„Sustainable packaging“ is a frequently quoted but often weak assertion. At interpack 2026, Henning H. Sittel from the Effizienz-Agentur NRW (efa) will explain how the packaging matrix as a power app offers companies a structured path from buzzword to measurable evaluation.
From Buzzword to Indicator Assessment
„As the requirements for sustainability reporting grow, so too do the demands for measurability of sustainability,“ explains Sittel. „Especially in the area of packaging, the statement ‚Sustainable Packaging‘ suggests a lot, but often says very little of substance.“ The approach of an indicator assessment is not new, but the holistic nature that the efa-Power app enables *is* new.
The evaluation matrix was developed in 2021 within a value chain network comprising approximately 15 companies from the food industry. In the context of the research project Prosperkolleg, the University of Applied Sciences Ruhr West provided scientific supervision, validated the results, and assessed their applicability. The outcome is a matrix with indicators in the key areas of product protection, circularity, environment, plant utilisation, and communication.
How the Power App works in practice
Since Autumn 2023, the evaluation has been running as a Power App and is being tested in practice. „The new Power App is intuitive and easy to understand“, says Sittel. „Supported by the EFA, company representatives are guided through the evaluation process and receive the results of the packaging analysis clearly summarised in written documentation at the end.“ Up to 45 indicators in the five core areas can be included.
Crucially, the ability to provide a quantitative assessment alongside a qualitative evaluation is important. „This is highly significant with regard to available figures, data, and facts for validating the statements made.“ Over 40 packaging material analyses have already refined the indicator profile – and thus not only deliver an evaluation result, but also open questions and concrete proposals for action as a basis for the next steps.
Robust assessment in response to the PPWR
With the entry into force of key PPWR obligations on 12 August 2026, companies need robust assessment procedures – blanket sustainability claims are neither regulatorily nor market-wise sufficient. Added to this is the pressure from the demand side: current surveys show that around 77 percent of consumers would pay more for more sustainable packaging.
Sittel emphasises the importance of the value chain: „Communication along the value chains is a central guarantee for the successful placement of new packaging solutions.“ The next development step: a dashboard for visualising the results, which substantiates the line of reasoning. This transforms the assessment into a strategic tool – both for internal decisions and for communication with partners, trade, and consumers.
