PIP360 Frequently Asked Questions
PIP360 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is PIP360?
An easy-to-use on-line benchmarking tool providing key packaging sustainability measurements to guide package innovation in keeping with the circular economy.
What is the purpose of PIP360?
PIP360 allows users to establish a baseline circularity score and provides options to improve the circularity of every package (manufactured anywhere in the world) sold in the Canadian market.
What are the benefits of using the PIP360 tool?
PIP360° provides a holistic approach to help make better and more informed packaging decisions by providing a detailed report card including:
Package Circularity
Score out of 360 degrees for ALL package material types and formats
Insights into how to improve scores
Golden Design Rules compliance
Golden Design Rules Solutions - Identifies problems/solutions
GHG Emissions (EPA WARM model) - Estimate for the package and per gram of package
Canada provincial EPR fees - Estimate for cents per kilogram of package
What does PIP360 Measure?
The tool incorporates a scoring matrix respecting the key differences and pathways of each packaging type, i.e., not one score fits all approach for the following:
Recyclability (To note if the user is not sure the default is always recyclability)
Composability (only when certified); and
Combination of recyclable and compostable packaging
The tool also measures GDR compliance, calculates GHG emissions and Canada EPR fees (average fee based on available provincial data). The tool takes account of the following data:
70 package distinct materials (and unit combinations) including 36 discrete plastics categories
Credit for recycled content within all materials, biobased plastics and for FSC certified fibres
Packaging intensity (product to package ratio)
Adjustments for use of non-recyclable fillers and barrier layers
What data do I need to input to get a score?
It is important to have the following information ready before using the tool:
Product and Package categories and description
Package attribute – either reusable, recyclable, certified compostable (with default being recyclable)
Package size or count
If reusable, number of confirmed reuses
Package total weight and individual package component weights
Package percentage PCR or renewable material content
How long does it take to input the data and get a score?
If you have all the information listed in Q4 then typically you can get a score within 5 minutes.
How do I know if a score is good?
The tool is NOT designed to tell you if your package is good or bad. It is designed to benchmark your packaging packaging and to assess the impacts of package redesign and emerging innovations. The scorecard helps define a pathway to a better score which may be achieved by:
Package weight reduction
Increased number of package reuses for reusable packs
Increased recycled and/or renewable content
Use of materials with higher recycling rates
Is this a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tool?
No. PIP360 is NOT an LCA tool but rather a tool that benchmarks the circularity of a package using assessment categories that are consistent with the principles of the circular economy and provides GHG emission estimates https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/
Who should use the PIP360 tool?
PIP360 is a benchmarking tool for package designers and sustainability team, retailers, brand owners, package makers, consultants and distributers to meet their circular packaging goals.
What is the basis for the recycling/composting rates, GHG emissions and EPR calculations?
Recycling rate data is from publicly available records for Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec from 2020. These three provinces comprise approximately 65% of the Canadian population, and form the basis for an aggregated recycling rate nationally.
There are no available composting rates for any package materials today in Canada - the tool allocates a discretionary composting rate for certified compostable packaging of 10%
GHG emissions are calculated on the basis of the EPA WARM model
EPR fees data is also from publicly available records.