At Protega Global, sustainability is at the core of the company, offering UK manufactured sustainable packaging solutions as a viable alternative to conventional products made of plastic. In line with the commitment to offering sustainable products and intending to improve the environmental performance of products offered, Protega have gone one step further by incorporating the quantification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with products ‘Hexcel Wrap’ and ‘Protega Paper’ from a life cycle perspective.

We carried out a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of our ‘Hexcel Wrap’ and ‘Protega Paper’ to assess the product carbon footprint, from the raw materials supply to end-of-life, which gave us several key insights for us to reduce our footprint while providing quantitative evidence showing the benefits of using renewable packaging materials as an alternative to plastic.

The product carbon footprint report has been assessed according to the international LCA standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 and product carbon footprint standard ISO 14067, assessing all greenhouse gases (GHG) required by the UNFCCC/Kyoto Protocol, and converted to CO₂ equivalents (CO₂eq).

The GHGs are assessed to the 100-year Global Warming Potential (GWP) values for these GHGs, as defined in IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.

Paper packaging is a short-lived product and therefore carbon storage in the product is temporary. So, although carbon stored in the product is calculated, this value is not included in the summation of the total footprint but reported separately.

We wanted an independent scientific study to provide transparency and reliability to this assessment, so we used a third-party sustainability partner* who provided us with reliable LCA reporting. We were provided with all the necessary data capture instructions from the sustainability partners, and they engaged directly with us and our suppliers to collect as much primary data as possible for our products to make their independent calculations and comparisons.

(*Carbonmanagers.com)

Scope of the assessment:

• Protega Global products and plastic alternatives assessed:

• Unit assessed: one tonne of product. We quantified the weight of packaging materials used in multiple orders, comparing those packaged in plastic to those repacked using Protega products. The results conclusively demonstrate that an equivalent mass of packaging material is required to fulfil the same purpose.
• Life cycle stages included: paper master roll manufacturing and transport, Protega product manufacturing and packaging, distribution, paper dispesing or stretching and end-of-life. The transport of the product with the function of packaging is not included in the assessment as it is part of the packed product life cycle system.
• Impact assessed: 100-year Global Warming Potential
• Timelines: collected data representative of the year 2022
• Location of production sites: United Kingdom

What are they key findings from our independent report?

• Our products are based on a renewable raw material, referring to the starting point of our products i.e., the capacity of forests to bind CO₂.
• Our product material functions as a repository for biogenic carbon throughout its utilisation within the economic system. The quantity of carbon stored aligns closely with the product’s carbon footprint. Consequently, by prolonging the product’s lifespan, it achieves a state of near net-zero emissions.
• Our Protega Paper and Hexcel Wrap are both recyclable. Recycling of paper and board products keeps CO₂ from returning to the atmosphere.
• More than 60% of the Protega Paper carbon footprint and more than 40% of the Hexcel Wrap carbon footprint corresponds to the master roll manufacturing in the paper mill (outside of Protega’s direct control).
• In the study we assessed the current management of paper waste in the UK where the product is sold and where paper is not always recycled but can be incinerated or landfilled. The end-of-life stage accounts for approximately 20% of the product carbon footprint. Therefore, these GHG emissions could be easily reduced if we could ensure that the final user recycles the product.
• Per tonne of product, all Protega Paper options have a lower carbon footprint than plastic alternatives, equating to approx. 50% less GHG emissions.
• Hexcel Wrap has a carbon footprint 65% lower than the plastic packaging alternative per tonne of product.

Protega Paper figures:

• The carbon footprint of one tonne of Protega Paper from the raw materials production to end of life comes to a total of ~1850 kg CO₂eq.
• Protega Paper stores while it is in use the biogenic carbon equivalent to 1222 kg CO₂. 

Hexcel Wrap figures:

• The carbon footprint of one tonne of Hexcel Wrap from the raw materials production to end of life comes to a total of 1282 kg CO₂eq.
• Hexcel Wrap stores while it is in use the biogenic carbon equivalent to 1222 kg CO₂.

With the completion of this important work, our objectives now revolve around effectively conveying the advantages of our product as an alternative to plastic packaging solutions. Additionally, we aim to foster collaborations with our suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint within the supply chain while enhancing the carbon footprint accounting of our products.