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Buyer and technical guidance

Environmental packaging resource hub

A structured route from an environmental packaging objective to a documented, production-compatible pack and a useful Lancing quotation.

This hub organises the questions that sit between a broad search for sustainable packaging and a defensible purchasing decision. Start with the pack function, then use the evidence, material, format and trial guides that match the decision you are making. The pages do not assume that a material is universally preferable; they show what must be specified, documented and tested for the intended product, market and production line.

Define the claim and reporting need

Use the environmental packaging evidence guide for claim scope, supplier evidence and review dates; the recyclability assessment guide for collection, sorting and reprocessing questions; and the UK packaging EPR data guide for a component-level reporting record.

Compare materials and complete formats

Review recycled-content evidence, mono-material scope, lightweighting trials and refill or reuse systems. Each route needs different evidence and acceptance criteria.

Match the pack to the product and line

The material compatibility guide and trial and approval guide connect the product, bottle or pouch, closure, label, coding, handling and distribution route.

Prepare a commercial enquiry

The quotation and cost-factors guide identifies the dimensions, quantities, evidence, samples and logistics that allow Lancing to compare suitable options without inventing a specification.

Choose the guide by packaging decision

Decision	Start here	Useful output
Review an environmental statement	Evidence and claims	Approved wording, evidence owner, scope and review trigger
Assess UK recyclability	Recyclability assessment	Component map and current collection, sorting and reprocessing evidence
Prepare EPR records	EPR data guide	Pack hierarchy, component weights, material categories and evidence file
Compare rigid formats	Bottle packaging guide	Bottle, closure, label and line shortlist
Compare flexible formats	Pouch packaging guide	Structure, barrier, zipper or spout and sealing brief
Approve a candidate	Trial and approval guide	Recorded acceptance criteria and change-control reference

Format-specific guidance

Sustainable bottle packaging Sustainable pouch packaging Closures and recycling compatibility Labels and recycling compatibility Packaging lightweighting Refill and reuse packaging

Application-specific guidance

Product contact and use conditions determine whether a candidate material can be considered at all. Use the food and drink, cosmetic and household-product guides to prepare the correct product information and trial boundaries before choosing a bottle, pouch, cap or label.

Food and drink packaging selection Cosmetic and personal-care packaging Household-product packaging Quotation and cost factors

Principles used across every guide

Describe the exact pack and every component in the declared scope.
Separate environmental evidence from functional suitability.
Use current, product-specific documents rather than transferring claims from a similar item.
Compare alternatives against the same product quantity, shelf-life, line and distribution requirements.
Record samples, settings, defects, acceptance criteria and changes.
Use current official guidance for the relevant reporting year and market.

Send a packaging brief Open the complete product catalogue

Buyer questions

Questions that route a packaging problem to the right guide

Start with the observed decision or fault, then use the guide that owns that question instead of searching by material name alone.

Which guide should be used when the problem is a leaking pack?

Start with the packaging fault troubleshooting questions. Preserve failed and accepted samples, record component lots and locate the leak before changing settings. If the interface is a bottle and cap, continue to the neck-finish and closure guide.

Which guide should be used when a material claim cannot be verified?

Use the environmental evidence guide to define the exact wording, scope and missing proof. The compostable, biodegradable and recyclable questions then separate the relevant disposal routes and claim boundaries.

Which guide should be used before a packaging supplier change?

Use the supplier change-control questions. They connect drawing and evidence comparison to samples, line trials and controlled release. The product description alone should not be used as proof of equivalence.

How should manufacturers compare packaging materials?What is the difference between compostable, biodegradable and recyclable packaging?What evidence is needed for food-contact packaging?How should empty packaging be stored and handled?How should a packaging supplier change be controlled?How do packaging components affect filling and packing lines?How do you match a bottle neck finish and cap?How do you choose pouch barrier and seal construction?How do you choose label material and adhesive?How do you investigate common packaging faults?

Discuss your packaging requirement Open the packaging question library

Testing, procurement and identification

Move from a candidate pack to controlled supply.

These guides address distinct buyer tasks that follow material selection: product protection, distribution, supplier approval, tamper evidence and production identification.

Shelf life and barrier

Define the product failure risk, test conditions and complete-pack evidence.

Shelf-life and barrier testing guide

Distribution

Check filled packs, cases, pallets and parcel routes against the intended handling risks.

Distribution testing guide

Supplier due diligence

Approve the exact product reference, evidence, samples, supply assumptions and change notification.

Supplier due-diligence guide

Tamper evidence

Compare rings, liners, bands, seals and labels as part of the complete pack and line.

Tamper-evident packaging guide

Print and coding

Match labels and variable codes to the surface, environment, handling and inspection method.

Print and coding compatibility guide

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Unused buyer-search routes

Tax, EU regulation, carbon evidence and pack integrity

These guides cover decisions that sit beside material selection but require their own records. Use them when a buyer needs to establish tax inputs, prepare EU-market packaging, compare carbon evidence, approve disposal artwork or investigate closure and seal performance.

UK Plastic Packaging Tax

Separate registration, component evidence, recycled-content records and technical suitability.

Open the Plastic Packaging Tax guide

EU PPWR for UK exporters

Map packaging levels, economic-operator roles, specifications, evidence, labelling and phased requirements.

Open the EU PPWR guide

Packaging LCA and carbon claims

Define the functional unit, system boundary, data quality and claim scope before comparing options.

Open the LCA and carbon guide

Leak and seal integrity

Select tests from the failure risk, package format and acceptance criteria rather than one universal method.

Open the integrity-testing guide

Bottle closure torque

Approve application and removal torque using the exact neck, closure, liner, product and process.

Open the closure-torque guide

Recycling labels and disposal wording

Connect artwork instructions to the complete-pack assessment, collection context and change control.

Open the recycling-label guide

Route the buyer question to the correct record

Is the question about tax, EPR or the product claim?

Keep the conclusions separate while reusing controlled component data. Plastic Packaging Tax, UK EPR, PPWR and environmental wording have different scope and responsibilities.

Is the failure a leak or a barrier problem?

A leak is an unintended path; barrier is controlled transfer through the packaging system. Use the integrity guide for channels, closures and seals, and the shelf-life guide for oxygen, moisture, aroma and product-protection studies.

Is the issue the label material or the disposal instruction?

Review both. Face stock, adhesive and coverage can affect complete-pack recycling, while the artwork wording needs a separate evidence and approval record.

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