Sustainability is a word that has gained a lot of attention over the last year, but what does it really mean? Sustainability is broadly defined as the ability to maintain a process indefinitely, without depleting resources and with minimal harm to the environment. A sustainable product, such as a glass bottle, is able to carry out its function without compromising the environment or future resources.

The sustainability of a company or product is commonly measured in terms of the “carbon footprint,” a measure of the emissions a product or packaging material releases into the ozone. Sustainability has also been related to the weight of a product and how much energy is required for its transportation. While both of these measurements are important, by no means do they tell the entire story of sustainability.

Sustainability involves the big picture. The entire lifecycle of a product must be considered from its beginning as a raw material to its end-disposal and recyclability to tell its sustainability story. The health impact, such as how it affects you and the environment, must also be calculated into the sustainability of a packaging material.