REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Packaging Working Group:
LCI data set gap analysis to address the following:
 Identification and data quality evaluation of existing life cycle data set inventories relevant
to the packaging sector.
 Identification of major gaps in life cycle inventory data set coverage and prioritization of
subsequent research programs aimed at filling the data gaps.
Prepared By:
Kelly E. Scott
Packaging Working Group Coordinator
The Sustainability Consortium
WCOB 475, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: (479) 575-4296 | fax: (479) 575-3241
www.sustainabilityconsortium.org
1. Introduction:
The Sustainability Consortium is working to develop a Sustainability Measurement and
Reporting System to enable the measurement and reporting of sustainability-related
information pertaining to consumer packaged goods. The Consortium currently operates six
working groups: 1) Packaging 2) Consumer Science 3) Measurement Science 4) System Science
5) IT Standards and Tools and 6) Assurance and four product sectors: 1) Paper 2) Home and
Personal Care 3) Electronics 4) Food, Beverage and Agricultural.
2. Purpose:
The Packaging Working Group (PWG), along with the other sectors of The Sustainability
Consortium is working to develop a sustainability measurement reporting system. The
Sustainability Consortium is committed to leveraging all relevant existing efforts in consumer
goods sustainability, and the report commissioned through this request is intended to target
data sets for adoption into an approved LCI database that will provide benefit to member
organizations and promote sustainable packaging across all consumer goods sectors. In
addition, identification of major data gaps in LCI data sets coupled with a research
prioritization lead to a more complete system for incorporation of packaging into consumer
goods lifecycle assessments.
3. Objectives:
The overall objective is to provide information support for the development of strategic
direction for the Packaging Working group. This will require the following tasks:
1) Determining what secondary LCI data exists for packaging materials and/or the packaging
process, so the working group can
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a) Select the best data available for each material/process and characterize the data quality
according to the TSC data quality pedigree.
b) Identify where there are gaps in data, and prioritize data collection efforts so that the most
critical data gaps are filled first.
2) Assess the documentation that comes with the datasets through a brief description according
to the Pedigree matrix (Reliability, completeness, temporal correlation, geographical
correlation, further technological correlation, and sample sized).
3) In addition to the contract report, the contractor will also prepare a power point presentation
on the study & its findings and present it to the PWG. Additional funding will be provided to
cover contractor’s travel costs.
4. Project Scope:
The review should have an international focus. The report should include evaluation of availability
and quality of datasets for materials and processes outlined in Table 1. Datasets for both virgin
and recycled material should be included. This list is not exhaustive, and the awardee should work
with packaging experts to ensure completeness. The evaluation of existing datasets should include
the standard LCI databases: EcoInvent, PE Professional, PE US and USLCI as well as data sets that
are not in a master data base but that comes from industry and is published.
The report should also include a review of options and recommendations for modifying and
combining data to be more useful for the PWG.
For example:
 USLCI has the most current data on several packaging materials yet the database as a
whole is not robust. Should we consider using just the packaging process data from
USLCI and combine it with data from EcoInvent or PE to get rolled-up numbers rather
than pulling all the data from USLCI for a rolled-up number?
 What modifications should be made to data to customize it for the production region?
The report should also include data sets for Table 1 Materials that are cradle to gate, including all raw
material acquisition and that in Table 1 Processes; the data sets are gate to gate.
Table 1. Materials and processes relevant to project scope
Materials
Processes
Aluminum
Film Blowing
Glass
Injection Molding
Aseptic Packaging Injection Blow molding
Paperboard Based
Aseptic Packaging – Resin
Based
Composite Cans (fiber, metal,
Corrugating/Lamination
Printing
End of Life
Recycling
Disposal
Traditional Landfill Disposal
with Methane Recovery
Traditional Landfill Disposal
without Methane Recovery
Combustion without energy
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and/or plastic components)
Metallized PET
Metallized OPP (OPP with a
very thin layer of aluminum)
Paper Laminate
(Paper/Poly/Foil/Poly)
Limited Use Pallet (One-Way,
odd-size, etc)
Plastic ledge
Plastic pallet
Slip-sheet – paper based
Slip-sheet – polymer
Wood pallet: GMA-48x40
Pooled/reusable pallet
EVA (Ethylene vinyl acetate)
HDPE
LDPE
LLDPE
MDPE
Multi-layer film – majority
Nylon
Multi-layer film – majority
polyester (PET)
Multi-layer film – majority
polyethylene
Multi-layer film – majority
polypropylene
Multi0layer film – majority
styrenic resins
Nylon
PEN (Polyethylene
PET, PETE (Polyethylene
terephthalate)
PHA (polyhydroxyallkanoate)
PLA (polylactic acid)
PC (Polycarbonate)
PP (Polypropylene)
PS (Polystyrene), EPS
(expanded Polystyrene,
Styrofoam)
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
RPC (Reusable Plastic
Die Cutting
recovery
Combustion with energy
recovery
Thermoforming
Shrink Wrap
Stretch Wrap (For beverages,
should filling be included
Palletizing
Metal Rolling
D/I Can Making
Glass Making
Injection Stretch Blow
Molding
Extrusion Blow Molding
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Container) HDPE
Starch
Coated Freesheet (e.g., highend magazine)
Coated Groundwood (e.g.,
standard magazine)
Corrugated: Bleached
Corrugated: Mini Flute
Corrugated: Moisture
Resistant - Wax Alternative
Corrugated: Moisture
Resistant - Waxed
Corrugated: Pre-Printed
Corrugated: Semi-bleached
Corrugated: Unbleached
Dimensional Lumber
Medium-density Fiberboard
Molded Pulp Packaging
Paperboard: Coated Recycled
Paperboard: Coated
Unbleached Kraft (CUK)
Paperboard: Solid Bleached
Sulfate (SBS)
Paperboard: Uncoated
Bleached Kraft
Paperboard: Uncoated
Recycled (URB)
Paperboard: Uncoated
Unbleached Kraft
Recycled Folding Boxboard
Supercalendered (e.g.,
newspaper inserts)
Uncoated Freesheet (e.g., copy
paper)
Uncoated Groundwood (e.g.,
newsprint)
Wood, Cotton, or Hemp
PLA (polylactic acid)
Bamboo
Moulded Cellulosic Fibres:
bagasse, palm, reeds, rice hull
plant based polymers (ex PE
from sugarcane molasses
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Blended plant based biopolymers (Ex PET with PE
from Sugar cane molasses)
5. Methodology Preferences
There are no methodology preferences for this project.
6. Deliverables Required:
a. Project Plan:
Contractor shall work collaboratively with the Packaging Working Group Coordinator and
the Packaging Research Committee to outline project details.
b. Interim Project Report:
Contractor shall produce a draft report that provides an overview of the project including
the significance of subject matter and initial findings.
c. Final Project Report:
Contractor shall produce a written report and presentation at the completion of the project.
The report shall include, but is not limited to, cover page, executive summary, problem
statement, research methodology, analysis, findings, bibliography and suggested future
areas of study.
7. Timeline Requirements:
Timeline is presented as estimation and is subject to change; proposed adjustments will be
considered.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Proposal Submission Deadline: June 1, 2011
Collaboratively Develop Project Plan: June 15, 2011
Interim Project Report: August 15, 2011
Final Project Report: September 30, 2011
8. Budget:
a. The budget is not to exceed $50,000, including indirect costs. The project indirect costs
shall not exceed 9% of the budget.
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