This text provides an in-depth appraisal of the key environmental issues for packaging and how these considerations are increasingly affecting trends and developments in the packaging industry. It is aimed at all those concerned with the manufacture, use and distribution of packaging, including raw materials suppliers, packaging convertors, fillers, packers and retailers. In particular, it should be helpful to all management - commerical, technical or those concerned with human resources. It will also be of interest to those involved in the management of waste - local governments, waste management organizations and materials recyclers. The contributors identify and explain the principal environmental issues for packaging; discuss and compare the relative environmental merits and differences between different packaging materials and systems; review and discuss the action being taken in different countries to address these issues; consider legislative and regulatory developments worldwide, the trends, and the extent to which they are converging; and describe and discuss the action that can and should be taken by all participating in the packaging chain, with particular emphasis on life cycle analysis or "cradle-to-grave" auditing.