Open 3P packaging data project secures additional funding

Following the launch of the ground-breaking Open 3P standard for plastic packaging data, the project has secured additional funding from Innovate UK for Phase 2 work to expand the standard and develop a data-sharing platform.

The Open 3P standard provides a common framework to help all the stakeholders involved in manufacturing, selling and recycling plastic packaging to share data with regulators and government agencies, as well as with each other.

The project launched in September 2022 with the ultimate aim to lower the environmental footprint of plastic packaging. It is being developed through a collaborative effort between project partners Dsposal, OPRL, Open Data Manchester, RECOUP and Ecosurety.

During the next phase of the project the Open 3P standard is being expanded to cover all packaging materials – including glass, metals, paper and wood – as well as the development of a user-friendly, real-time data-sharing platform for the packaging value chain.

Improving accuracy, coverage and accessibility

The data platform will revolutionise the way most packaging data is collected and shared by going to the source, speeding up the process and improving accuracy. Material and packaging manufacturers will be able to upload and share data about their packaging materials, format and components so that retailers, brands and other stakeholders in the value chain can easily analyse, manage and report on their packaging data.

The Open 3P data-sharing platform will go beyond the new Extended Producer Responsibility requirements and will help organisations to understand the makeup of the packaging in their supply chain as well as see wider industry trends and patterns.

Make packaging more sustainable

Sophie Walker, CEO of Dsposal and Project Lead for the second phase explained “With the new packaging Extended Producer Responsibility legislation requiring organisations to collect and share more detailed data on the packaging they put onto the market in place from the 1st January 2023, the need for the data standard was clear."

"But it is not just about making compliance and reporting easier and more accurate. Being able to share data across the packaging supply chain supports the broader drive to make packaging more sustainable and increase high quality recycling. In developing Open 3P, we’ve had a lot of support and engagement with organisations ranging from chemical manufacturers to retailers, packaging manufacturers and recyclers.