In the summer of 2023, we consulted on changes to our packaging standards. The goal of the consultation was to understand how Soil Association packaging standards can support businesses to:
reduce the use of problematic plastics that are damaging or unrecyclable
minimise the use of toxic or harmful chemicals in packaging
source materials from systems that support sustainable land management
We received a wide-range of responses from stakeholders across the organic sector. This included small market gardeners to large multinational processors, along with important input from citizens, Soil Association supporters and packaging manufacturers. There was a high level of support for the changes we proposed to the packaging standards.
The new standards have been approved by our independent Standards Board and Trustees and apply from March 2024. To support businesses to adapt, find alternative products and use existing stocks, these standards will have an 18-month implementation period, so Soil Association licensees have until September 2025 to comply. The Standards team is working together with Soil Association Certification teams to ensure that these standards are implemented in a transparent and equal manner across all licence holders.
Why do we have packaging standards?
The production, use and disposal of packaging can have a big impact on the environment and human health. Packaging, in certain sectors, plays a fundamental role in ensuring the quality, safety and integrity of food and drink products.
The Soil Association is the only organic standard's setter in the UK that has higher standards on packaging. When buying SA organic products, consumers expect packaging that is less harmful to human and environmental health, sourced from more sustainable land management systems and that is recyclable or reusable where possible.
Our packaging standards extend throughout the food supply chain to ensure that sustainability is built into the whole packaging cycle and aim to carry the organic principles into product packaging wherever possible.
Why do we review the standards?
Packaging is a fast-moving area. Since we last did a standards review, there have been significant changes in packaging regulation, technical innovation, citizen expectations and retailer requirements.
As new materials become available there are new opportunities and challenges that require us to consider how our standards ensure consumer safety, maintain market competitiveness, and prepare our licensees to make the best decisions for their product supply chains.
What is changing?
We have updated some existing packaging standards to increase their impact and relevance, and we have introduced changes to make it more straightforward for licensees to verify compliance. Soil Association licence holders have until September 2025 to comply with these changes. We will:
allow the use of aluminium foil as a food contact material. This restriction was based on evidence that suggested an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease from exposure to aluminium food contact materials. More recent evidence has shown that there is no causal link between aluminium food packaging and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
expand the phthalates restriction to all packaging materials, not just food contact, as they are harmful chemicals known to have negative environmental and human health impacts. They are used to create flexibility in certain plastics, and not chemically bound to the plastic to which they are added, meaning they can continuously leach into foodstuffs, and the environment. There are functional alternatives to the use of phthalates widely available on the market.
broaden the PVC standard to cover all chlorinated plastics, including PVdC. There are similar environmental and health implications associated with the manufacture, use and disposal of all chlorinated plastics and they can pollute and undermine recycling systems.
To tackle new challenges that we face with packaging materials and support licensees to make more sustainable choices, we are adding new packaging standards, including:
a requirement for paper, card and wood-pulp packaging materials to be sourced from responsible forest management systems. Demand for paper packaging has increased, putting pressure on forest ecosystems for materials. As part of our commitment to reduce the deforestation risk of organic products we will require paper, card and pulp packaging materials from forest ecosystems to carry certification from either Forest Stewardship Council "(FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Find out more information on chain of custody certification.
a restriction on the use of polystyrene plastics in primary packaging. Polystyrene is widely used in the food supply chain principally for its thermal and physical insulation properties. However, polystyrene is considered a ‘problem plastic’ due to its persistence in the environment. It is one of the most common pollutants of marine environments. The chemical 'styrene' used in its manufacture is known to have negative human health impacts. Polystyrene is not readily recycled in the UK, in a primary packaging context this is particularly complicated as it is inconsistent with home recycling and may become a pollutant of other recycling streams or end up in landfill. Where polystyrene is used in a business-to-business environment, it performs specific functions for which there are few alternatives. In the supply chain polystyrene can operate within a packaging reuse/return system.
a ban on use of oxo-degradable plastics. Oxo-degradable plastics are considered a ‘problem plastic’ owing to their environmental impacts. They contribute to microplastic pollution as they are conventional plastics that fragment by design and are not suited for long-term reuse, recycling at scale or composting. By restricting oxo-degradable plastics we hope to support licensees to find genuine alternatives to harmful packaging and avoid what we see as false solutions.
a restriction on per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl (PFAS) substances. PFAS refers to a group of chemicals known as 'forever chemicals' as they are extremely persistent in the environment. They are widely used in consumer goods for their non-stick/greaseproof properties, in food packaging this means greaseproof paper/card. PFAS chemicals are known to disrupt hormone systems and are linked to cancers and immune system disorders. By restricting their use in food packaging, we can support the organic sector to find alternatives and protect consumers from exposure to harmful chemicals.
