UP Scorecard Version 1.0 Launches to Advance Sustainable Food Packaging

The newly complete Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard Version 1.0 offers an accessible and comprehensive way to choose healthier and more sustainable food packaging. This tool has been in beta testing since 2021 and is a game changer to help businesses and individuals evaluate the environmental and human health impacts of foodware and packaging choices. UP Scorecard is a project of the Single-Use Material Decelerator, or SUM’D, a team of leading foodservice companies, NGOs (including Plastic Pollution Coalition), and technical experts coordinated by the Food Packaging Forum Foundation.

While single-use plastic and other types of “throwaway” food packaging and foodware may appear to be convenient, their negative impacts on environmental and human health can be significant. Some reusable options, like those made of plastic, are not as green as they seem. From plastic pollution and carbon emissions to potential chemical exposure, there are numerous trade-offs to consider when choosing between different types of single-use and reusable packaging. Making sustainable and healthy decisions can be difficult due to the complexity and variety of packaging options available.