Integrating environment into the new product development process

The National Packaging Covenant requires companies to integrate environmental performance criteria into their New Packaging Development (NPD) process. The NPC associated Australian Environmental Code of Practice for Packaging is one tool which can assist in this process while stage-gate based NPD processes are successfully proven approaches for effective new product development and innovation management.

SPA has worked with a number of companies with existing stage-gate based NPD processes to design guidelines, checklists or processes to ensure that environmental impacts are considered in every design project, from minor redesign or brand extension projects through to the development of completely new products.

SPA, as a member of the end user team, can assist companies develop new processes or tools to integrate into existing NPD process.

Many small to medium sized Australian companies lack awareness of and application of formal NPD/innovation management business processes. The SPA team can assist in the development of these processes, tailored to the business needs and simultaneously integrating packaging sustainability. These implementations build the organisations capability for innovative approaches to product and packaging development.

SPA is developing a Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool (PIQET^©), a multi-criteria evaluation tool enabling the provision of timely and credible environmental performance indicators to support decision-making. This unique tool will assist companies in developing and implementing packaging strategies and innovations, selection of materials, identification of improvement options, and reporting requirements including NPC.

Further information

For further information contact SPA on (03) 9791 5888