Why you need to be a Carbon Literate packaging producer

Introduction

Packaging producers face growing regulatory pressure to reduce environmental impact. A solid understanding of the climate crisis - and the carbon impact of packaging - is essential to make informed, responsible packaging decisions.

What is Carbon Literacy?

Carbon Literacy is defined as:

"An awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on an individual, community and organisational basis."

Individuals become Carbon Literate through a day’s accredited training developed by The Carbon Literacy Project, designed to build knowledge that creates a positive shift in how humanity lives, works and behaves in response to climate change. Think of it as essential learning that empowers people to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon Literacy is rapidly expanding worldwide with more than 150,000 citizens completing the training across 16 sectors and 47 nations. Ecosurety has been a Carbon Literate Organisation since 2023.

Why is it important?

Packaging policy focuses mainly on reduction, recyclability and recycled content - it does not require producers to assess or understand the carbon impact of their packaging. As a result, choices made to cut EPR costs or reduce plastics don’t necessarily lead to lower emissions.

With the climate crisis accelerating, Carbon Literacy is essential, especially for organisations working toward Net Zero. When teams at every level understand carbon and its implications, “thinking carbon” becomes part of daily decision‑making and organisational culture.

Carbon Literate individuals and organisations will:

• Understand where to access resources to learn more
• Understand the history, science and impacts of climate change
• Recognise the urgency of considering carbon in every decision
• Have the knowledge, skills and motivation to reduce packaging-related emissions
• Understand key industry targets
• Identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions
• Communicate confidently about carbon and the climate crisis

How to become Carbon Literate

You can become Carbon Literate by completing our bespoke ‘Carbon Literacy for the packaging sector’ training course. Accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project, it gives you all the essentials plus the packaging‑specific complexities you need to understand when reducing the carbon impact of your packaging.

We offer flexible ways to complete the training - either in‑person over one day or online across two half‑days.

Most sessions run as open courses with producers from multiple organisations, creating a supportive safe-space to share knowledge and discuss climate challenges. We also offer bespoke sessions tailored just to your team, packaging, and strategic priorities.

To become certified as Carbon Literate, you’ll make individual and group pledges to reduce emissions, which are assessed by The Carbon Literacy Project. These pledges help turn learning into meaningful action.

While the course won’t tell you which packaging formats or materials to choose, it will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to ask the right questions and communicate clearly about carbon impacts.

Our Carbon Literacy for the packaging sector training covers:

• The history, science and impacts of climate change
• Climate justice
• Carbon footprints
• Net Zero and Scopes 1, 2 and 3
• How climate change affects your business
• The carbon impacts of packaging
• Tools relevant to your business
• Examples of positive action other producers are taking

Feedback from our trainees

Our members who have completed the training have rated it 5 out of 5, with the following feedback:

"A thought-provoking day - I not only learnt a great deal but thoroughly enjoyed the session. It was informative, interactive, and well-structured, making the vast topic of carbon more manageable, relevant and bite size. I would highly recommend to anyone involved in sustainability or packaging who wants to make a difference at work and home." Jane Routh, Safety and Environment Manager at E.H.Booths & Co.

"The Carbon Literacy for the packaging sector course was delivered through clear data and trends without judgement and within a positive environment. It challenged my preconceptions of climate change, specifically regarding fluctuations in climate over time and the effect post-industrial revolution. It was a relaxed way to learn about this interesting and sometimes scary subject and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in sustainability." James Stewart, Project Engineer at Cotek Papers Ltd

"Even for those who think they are carbon literate enough, this training is a great refresher, reminder and a call to action for the urgent need of decarbonization of our planet. Very digestible, interactive and informative content presented by Ecosurety’s Ben and Steph." Matej Fabus, Logistics Manager EU-RU, Young Living Europe B.V.

Book now

View and book upcoming Carbon Literacy training dates, or enquire about bespoke sessions, here.

Training costs £200 per person, including a vegetarian lunch and refreshments for in‑person courses. Premium Ecosurety members get one free place per year.