Supplier due diligence should approve a specific packaging component and evidence set, not a general sustainability claim. The buyer needs a controlled product reference, current specification, relevant declarations, representative samples, supply terms to be confirmed and a process for notification when anything material changes.
Build one approval record for each packaging component
| Record area | Minimum useful content | Buyer check |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Supplier, product reference, drawing, revision and manufacturing site where relevant | Matches the sample and quotation |
| Construction | Materials, layers, colour, dimensions, weight and closure or seal details | No assumption from appearance or marketing name |
| Intended use | Product contact, fill conditions, storage, distribution and machinery interfaces | Scope covers the proposed application |
| Environmental evidence | Claim, component scope, method, date, result and limitations | Supports the exact wording proposed |
| EPR and reporting data | Component weights, material categories and relevant recyclability inputs | Can be reconciled to the supplied pack |
| Supply and quality | Order terms to confirm, lead-time basis, batch traceability, complaints and change notice | Commercial and continuity assumptions are explicit |
How should a packaging environmental claim be checked?
Write the exact proposed claim, identify what it applies to and retain evidence that covers the same product, market, period and conditions. A certificate logo, polymer name or supplier statement may be useful evidence, but it is not automatically proof of a broad claim such as “sustainable”, “fully recyclable” or “carbon neutral”. Record exclusions and disposal conditions.
The Competition and Markets Authority’s Green Claims Code guidance and its 2026 supply-chain guidance provide the authoritative UK starting point for environmental wording. This page is a procurement workflow, not legal advice.
Require a sample that can be linked to the record
Mark samples with supplier, product reference, date or batch where available. Compare them with the drawing and evidence, then use representative samples for filling, capping, sealing, labelling, coding, storage and distribution checks. Prototype or generic samples should be described as such and not silently substituted for production material.
Define change notification before approval
- Material grade, recycled-content source or percentage.
- Layer structure, thickness, weight or dimensions.
- Colourant, coating, adhesive, ink, liner, valve or closure component.
- Manufacturing process, tool, site or sub-supplier.
- Relevant declaration, certificate, test method or assessment version.
- Packaging, palletisation, order quantity or delivery route where it can affect condition.
Questions buyers ask when approving a packaging supplier
Is a certificate enough to approve a packaging claim?
No. Check the certificate owner, scheme, scope, product reference, site, issue and expiry dates, and what the certification actually demonstrates. A valid certificate can support a defined claim but does not replace product-specific construction, compatibility or end-of-life evidence.
How can buyers compare two suppliers’ recyclability claims?
Use the same finished-pack definition, reporting year, methodology and evidence requirements for both suppliers. Compare every component and attached feature rather than accepting different interpretations of the word “recyclable”.
What evidence is needed for recycled content?
Record the exact component, percentage, calculation basis, material source, supplier declaration and date. Confirm that the evidence applies to the supplied grade and that the intended application remains technically and legally suitable.
Should minimum order and lead time be published before supplier approval?
Only publish current values that the supplier has confirmed for the exact item and delivery arrangement. For an enquiry-led catalogue, treat minimum order, lead time and availability as quotation inputs rather than permanent claims when they can change.
Can a supplier be approved without a site visit?
That depends on the risk and the organisation’s procurement controls. Document review, samples, references, quality records and remote evidence may be sufficient for some purchases; higher-risk or regulated applications may justify additional assurance.
Which supplier changes require retesting?
Retest when the change could affect product contact, barrier, seal, closure fit, line handling, label adhesion, distribution, environmental evidence or the approved claim. A documented technical review should decide the scope rather than assuming every change is equivalent.
Information to include in a supplier enquiry
- Pack format, dimensions, capacity or roll geometry.
- Product, fill conditions, storage and distribution route.
- Closure, seal, label, code and line interfaces.
- Required declarations and the exact environmental wording under review.
- Annual quantity, order pattern, delivery location and target timing.
- Sample quantity, trial plan and acceptance criteria.