can be Recycled by commonly available methods in country (i.e. customers have good access to recycling facilities for that Material). Recycled Material: Waste materials that have been reprocessed in a production process and made into finished goods or packaging or into a component for incorporation into finished goods or packaging. Responsibly Sourced: Packaging which complies fully with Kingfisher s Responsibly Sourced Criteria as set out in the Group Wood and Paper Policy Standard. Reusable Material: Material which can be used for a second or subsequent time for the same or similar purpose without requiring any reprocessing. Reused Material: Material has been used for a second or subsequent time for the same or similar purpose without requiring any reprocessing. Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) Code: Set of symbols placed on plastics to identify the polymer type to allow for efficient separation of different polymer types for Recycling. Species: The common name of all the tree Species used to make the goods and, where there may be ambiguity, the full scientific name. 6

7 Verifiable Recycled Content: Proportion, by mass, of Recycled Material in packaging which can be independently verified. Pre-Consumer and Post-Consumer Materials shall be considered as Recycled Content. Verifiable Reused Content: Proportion, by mass, of Reused Material in packaging which has or can be used for a second or subsequent time for the same or similar purpose without requiring any reprocessing which can be independently verified. 7

8 APPENDIX 2 KINGFISHER S PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS SPECIFICATIONS FOR SPECIFIC MATERIALS AND PRINTING In preparing their plans Group Companies shall adopt the following specifications for the subsequent commonly used Packaging Materials / formats and requirements for printing and labelling: Pulp or Paper Based Plastic Metal Timber Printing <<SPECIFICATION FOR PULP OR PAPER BASED PACKAGING>> General The specification shall be determined with due regard to print requirements, product weight, handling, distribution, storage and merchandising. Specifications shall take into account micron, grams per square metre, fibre type, stiffness, surface coating, brightness and practical implications e.g. printing. Paper and board should be produced using non-chlorinating bleaching methods. All wood fibre must be comply with Kingfisher s Responsibly Sourced Criteria for timber as set out in the Group Wood and Paper Policy Standard and is a basic condition of supply. Paper and board, wherever practical, should use a high percentage of independently Verifiable Pre and Post-Consumer Reused and / or Recycled Material (minimum 85% Pre and Post- Consumer waste) or are FSC or PEFC Certified with FULL Chain of Custody throughout the supply chain. A combination of both is also acceptable. However, this should never compromise pack performance particularly where strength is required. Packs should be clearly marked with the appropriate Recycling information (refer to the Kingfisher Information Rulebook for further guidance). Laminate and ultraviolet varnish finishes should be avoided because this may impede recyclability. Visibility We shall work with suppliers to understand and record the Country of Origin, volume and all tree Species present in all packaging containing timber or paper. This information must be obtained as a condition of supply. Kingfisher supports the principle of transparency and will seek to provide information about the timber and paper content of specified packaging. 8

9 Specifics for Corrugated Transit Packaging Substrate: Box Construction: It is anticipated that the Recycled Content for corrugated board should be significantly higher than for carton board. Whilst Kingfisher have specified a minimum Verified Pre and Post-Consumer Recycled Content of 85%, it is common for corrugated board to contain more than 95%. The liners and fluted medium will have different compositions, and an average Recycled Content should be calculated and independently verified for declaration. The weight of board and number of ply should be specified based on four factors. The weight of the contents The rigidity or fragility of the contents The available quality of liner papers The result of transit trials. Factors essential for compliance when specifying boxes: The boxes should be a tight fit around the contents to avoid compression damage and shipping air. The specification should be as lightweight as possible, but must not compromise protection in transit. Transit trials will establish suitability. The box supplier should recommend the best combination of fluting, liner papers and ply for the product. This should be considered on an individual basis. Fluting should run vertically when the boxes are in their correct orientation. All boxes must be glued construction wherever possible. Staples are only permitted for side seams on large heavy items such as leisure furniture. Care should be taken in their application so that they do not pose a safety hazard to our staff and customers. When sealing boxes, paper tape is the best option, should more strength be required then vinyl tape can be used, but this should be kept to a minimum as it is not Recyclable. 9

10 <<SPECIFICATION FOR PLASTIC PACKAGING>> General The specification shall be determined with due regard to print requirements, product weight, handling, distribution, storage and merchandising. Specifications should take into account micron, strength, tear resistance, barrier properties, glare, anti-static properties, UV properties and other practical applications e.g. sealing. All plastic Packaging supplied to Group Companies must only be made from one of the following plastics: Polypropylene (PP) Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET); or Polyethylene (PE, HDPE, LDPE) Unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Group Packaging Team other plastics shall not be specified or used (i.e. PVC and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)). In particular, Group Companies shall note the following: EPS should be removed from Packaging wherever possible (as it is not able to easily recycled) provided that a suitable alternative is available to protect the product. Note: Where no alternatives are available an action plan or exit strategy must be in place to remove EPS within an agreed and appropriate timescale. PVC must be removed immediately as it is a major contaminant in the Recycling stream and contains potentially harmful chemicals in its manufacture. Any claims regarding the suitability for recyclability must be approved by the Group Packaging Team. Packs must be marked with SPI Code direct on the plastic or moulding to aid Recycling at end of life. The only exception to this is where an SPI code would obscure essential product information or barcode or where the curvature of a mould would make this impractical. Recycled Content Kingfisher will expect suppliers to use plastics with the highest possible independently Verified Recycled Content (i.e. higher than current industry average for the Material in question) unless high optical clarity is required which might be compromised by its use. Printing Any print on clear plastics is a potential contaminant in the Recycling process. Where it is impossible to use an insert card for practical or aesthetic reasons, total print coverage should not exceed 30% by area. This may be reconsidered when washable inks become more readily available. For white or coloured plastics total print cover is permissible. 10

11 <<SPECIFICATION FOR TIMBER PACKAGING>> Timber should not be used for Primary or Secondary Packaging for any product to avoid any issues customers may experience regarding its disposal. Timber used for Transit Packaging must: Ideally be from Verified Reused Material but as a minimum meet Kingfisher s Responsibly Sourced Criteria as set out in the Group Wood and Paper Policy Standard ; and Be approved by the Group Packaging Team 11

12 <<SPECIFICATION FOR METAL PACKAGING>> General The specification shall be determined with due regard to print requirements, product weight, handling, distribution, storage and merchandising. Metal Packaging should be as light weight as is feasible. Metals shall be appropriately coated to prevent internal and external corrosions during normal conditions of distribution, storage and use. Recycled Content Metal Packaging should meet or exceed industry averages on Recycled Content. Metal can generally be widely recycled with no loss of quality in subsequent uses. It is important to inform the customer of the Material so that it can be recycled. For specific guidance, please check with the respective Packaging or Quality Assurance Team within each Group Company. 12

13 <<SPECIFICATION FOR PRINTING AND LABELLING>> General The quality of print on Packaging shall be of good commercial standard, avoiding misregister and free from major defects. Inks and Varnishes Inks and varnishes applied to Packaging shall be sufficiently durable to resist physical and climatic hazards during normal conditions encountered during packing, handling, storage, display and use. There should be no evidence of ink rub on any Packaging. Water-soluble/releasing inks and varnishes shall be used in preference to solvent-based material wherever possible. Inks must be light fast and not fade under normal usage conditions. All inks and varnishes should comply with the requirements of the Group Chemicals Policy Standard and, where relevant, Kingfisher s Chemicals of Concern List. For example, does not contain heavy metals, such as cadmium, hexavalent chromium, mercury and lead. Alternative pigments should be used when heavy metals are known to be present, but care should be taken to ensure that any organic pigments/dyes used to replace heavy metals are not persistent and / or bio-accumulative. Labelling Where adhesives are used they should be water-soluble/releasing. Wherever possible labels should be made from Recyclable Materials and can be easily separated. Where Non-Recyclable Materials are used they should represent less than 2% by weight of the Packaging upon which it is attached. Recyclability Printing and labelling of Packaging should not in any way compromise Recycling. For instance, laminate and ultraviolet varnish should be avoided, particularly for paper and board, because this may impede Recyclability. Specific Materials Specific requirements exist for certain Materials, e.g. plastics, refer to the relevant specification. 13

14 APPENDIX 3 SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS The following is a summary of requirements which is intended to assist in the implementation or assurance of this Sustainable Packaging Materials Policy Standard. It is for information purposes only. General Obligations Roles and responsibilities within the business have been established and are appropriately resourced and trained. All legal obligations have been identified and appropriate compliance and communication arrangements are in place. Strategies and plans have been developed and implemented to ensure significant operational and downstream impacts are identified and addressed (e.g. optimised to minimise waste and cut costs). Policies and procedures have been developed and implemented to ensure that all Packaging which contains timber and paper is Group Wood and Paper Policy Standard compliant. Strategies and plans have been developed and implemented to ensure that all Goods for Resale Packaging is in accordance with Kingfisher s Packaging Quality Charter. Strategies and plans have been developed and implemented to ensure that all unavoidable Packaging used in connection with Goods for Resale is in accordance with Kingfisher s Packaging Sustainability Standards. Processes have been developed to encourage collaborative working with suppliers and partners to improve supply chain transparency, encourage innovation and eliminate or reduce Packaging. Packaging Sustainability Standards Policies and procedures have been developed and implemented to ensure that relevant Packaging meets the General Criteria of Kingfisher s Packaging Sustainability Standards. Policies and procedures have been developed and implemented to ensure that relevant Packaging meets the Material Specific Criteria of Kingfisher s Packaging Sustainability Standards. Marketing and Labelling Policies and procedures have been developed and implemented to ensure that Packaging is clearly marked with appropriate Recycling information. Processes are in place to ensure that relevant licenses and permissions are obtained before any third party logos are used. Processes are in place to ensure that all claims and declarations are made responsibly and all communications and marketing activities are legal, fair, honest, and transparent. Reporting and Assurance Processes are in place to ensure that appropriate records are maintained. All reporting obligations have been complied with and managed appropriately. Governance arrangements have been developed and implemented. Appropriate arrangements are in place to monitor, review and audit against the requirements of the Sustainable Packaging Materials Policy Standard. 14