Welcome to the Solutions Database,
a guide to technologies, strategies, and best practices for reducing plastic waste

Direct elimination involves solutions where an entire package or packaging component can be removed without the need for a replacement technology (3). These solutions fall under two headings:

• Selling unpackaged products: Products that do not require packaging for protection, shelf life extension, or another critical functionality can sometimes be sold unpackaged. For instance, many fruits and vegetables have good shelf lives thanks to their own peels. Sturdy non-food products that do not require any additional protection can also often be offered and sold unpackaged
• Removing unnecessary packaging items or components: Packaging items or components that do not serve an essential function can sometimes be eliminated while leaving the product itself still packaged. Examples include removing packaging-within-a-package (e.g., plastic trays inside of wrapped cookies or individual portion size wrappers within a multi-pack), film packaging on multi-buy tins, tear-offs, straws, and secondary lids (e.g., selling a yogurt cup without a secondary lid or spoon attached). Components like these can often be removed without any significant adjustments, innovation, or loss of product value.

Key benefits:

• Cost reductions generated by directly eliminating packaging include significant savings in packaging costs.
• A fast implementationof direct elimination solutions is often possible and can pave the way for quick wins.(3)

Key watch-outs:

• Avoid unintended consequences caused by direct elimination. In particular, when selling unpackaged products such as fruit and vegetables, ensure that food waste will not be increased if no alternative solutions (see “innovative elimination”) are rolled out (3,8).

Companies should identify which of their products can present “quick win” opportunities for direct elimination. Those that want to get ahead of the curve should also make sure they have a process in place to proactively review and challenge packaging design/decisions before they are rolled out:

• Fruit and vegetables are washable and many come in their own compostable wrapping designed by nature. Hardy vegetables, such as potatoes or carrots, do not require plastic packaging (11). Carefully monitor unpackaged product solutions for any potential increases in food waste, which could quickly offset the benefits (see Plastic IQ solution “rethink meeting the function” for innovative ways to ensure food preservation).
• Household items, paper goods, toys, books, greeting cards, clothing and cosmetics often have unnecessary plastic film packaging that can be eliminated. (3)
• Secondary plastic wrapping can be removed from multi-buy items such as canned foods, beverages, and snack packets. (3)
• Tear-offs can be removed from items such as water bottles, jars, and the openings of flexible packaging. (3)
• Remove small plastic attachments like spoons, straws, stirrers, and cutlery.
• Remove the outer packaging of individually packaged items/bags.

Initial guidance on applicability of this solution per plastic type: