The Sustainable Packaging Compass

Update: this tool was launched in July 2021 and is updated in September 2022, June 2023 and April 2026. 

Use

The tool is relatively easy to use. It takes only twenty minutes to run through an entire scenario and obtain the results. To do this, keep the technical data of the packaging to hand, as well as information about the end-of-life scenarios of the packaging. Each pillar - recyclability, circularity and environmental impact - measures a different aspect of sustainability and this leads to an overall estimate of the sustainability of a package in the Dutch packaging chain.

Until 2022, scenarios could only be created for flexible plastic packaging types and rigid plastic packaging types. Since 2023, other materials have been added (metal, glass, paper and cardboard). In 2026, beverage cartons were also added. The calculations are based on the current situation of sorting and recycling facilities in the Netherlands. The Compass is updated on the basis of new developments. In addition, there is a tool that automatically calculates the discount for differentiated tariffs for flexible and rigid plastics.

Also watch the explanation video about the Sustainable Packaging Compass. In this video, the key functionalities are explained and you can see step by step how to navigate through the different sections.

To the tool

The Compass was developed by Pilario on behalf of Verpact. The tool is only available in English. There are two versions of the tool, with and without an account:

• It is possible to quickly evaluate a package without creating an account; in this case, the data is not stored.
• If a company wants to save and compare multiple scenarios, an account must be created.

Click here to go to the tool.

Click here to go to the user guide.

Should you encounter a bug or have any questions about the outcome, please contact us.